[From List of Manx Antiquities, 1930]

KIRK CHRIST RUSHEN.

Pre-Christian Remains.

MEGALITHIC.

1. Standing Stones. Cloughen corra, i.e. odd stones,1707, Reg. Deeds—J.J.K., p. 25. Ballakilpheric; about ~¼ m. NW. of Wesleyan Chapel and 200 yds. S.W. of the road from Kirk Rushen to the Round Table. In 1878 four of these were standing, 12 ft. apart, as part of an original crescent; in 1900 there were two, 28 ft. apart and about 10 ft. high—Mx. Soc.v, p. 63. Now there remains a solitary pillar, 10 ft. high. O.S. XVI/!

2. Clagh Ard, about 630 yds. s.w of the Wesleyan Chapel, Ballakilpheric, and 400 yds. NW. of Scholaby. O.S. XVI/5

3. Mull Circle, A.M. About ¼ m. N. of Cregneish,Y.L.M. II, p. 117. About 66ft, diam., including the ring on which formerly were set upright slabs. The monument was composed of six sets of double Chambers, each set entered by a narrow passage radiating outwards from the middle. Lhiack ny Wirragh, i.e. Stone of the meetings or assemblies—J.J.K.p. 44. O.S. XV/16

4, 5. A few paces E. of the Standing Stones, Ballakilpheric, - were two low Tumuli, one of which could still be traced a few years ago. Many Flint Flakes found and probably it was from one of these that the Urn came which is said to have been found at the Standing Stones in 1878. (O.S. XVI/1)

6. Close to the site of a large Tumulus at Scard, now razed, Mr. Kneen finds the name Le Mod, Norse mót, a meeting, or from O. Eng.gemot. (O.S.XII/14)

7. Circle of small Stones, about ... ft. diam. in a stony area on Bradda Head, overlooking Fleshwick. (O.S. XV/4)

8. Tumulus, Ballaqueeney, on E. side of high road, about 100 yds. from house. Removed in making the Railroad about 1870. It was then found that this prehistoric site had subsequently been used as a Christian B.G., no doubt with its Chapel. (O.S. XVI/9)

9. Giants’ Quoiting Stone, Ballacreggan. In field at 300 yds. N.E. of the corner of the road to Port S. Mary with that to the Smelt. 10 ft. high and 10 ft. 9in. girth. Many Flint flakes and chips found. O.S. XVI/9

10. Another Standing Stone about ¼ m. s.s.w. of the last, was enclosed in a small yard in 1894. O.S. XVI/13

11. A Cinerary Urn, with Flint arrow-head, is recorded from Glen Chass; Rep. Arch. Corn., 1878. (O.S. XV/16)

12. Gobinay, i.e. Gob yn oaie, Headland of the grave. On the summit of the hill about 1750 yds. E. of and overlooking Cregneish. Stone-lined graves found containing polished-stone axe-head. M. (O.S. XV/16)

13. Small Circle of Stones possibly marking the site of a Tumulus, on Cronk Carran, about 370 yds. N.W. of the Sugar-Loaf rock. O.S XVIII/4

14. Tumulus with Cists, bones and flints, on floor of a pre-historic Camp at the entrance to the Alfred Pier, Port S. Mary. Removed about 1886. Y.L.M. II, p. 137. Proc.n.s.i, p. 155. (O.S. XVI/13)

Settlements.

1. On the S. slope of Cronk ny Irree Laa and ¼ m. N.E. of Slogh, was a group of Hut foundations set in a hollow N. of the Burrow mooar. (O.S. XII/13)

2. Below the Circle on Mull are groups of Hut foundations. The name, which in 1874 I took to be Lag ny Wirragh, applied as I was then told to the largest group on the northern face of the hill. Mr. Kneen, however, got the pronunciation ‘Lhiack ny Wirragh, i.e. Stone of the meetings or assemblies, and found this applied to the Circle itself, which is a well-known fishing mark. J.J.K. p. 44, Flints and fragments of Pottery (including some that was mediæval) were found in the Huts, with hearths, etc. Proc. (O.S. XV/16)

3. Hut foundations on Burrow Ned at the Sound, with cup-marked rock. (O.S, XVIII/3)

Earthworks.

