Archaeology

Items

Grim the Black Cross, runic inscribed
This fragment of a cross slab was found in the churchyard wall in the 1800s.  It is kept at Kirk Michael church. Both faces show the head of a wheel-headed cross, decorated with looped bands gripped by rings. The arms of the cross are linked by a plain bordered ring. One face shows a cockerel, a symbol of the Resurrection, and a winged figure, perhaps an angel, above the left and right arms respectively. A figure in the centre of the cross possibly represents Christ in ascension, with a 'nimbus' or halo above his head and his arms outstretched in blessing. The other face shows a serpent above the left arm of the cross and a male figure and a bird above the right. Along one edge the latter part of an inscription in runes survives, which has been translated as, '...of Grim the Black'. See also Manx Cross 129.
Grim's Cross Slab (Manx Cross 126)
These two fragments were found built into the wall of the old church. On each face they bear the shaft of a cross and the lower part of a plain ring connecting the limbs. One side only shows interlaces, namely, double-twist and diamond-shaped rings, plain twist-and-ring, and a decorated form of tendril pattern. The other face bears a ring-chain pattern on the shaft, and the panels to either side are occupied with figures. To the left is a robed man crowned by a 'nimbus' or halo and carrying a staff. Below him are two armed men, one of whom is upside down, and a boar. To the right are two hounds or wolves, followed by a man armed with a sword and spear, and below him a monster, perhaps a giant fish. The edge bears a damaged inscription which has been translated as, 'Grim raised this cross to the memory of Hromund (his brother's) son.'
Grim's Cross Slab (Manx Cross 129)
This fragment of a cross slab was found in the churchyard wall in the 1800s. Both faces show the head of a wheel-headed cross, decorated with looped bands gripped by rings. The arms of the cross are linked by a plain bordered ring. One face shows a cockerel, a symbol of the Resurrection, and a winged figure, perhaps an angel, above the left and right arms respectively. A figure in the centre of the cross possibly represents Christ in ascension, with a 'nimbus' or halo above his head and his arms outstretched in blessing. The other face shows a serpent above the left arm of the cross and a male figure and a bird above the right. Along one edge the latter part of an inscription in runes survives, which has been translated as, '...of Grim the Black'.
Grims Cross, wheel-headed
Two fragments of a carved cross-shaft which were found built into the wall of the old church of Kirk Michael.  On each face they bear the shaft of a cross and the lower part of a plain ring connecting the limbs. One side only shows interlaces, namely, double-twist and diamond-shaped rings, plain twist-and-ring, and a decorated form of tendril pattern. The other face bears a ring-chain pattern on the shaft, and the panels to either side are occupied with figures. To the left is a robed man crowned by a 'nimbus' or halo and carrying a staff. Below him are two armed men, one of whom is upside down, and a boar. To the right are two hounds or wolves, followed by a man armed with a sword and spear, and below him a monster, perhaps a giant fish. The edge bears a damaged inscription which has been translated as, 'Grim raised this cross to the memory of Hromund (his brother's) son.' See also Manx Cross 126.
Grosvenor Hotel Flint Site
The findspot of a Neolithic flint scatter. It included worked flints,14 flakes and blades.
Groudle Glen Corn Mill
The site of a post-medieval corn mill.
Groudle Glen, Crawdle
Modern watermill. The Ordnance Survey 1:2500 First Edition mapping of 1867 depicts a watermill complex at this location, annotated as 'Groudle Mill (Corn)'. The grid reference relates to the former site of the mill. The complex has been demolished and the site redeveloped for tourist purposes.
Groudle Glen, Crawdle
Modern watermill. The Ordnance Survey 1:2500 First Edition mapping of 1867 depicts a watermill complex at this location, annotated as 'Groudle Mill (Corn)'. The use of the site for milling may date back to at least the beginning of the 16th century, as the Manorial Roll (1511) records a mill at Cawdall (Groudle). The grid reference relates to the former site of the mill. The complex has been demolished and the site redeveloped for tourist purposes.
Groudle Glen, Crawdle
Modern mill leat. The Ordnance Survey 1:2500 First Edition mapping of 1867 depicts a watermill complex at this location, annotated as 'Groudle Mill (Corn)'. A leat, protected by a sluice, leads water off from the Groudle River for a distance of 190m to the mill. An overflow channel protects the mill 100m upstream. The channel is still visible at this point. The grid reference refers to this location, approximately halfway along the leat. The complex has been demolished and the site redeveloped for tourist purposes.
Grove Mount, Brooghs Burial
The site of a Neolithic or Bronze Age barrow subject to excavation in the late 19th century.
Grove Mount, Brooghs Burial
The site of a Neolithic or Bronze Age barrow subject to excavation in the late 19th century.
