[From List of Manx Antiquities, 1930]

KIRK MALEW.

Pre-Christian Remains.

MEGALITHIC.

1. At Billown, about ½ m. w. of the Church, are remains showing great boulders of quartz arranged in groups over a circular area of 35 ft by 25 ft. Five such groups can be distinguished, each about 9 ft. in diameter, the stones so arranged as to form rectangular chambers opening towards the centre of the ring. Several stones have fallen and some have been removed. Traces of fire were noted—Mx. Soc. v, p. 64. O.S. XVI/7

2. ‘Giant’s Grave.’ Remains of Cairn at Renshent, about 33yds. N.N.E. of house. Two large boulders, originally 9ft. apart, with a stone Cist. O.S. XII/8

3. Cronk ny Shee. By error marked ‘Chapel and B.G.’ on the Survey. Cairn with Cist, 83 yds. N.W. of house and 525 yds. S.E. of Buillyn renny house. O.S. XII/12

4. Large Tumulus on Ballagilbert in the field known locally as Magher ny grongan. Mr. Taggart, tenant in 1918, said there had been others ‘of earth with graves at the bottom’ and that this remaining one had had ‘a circle of large stones round it.’ (O.S. XII/15)

5. Tumulus on Ballacroak (?) about 570 yds. S.E. of S. Mark’s Chapel. O.S. XI1/16

6. Tumulus about 600 yds. S.S.E. of S. Mark’s. These two might be the ‘Chambered Barrows, Ballacroak, with bones and stone celt,’ mentioned by Oswald,—Mx. Soc. O.S. XII/16

7. Tumulus, Cooilcam; 100 yds. W.N.W. of house, 24 ft. diam. O.S. XIII/13

8. Tumulus, ‘Fairy Hill.’ About 400 yds. E.N.E. of Orrisdale house. O.S. XVI/4

9. Billown. Adjoining the megalithic Circle, on the north is the site of a Tumulus where a number of Urns have been found. Mx. Soc. v, p. 64. O.S. XVI/7

10. Site of Tumulus, Skybright bill, about 170 yds. w. of the Church. Large boulders of white quartz. O.S. XVI/11

11. Site of Tumulus; Stone Cist and Urns found. About ½ m. N.N.E. of Ronaldsway. This must have been one of the ‘three fine Barrows in a triangle’ mentioned by Townley, I, p. 185. O.S XVI/12

12. Knock Rushen. Tumulus about 200 yds. N.W. of house. O.S. XVI/15

The name Cam lea, i.e. Grey Cairn, mentioned by Mr. Kneen, p. 100, refers to one of these.

Early Settlements.

On the Granite mountain overlooking Foxdale, about 150 yards w. of Clogh Willy house, a hut-circle disclosed by quarry men was examined in the Spring of 1929. It showed a ring of well-fitted boulders, 8 ft. 6 ins. inner diameter; having a narrow doorway and a floor pavement of small, flat stones on which was a little peat-ash. The appearance of the boulder-strewn ground around, suggested that it might have formed one of a small cluster of dwellings. (O.S. XII/8)

Earthworks.

1. Large Camp on the summit of S. Barrule, Mx. Soc. v. p. 61. O.S.XII/11

Black Fort, S. Mark’s. About 430 yards W.N.W. of Parsonage, in field called Cleigh rouyr. Levelled in 1820. The outline can still be partly traced. O.S. XII/16

Godred Crovan’s Stone, referred to in Peveril of the Peak, stood about 200 yards S. of the Fort. This was a large ice-borne boulder of the local granite, since broken up to be built into the Church. OS. XII/16 [FPC see Manx Soc vol xxviii p3]

3. Hango Hill, or Mount Strange, A.M. Remains of a 17th century building in the midst of a large circular earthwork, now half carried away by the sea. Graves found. O.S. XVI/16

4. Fort above the mouth of the stream at Cass ny hawin. Flint flakes found in the field. O.S. XVI/8

5. Fort, a rectangular Earthwork at the northern end of S. Michael’s isle. This might hake been thrown up when Magnus, brother of King Harold, with King John of the Isles, landed at S. Michael’s isle, 1250, and marshalled his troops for battle, but was beaten off. Moore’s History, I, p. 130. O.S. XVI/16

6. Derby Fort, built by James, 7th Earl. A round stone Fort; over the gateway is a stone almost perished by weather, bearing the date 1645. In this Fort are Cannon collected from different parts of the Island, viz :-1, from Castle Rushen, a fine Elizabethan one, marked ‘E fleur de lis R’ surmounted by a crown; 2, Castle Rushen, perhaps from Castletown quay; 3, 4, from the quay at Peel; 5, from Kerrowdhoo, Bride; 6, 7, from Ramsey quay. O.S. XVI/16

7. Hango Broogh. Small Earthwork on rocks of the entrance to a narrow channel between S. Michael’s isle and the mainland. The pathway to the entrance is grooved with shallow steps cut into the rock. Mx. Soc. v, p. 54. 0.S. XVI/16

8. Fort at Big Scarlett. Close ny Challagh Point. O.S. XVI/14

The Historic Fort of the district is of course Castle Rushen. A good illustrated account of this is to be seen in the Guide to Castle Rushen, by J. E. Douglas, copies of which may be had at the gates.