1. Fort about a mile W.N,W. of Ballakilpheric and of Cronk y doonee, and 200 yds. N.W. of the Standing Stones. O.S. XVI/1

2. Cronk Howe Mooar, sometimes called Fairy Hill. In boggy ground about ¼ m. N.W. of the Parish Church. Examined in 1914, when found to be a natural feature artificially treated. The small level space on the top was surrounded by an earthen embankment lined inside with rather large slabs set on end and having walling in courses between them. Proc. n.s. I, p. 653. O.S. XVI/9

3. Towlfoggy, Perwick. Until the year 1900 there were remains of a peninsular Fort here, about 500 yds. w. of Kalloo Point, and the same S.W. of the harbour. Enclosed in 1896 and levelled. Y.L.M. III, p. 118. O.S.XVI/13

4. Earthworks on ridge across Burrow Ned. O.S. XVIII/3

Keeills or Chapels.

1. Site of Keeill Pharick, Treen of Kyrke Patryk. By the W. side of the road, 110 yds. N.W. of Ballakilpheric Wesleyan Chapel. Mx. Soc. v. p. 78. Two stone pillars stood one on each side of the doorway, one of which is now set up at the corner of the modern Chapel by the road. O.S. XVI/1

2. Site of Ch. and B.G., Surby; Treen of Saureby. By the w. side of the road to the Carnanes, 430 yds. S. of the mountain gate and about ¾m. W. of Clagh Ard. Many stone graves. In the hedge, about forty yds. S.W. of the Keeill, is a large pillar known as the Bridle Stone. O.S. XVI/5

3. Site of Ch. and B.G. in the Magher y chabbal, Bradda; Treen of Bradhawe. About 100 yds. w. of Ballalonney house and 85 yds. W. of the road to Fleshwick. Demolished about 1885. An early Cross-slab, M. 66, was found here. OS. XV/8

4. Site of Ch. and B.G., Gramma, now the Rowany Golf Links; Treen of Edremony. OS. XV/8

5. Mr. Kneen gives a name ‘Claghyn ny Killey’ as probably referring to the ruins of an old Church, now disappeared. Above Kirkhill, which is Intack land, close to Keeill Pharick. He thinks that this name ‘Kirkjufjall’ was possibly the old Norse name of the Carnanes—J.J.K. pp. 23 and 42. (O.S. XVI/1)

6. Site of Ch. and B.G. in the garden of Ballagawne, about 50 yds. E. of the house. Treen of Kyrk Sansan. O.S. XVI/9

7. Site of S. Catherine’s Ch. on the shore, south of the Well, Port Erin. Treen of Edremony. O.S.XV/12

8. Site of Ch. and B.G., Ballaqueeney, Treen of Edremony. A mound always known as ‘the Cronk,’ in the field E. of the highroad and about 100 yards from the house, was removed in getting ballast in constructing the Railway in 1874. It was then discovered to have been the site of an early Christian cemetery with, beyond doubt, its little Chapel. The tallest Cross-slab in the Island, now at the Four Cross roads, had long since been removed from the Magher y clagh ard, as the field was called, and as it is one of Gaut’s monuments it must date from about 960 A.D. In some of the lintel graves were Saxon coins of Edmund, Edred and Edwy, some of which would have been buried there when this Cross was set up; but, that the site was much older was proved by the fact that two Ogam-inscribed stones, M. 1 and 2, dating from the close of the Fifth Century, had been re-used in the making of one of the graves. (O.S. XVI/9)

9. Keeill Woirrey. Site of the Ch. and B.G. which has given its name to Port S. Mary. Abbey lands. At the S.W. end of Chapel Bay. O.S. XVI/13