Grove Mount, Brooghs Flint Site
The findspot of an early prehistoric flint scatter, recorded in the late 19th century.
Grove Mount, Brooghs Flint Site
The findspot of an early prehistoric flint scatter, recorded in the late 19th century.
Grove View Cottages
Post-medieval cottages in Douglas.
Guilcagh Burial Mound
The site of a Bronze Age barrow. Nothing is shown here on the 1870 1:2500 Ordnance Survey map.
Guilcagh Burial Mound
The site of a Bronze Age barrow shown as a 'Tumulus' in the field numbered Plot 1541 on the 1870 1:2500 Ordnance Survey map. It has been levelled by past ploughing activity. Only some large stones exposed on the surface remained when the site was recorded in 1930.  In modern times it was only vaguely discernible but no suface stones remained and it had been virtually destroyed as a surface feature.
Haggard Mill, Calf of Man
A 19th century corn mill on the Calf of Man, which is now in a ruinous condition.
Hairdwillagh Burial Cairn
The site of a late Neolithic or Bronze Age barrow.
Hairdwillagh Burial Ground
An early medieval cross slab was found here and it is therefore conjectured that a burial ground existed here at one time.
Hairdwillagh Cross
An early medieval cross kept in Lonan church.
Hairdwillagh Cross Site
An early medieval cross slab was found here. A cross slab was found here serving as a lintel over a door in a now destroyed building. It is coffin shaped and has beading carved around the slab. It also has an inscription cut upon it. It was taken to Lonan Old Church. Mr Stowell pointed out the site where the cross slab had served as a lintel. It was seen in Lonan Old Church and it bears an inset numbered bronze plaque No. 71. A notice dates it collectively with others as from the 7-9th century.
Hairdwillagh Cross Slab (Manx Cross 71)
This large memorial was found in the 1800s at the ruined upland farm of Ballaleaney overlooking Glen Roy, where it had been re-used as a lintel over a doorway. It was broken in two but has been restored to show its original form. The monument takes the form of a wheel-headed slab, on which has been carved a 'Celtic' cross. The lower arm of the cross extends to form a narrow shaft, which is decorated at the top with a spoon-shaped object surrounded by small raised pellets. The cross and ring are both edged with a bead-moulding, and the edge of the slab is similarly decorated with a double moulding so as to frame the cross. The inner of the mouldings surrounding the slab and the moulding which forms the edge of the cross-shaft combine to form two spirals or 'volutes' which decorate a pedestal on which the cross stands. The spirals are separated by two groups of three raised pellets. The most prominent decoration on the whole slab is the spoon-like symbol at the top of the cross-shaft, which must represent the ladle used in the Eucharist. Close study of the panels to either side of the shaft suggests that there may also have been other more decorative carving, only the faintest vestiges of which may be present.
Hairdwillagh Cross Slab Site
A cross slab was found here serving as a lintel over a door in a now destroyed building. It is coffin shaped and has beading carved around the slab. It also has an inscription cut upon it. It was removed from here to Lonan Old Church and bears an inset numbered bronze plaque No. 71. A notice dates it collectively with others as from the 7th-9th century.
Hairdwillagh, Ardwoaillach Burial Mound
A Bronze Age barrow with a diameter of 13.0 metres and a height of 1.0 metre on its western side.  It is bowl shaped with no ditch.   The cairn was opened by the Canon Quine in 1924 who found a stone cist of Bronze Age appearance with a massive cover-slab (PRN 0640.10). It contained calcined bones and a pair of disc beads of jet or lignite. The cist lies on the north side of the top of the mound and is orientated slightly southeast, lined with slabs 0.8 metres long, 0.4 m wide and a present depth of 0.2 metres. The bottom of the cist is above normal ground level. The feature is mainly grass and fern covered but around the cist is a large quantity of stones field clearing stones.  Mr Stowell, of Riverside said 'The farm on which this barrow is situated is known as Ardwoaillach. I assisted Canon Quine and Dr Bradbury to excavate it many years ago. There was some pottery in the cist, I believe, and a pea-sized bead of a wonderful colour blue. This is now in the Manx Museum'.  This was possibly a Faience bead, and there were two other beads of jet or lignite from here, now in the Manx Museum.
Hairdwillagh, Ardwoaillach Burial Mound
The cist within the barrow PRN 0640.00.  It is located on the north side of the top of the mound, is orientated east-west and measured 1.5 by 0.9 metres and depth is 0.5 metres. It is lined with slabs 0.8 metres long, and 0.4 metres wide. The bottom of the cist lies above the surrounding ground level. The mound was covered by grass and ferns when recorded and around the cist is a large quantity of field clearance stones.