Keeills and Chapels.

1. Rullic y doonee, B.G. This name proclaims the site of a Ch. of early date, and many lintel graves have been found. It is by the side of the old road from Glen Needle to Castletown, ½ m. N.E. of Barrule slate quarries, Intack. Y.L.M. iv, p. 17. O.S.XII/7

2. Ruins of Ch. and B.G., Renshent, Abbey lands. 18ft. by 9 ft. O.S, XII/8

3. Site of Ch. and B.G., Ballalhergy, Abbey lands. Lintel graves, 100yds. S.E.of house. Proc. II, p. O.S.XII/12

4. Site of Ch. and B.G., Kerrowkiel, Treen of Warfell. Two large stone pillars formerly standing in front of the doorway are now in the Museum; Also the Cross-slab 28, given by the late Dr. Clague. O.S. XII/15

5. Site of Ch. and B.G., Knock renny, Abbey lands. About 450 yds. E.S.E. of S. Mark’s Chapel and 100 yds. E. of Knockrenny house. Gone in 1889. Lintel graves found by ‘Sappers and miners.’ O.S. XII/16

6. Site of Ch. and B.G., Ballakilley, Abbey lands, 21 ft. by 9 ft. Lintel graves. The walls of rounded granite boulders were long preserved by its use as a cart-shed. About 1912, every stone of this venerable little building was removed for Farm improvements. Mx. Soc. v, p. 197; xv, p. 88. Rep. Arch. Commrs., p. 24. O.S. XI1/16

7. Site of Ch. and B.G., Moaney mooar, Treen of Arernan. About 267 yds. w. of Reash. O.S. XII/15

8. Site of Ch. and B.G., Ballalona, Abbey lands. About 130 yds. N.of Ballalona bridge. Finally removed about 1870. O.S. XVIII

9. Site of Ch. and B.G., Ballabeg, Treen of Grenby. About 70 yds. N.N.E. of Chibbyr Unjin, 500 yds. s.s.w. of Ballabeg house, and 330 yds. N. of Ballatrolog. Removed by Kewish, 1899. 21 ft. by 12 ft.; entrance 2 ft. wide in w. gable. Graves found, Early Cross-slab, 8, M. O.S. XVI/3

10. Rushen Abbey, Ballasalla. Cistercian, 1134. Ruins of Church and of buildings on site of the old Celtic Monastery of S. Lua, whose name is given to the Parish. Many lintel graves found in groups around the E. end of the Church; at a distance also of some twenty yards S., and Northwards of about 100 yds., graves have been met with, the latter group being in a paddock called Crot Cabbal Leonard. Cumming ‘Rushen Abbey’ Proc. I, p. 548. O.S. XVI/8

11. Billown, Abbey Demesne, ‘beyond the Circle, on the top of the hill, there is (1860) an extensive cemetery of the dead arranged in stone graves.’ Mx. Soc. v, p.64. O.S. XVI/7

12. The buried ruin of Ch. with B.G., Ronaldsway, Treen of Kyrke Mychell, or Villa Thorkel. About 250 yds. S. of Ballawoods house. O.S. XVI/8

13. Site of Ch. and B.G., Lorne House, near Bowling Green, Castletown. Abbey lands. 87 yds. N.E. of house and 33 yds. s.w. of Flagstaff. It is still remembered that stones from the foundations were built into a stable wall at Lorn House. Many lintel graves have been found, one being 20 yds. E.S.E. of the Keeill. O.S. XVI/15

14. S. Mary’s Chapel, now a part of the Grammar School. Sir James Gell remembered lintel graves that had been excavated in the rock here, suggesting an early site. Y.L.M. III, p. 405. (o.S. XVI /15)

15. Ruins of Ch. with B.G. A.M. S. Michael’s isle. Treen of Commissary. The proportions are unusual and there may have been alterations at different times. O.S. XVI/16

16. Site of Ch. and B.G,, Treen of Scarlett. On the S. side of the bay, 380 yds. s.E. of Pooilvaish Farm. O.S. XVI/14

17. Keeill Pharlane. Site of S. Bartholomew’s Church, Balladoole, Treen of Scarclowte. At 20 yds. E. of the path round the cliff, at Close ny Chollagh Point. O.S. XVI/14

18. Remains of B.G., Treen of Scarclo~vte. About 677 yds s.E. of last and ~ m. w. of Scarclowte limekilns. 0.S. XVI! 15

Fair Grounds.