10. On the brooghs near the Smelt, at the W. end of Bay ny Carrickey, many lintel graves have been found, showing that it was the site of a B.G., and that it had its Chapel appears from the prefix to the Treen name, Kyrksansan(1511, Man. Roll). The latter part of this name, though a possible corruption of ‘Sanctan,’ is thought to have been ‘probably from Norse Sandscrer, sand-sea, i.e. sea-coast’—J.J. K. p. 42. (O.S. XVI/9)

11. Site of Ch. and B.G. at Glenchass, the Howe. Treen of Fyshgarth. Lintel graves found. O.S. XV

12. Rullic y lagg shliggah, now known as the Relic. Site of Ch. and B.G. at the Sound. Shenvalley, Treen of Shanballa. About ¾ m. S.W. of Cregneish and ½ m. s.w. of Shenvalla house. Lintel graves. A neatly carved Holy Water Stoup was found here by Mr. Lowie, Cregneish. O.S. XV/15

13. Calf of Man. Site of Ch. and B.G. about 300 yds. N.W. of house. The well-known Cross-slab with early representation of the Crucifix was found here. Now in Castle Rushen. OS, XVIII/3

Fair Grounds.

Apparently at the Parish Church ‘within the octave of Easter Day,’ was ‘the only fair held in the parish of which we have any record,’ 6 April, 1733—J.J.K., p. 64. He adds ‘there must have been several in early times’, and (Add. p.6 10) mentions Ennaug—1743 Dioc. Reg. Neanagh, saying ‘the use of the article in this name suggests the Irish an aenach, the fair, gathering or assembly - . . . It is near the site of Kyrke Sansan.

Sacred or Healing Wells.

1. Chibbyrt Ventyn, probably a corruption of Beltane, Jr. Bealtaine, i.e. May Well. The name of an old Well on Ballafurt road, Port Erin—J.J.K. p. 22. (0.S. XV/12)

2. Chibbyrt Catreeney. By the side of the Keeill on the shore, Port Erin, ‘famous for the healing virtue of its waters.’ O.S. XV/12

3. Chibbyrt Baltaine, the Rag Well—W.W.G. Near the site of the Keeill on Bradda. Rags left on the briers and offerings of Coins, etc. in the Well. (O.S. XV/8)

4 Lady Well, at the top of Chapel Bay, Port S. Mary, formerly issued from a flat reef called the Lady’s rock, near site of Chapel—W.W.G. (O.S. XVI/13)

Watch and Ward Stations.

Hill for the Day Watch, Bradoe. The Night Watch was at Port Irne. There appears also to have been a Day Watch at the Carnanes.

Mr. Kneen finds the name Clagh y daa heet, i.e. Stone of the two comings, at Burrow mooar, the Carnanes, close to the Hut-circles. The Watch, going and returning from duty at day-break and day-rise on Cronk ny Irree-Laa, met at this stone. J.J.K., p. 23. N.H.A.S., II, n.s. p. 199.

Loose Relics.

Pygmy Flints, Pooilvaaish and Port S. Mary, F. Swinnerton, M.

Other Flint Implements, Ballakilpheric, Ballaqueeney, Mount Gawne, Port S. Mary, Rhenwyllin, Glenchass, Cregneish and Pooilvaaish, M.

Polished-stone Axe-heads, M. 1192, 1334, 592.

Hammer-stones, Balnahowe, M. 297. One found also by Mr. Roeder.

Bronze Axe-head, Surby, M. 797.

Querns. Upper Stones, M. (4).

Inscribed Stones and Cross-slabs.

Ogam-inscribed stones, M. 1, 2. Cross-slabs, Castle Rushen (from Calf of Man), 61. Bradda, 66, M. At Cross Four Roads, 100.

Sundial. Scarlett. Limestone, M. 1496.

Holy-water Stoup, the Relic on the Sound.

Coins. Ethelred, 979. On Bradda Head about 1848, several hundreds of Anglo-Saxon coins, some of Ethelred and of the Crux type—Mx. Soc., XVII, p. 35, 42. Saxon coins of Edmund, Edred and Edwy (941 to 959), and one of Charles III of France (893- 923) from Ballaqueeney. Some of these in the Museum.