[Yn Lioar Manninagh Vol 2 pp4/5]

EXCURSION TO CONCHAN, JULY 26, 1892.

Leader: T. KNEEN M.H.K.

The second Excursion was to Conchan, on Tuesday, July 26th, under the (Leadership of Mr. T. Kneen.

Twenty-two of the members and their friends arrived at Conchan about one p.m., and were met by the Vicar, Rev. S A. P. Kermode, and the Parish Clerk, at the Church, where the odd Crosses in the churchyard were examined and remarked upon by the Secretary. The Clerk pointed out the site of the previous buildings, about 50 yards North of the West end of the present structure, At Hawthorn Ville Mr- Callow exhibited two other Crosses, recently removed from St. Catherine's garden. (These have since been sent to the Church, where they are now placed safely under cover.)

Mr -Kneen then conducted the party to Glencrutchery. Crossing the little stream, the Geologists noted on the left bank a thin layer of brown sandy clay, containing ice-marked stones, and some small foreign boulders, including a fine-grained Scotch granite, Androsite, grit, etc. Arriving at the meadow known as the Flat, the Leader pointed out the spot where recently had been discovered a beautiful little polished Celt of ophio-calcite (a rock probably of Irish origin).

The "White Lady" was visited-a large quartz stone 336 yards south-west of the house, and measuring about 3ft. above the ground, by 2ft. 3in. wide, and 1ft. thick. This had been set up on a mound, of which the outline could still be traced, though the plough had almost reduced it to the level of the field. It appeared to have been about 24ft. in diameter. At a distance of about three yards S.E. of the stone, Mr Kneen, by digging a trench, had disclosed a stone-lined grave, lying about north and south, and measuring inside 2ft. 6in. by 15in., by 12in., covered by a slab, about gin. below the present surface. The flat slaty stones (about tin. thick), with which it had been lined, were much broken. They had been closely packed around with small weathered "field" stones, of which the mound appeared to have been composed. Within the Cist was a fragment of a Cinerary Urn, which originally might have measured about 12in. high. One piece, about 3in. square and ¾in. thick, had the outer surface of a dark reddish hue, much disintegrated; the inner dark brown and smooth; betwixt, black; the paste mixed with coarse crushed stones. Many small and brittle fragments of calcined bones were scattered throughout the Cist with burnt stones and earth. The Ordnance Map marked this spot, "Site. of Chapel," but there was no trace, whatever of a chapel, nor had the Leader been able to learn that there had ever been one.

Returning to the garden at Glencrutchery, the party were hospitably entertained by Mr. and Mrs. Kneen, and enjoyed a rest under the grateful shade of the trees. About three p.m. seats were, attain resumed, and the mountain road taken prust Croak-y-Berry, where was pointed out the site of an ancient earthwork, the semi-circular outline of which was curiously shown by the lighter shade among the dark green oats. At Glenville some specimens, said to have been collected from the Boulder Clay Excavations subsequently visited, were inspected. Among others Dalbeattie Granite, Haematite Coal, and the fragment of an Ammonite. Miss Woods conducted the party to the spot on "Cold Clay Field" whence the clay was being removed for the new Douglas reservoir. The section showed a. stiff red boulder clay, from 6ft. to 12ft. deep, resting on gravel. Among many boulders noticed were Silurian Grit, Coal Measure Sandstone (red and white), Old Red Sandstone, Criffel Granite, Buttcrrnere, Dalbeattia, and others, mostly of small size.

Crossing the road and a. field on Upper Sulby Farm, the remains of an old Treen Chapel -were next visited. The chapel lay almost East and West, and measured inside about 21ft. by 12ft. ; the walls, about 3ft. thick, and 3½ft. high inside. Traces of a mound surrounding the chapel could be detected. The extent. of the ruins had been reduced by a, former proprietor when ploughing the "Flat" or "Big Meadow"; several "old stones or portions of a sepulchre" had been removed and utilized in building.

Returning to the mountain road at. Hillberry, the site of a Tumulus was pointed out. The Ordnance Sheet records "Urn found here." A small boy said it had been it churchyard, and "Mother knows, 'cause she was told not to go past it at night, for fear of the fairies." The mound, on a, slight slope, had been now almost levelled by cultivation; its outline, ho-wever, could be traced, showing a diameter of about I6 yards. Another tumulus, now levelled, had been on a field across the road. At Slegaby the Ordnance Map has "(Gold coin found." The Ramsey contingent now drove by Keppel Gate to Tholt-y-Will. Coming down by the Alt, the Bog Asphodel was found in :flower.