S. Mark’s, 5 Jan., Eve of the Epiphany, called the Fidler’s Fair; recorded for 1732-3. Proc. p. 59. At Cross Four Ways, 24 Feb., Laa’l Mian, i.e. S. Matthias’ Day, 1797-1834. Mr. Kneen adds, ‘It is almost certain that there was formerly a Church dedicated to S. Matthias, in the neighbourhood.’ Proc. p. 62. Here also the Summer Fair was held 25 July, mentioned by Feltham, recorded also as at Ballasalla in 1737.

S. Luoc’s day was 25 June and Mr. Kneen explains the change of date to July as due to confusion of the Celtic Saint with the Gaulish Lupus, 29 July. Proc. p. 74.

Sacred or Healing Wells.

1. Chibbyr Unjin, Ash Well, Ballabeg. 70 yds. S.S.E. of the Keeill and 300 yds. E. of Ballatrollog. Filled up by Kewish, 1899. O.S.XVII/3

2. Chibbyr Drine, Thorntree Well. E. of Rifle Range, Langness, ‘A famous Well visited for medical aid’—Feltham, 1798, (o.S. XVI/16)

Bridge.

In this Parish stands the only ancient Bridge in the Isle of Man. This crosses the stream 50 yds. N.E. of Rushen Abbey, and is known as ‘Crossag or Monks’ Bridge; A.M. It may date from the 12th c. O.S. XVI/8

Watch and Ward Stations.

Hill for the Day Watch, ‘The Barrow,’ i.e. hill N. of Ronaldsway. The Port for Night Watch was ‘Reynoldsway.’ Another Night Watch was kept at Scarlett. C.R.P.

Loose Relics.

Worked Flints from Cass ny hawin, Ronaldsway, Hango

Hill, M. Arch. Camb. Vol. XI, 3rd Series, p. 429, mentions‘a Celt of greenstone found on Langness, near the landmark.’

A stone axe-head was found at Scarlett. A large one from

S. Barrule was given to the Museum by Canon Quine, M. 581.

Bronze axe-head from Hango Hill, M. 794. One from Ballawoods, about 1877, M.796. Cinerary Urn, from Ballahot. M. 565. Proc. N.H.A.S., n.s. II, p. 20.

Saddle Stones, M. 846, 872, 927.

Querns. Upper stone, M. 8. Lower stones (2), M. 5.

Cross-slabs in the Shelter against the w. wall of the N. transept of the Parish Church, 8, 28, 120.

Carved stone Coffin-lid of 13th c. Rushen Abbey.

Sundial. An unusual and very interesting dial having many facets is set on a built pillar about 15 ft. high, against the Castle wall in the market place. Dated 1720. The N. gnomon has been re-set upside down; the other facets are erratic and vary greatly. Mr. Hamer points out that it is weathering badly and should be cleaned, moved to a site where it would be useful, and protected.

Fonts. At Ballamodha is a large stone Font taken from the Keeill at Ballakilley. The basin measures 4ft. by 3ft. 8in. and is 10 in. deep. Arch. Camb. p. 25. Old granite Font in the Parish Church.

Holy-water stoup from Keeill Unjin, M.

Historic Finds. Encaustic Tiles, Rushen Abbey, 13th to 14th c. Arch. Camb. Vol. XI, 3rd Series, p. 414. Others found in 1894 were figured and described in The Reliquary, January 1885, M.

Early Church Furniture at the Parish Church, Silver Paten, 1525, Bronze Crucifix, 12th c., Portion of Staff covered with brass, and a curious bronze article. Mx. Soc. xv, pp. 107-109. Y.L.M. ii.

Articles sold to the Earl of Derby at the dissolution of the Abbey, 1541, Four Chalices, Pastoral Staff, Censer Cross, Crouche (Abbot’s pastoral staff), two little headless crosses, one ship, one hand and one byshope’s head, cups, spoons, etc. and one pix of silver. Cumnming, Castle Rushen, p. 54.

Clock in Castle Rushen, presented by Queen Elizabeth, 1597.

Bell in the Castle presented by James, 10th Earl of Derby, 1729.

Coins. Oswald, Mx.Soc.vol 4, mentions ‘an ancient coin’ from the site of Tumuli, Derbyhaven. In 1789, we are told, a gentleman of Castletown presented Prof.Thorkelin with three or four ‘Danish coins,’ one of them of Canute. This may be the same as the’Canute coin said to have been found at Castletown.’ A small Silver coin of Edward II, 1306, Ronaldsway. A coin ‘supposed to be of Corinthian brass about the size of an English shilling.’ An Angel of Henry VI, or ‘most probably Henry VII, was taken out of the harbour, Castletown, 1834’ (Arch.Camb. ). A shilling and sixpence of Elizabeth, 1570, were found at Castletown. About 1700, a number of Spanish pieces-of-eight and moidores were dug up at Castletown. In 1830, a small Scotch Copper coin was found at the Grammar School, probably of James I or Charles II ; several coins are said to have been found in this yard—Mx. Soc. xvii, 35.38. A halfcrown of Charles II was found in 1886 at Orrisdale, Ballasalla.