[From Proc IoMNHAS vol 1]

MEETING AT RAMSEY,

DECEMBER, 1906.

[...]

It was announced that Mr. Jas. Kewley had left the Island for a residence in Borneo, thus rendering the office of secretary vacant. As no one was found willing to undertake the duties, the matter was left over till the annual meeting, the President agreeing to do the work of secretary in the meantime. Mr. Ralfe, on the recommendation of the General Committee, was unanimously elected editor (pro. tem.) of the Society’s proceedings.

Mr. Quine then submitted an interesting account of " A shrine stone recently found near Kil Keillane, Lonan." This was a perforated block of limestone, which could only be cut out with some definite purpose and with great labour. The interior length is 24 in., interior breadth 16 in., the depth nearly six inches ; one end is curved nearly three inches, the others about two inches. It was suggested that this had formed a cist-like hollow on or in the altar of the ancient Keeil, covered by a stone, which would at once form the table-slab of the altar, and serve as a lid to this little chest which would be a receptacle for relics. A discussion followed the reading of the paper, but no one was able to make any better suggestion as to the origin and use of the curious looking stone referred to.

The President then gave a description of " A newly-found cross-fragment with Anglian Runes, from Kirk Maughold." This was fully illustrated, the stone itself being submitted for inspection, as well as full-sized drawings by the author both of it and of the only other stone in the Island bearing an inscription in these characters. It had been found by the Vicar on 26th October, about twenty-two yards N.N E. of the east gable of the church, and is a rough block of the local clay-slate, measuring 21½ in. by 10 to 11½ in., and from 1¾ to 2 in. thick—broken, and chipped round the edges by the builder. One face shows remains of a cross with widely-expanded limbs, within a circle. Across the end of the lower limb may be read the Anglian characters for G.M.O.N., preceded by slight traces of others, having probably formed the name BLAKGMON, which is the same as that on the other stone but with slight variation of the spelling. The reader thought that the two must in some way have been connected, perhaps as head and foot-stone of one monument, otherwise it might be supposed that the present one had been unfinished and thrown away owing to a break or some imperfection in the stone, but this did not seem so likely. Anglian runes are met with on stone in the North of England on monuments dating from the end of the seventh and beginning of the eighth century. This one would imply not only that the deceased, as shown by his name, was an Angle, but that the carver and probably some of the inhabitants of the district were so. This, It appeared, made the 117th stone belonging to this class of Early Christian Monuments in the Island, and the 38th from the Parish of Maughold.

The name " Blackman " continued in the Isle of Man, and, Mr. Quine said, was found in the Rent Rolls of 1511, in the parish of Conchan.