Medieval burial ground.
The site was investigated by the Manx Archaeological Survey in 1908. The Survey surveyed an oval enclosure on a slight terrace, within which the chapel stands. This was used as a burial ground, and the site has notably produced a total of ten carved crosses which appear once to have served as grave-markers, though many of them were found built into the walls of the chapel.
The enclosure measures about 24 x 30m and has been artificially levelled by cutting into the slope on the east side. From this higher ground a bank has been extended about two thirds of the distance round the north end and a quarter of the way round the southern, thus defining the enclosure. An entrance from the south-east is marked by an upright stone, 1.2m high.
The two cairns of stones marking the approach from the north are substantially modern.
A stone slab with a simple cross pecked on each face. It was found in 1960 and measures 17.75 inch x 10 inch x 1.75 inch. It is now kept in Manx Museum.
A flat, broken slab found close to the chapel at Lag ny Keeilley (IOMHER 1033.00) in 1907. It bears a simple cross on one face, deeply gouged into the stone.
This stone was found during excavation at Lag ny Keeilley (IOMHER 1033.00) by the Manx Archaeological Survey in 1909. It had been used to form the sill of the east window. A regularly shaped slab, both faces are incised with a simple cross towards one end. One face is further decorated with two smaller crosses, each with an extra cross-bar and set on a little triangular base. The other face also has a tiny cross inscribed in outline. The cross is displayed at the Manx Museum.
A roughly rectangular stone found at Lag ny Keeilley (PRN 1033) in 1960. The slab bears on each face a simple pecked cross. On one side the cross is formed of shallow cuts, and the top and both side limbs extend almost to the edge of the stone.
On the other side the cross is similar but more roughly worked, with indications of a possible circular frame. The surface of the stone is prone to flaking, and some detail may have been lost.
A roughly oval slab found at Lag ny Keeilley (IOMHER 1033.00) in 1970. The bottom part of the stone appears to have been broken away. An unequal-armed cross is crudely pecked into one face.
This stone was found during maintenance work at Lag ny Keeilley (IOMHER 1033.00) in 1994, in loose stones derived from the excavations of 1909 by the Manx Archaeological Survey. The broken slab bears the remains of a simple cross on one face.
This stone was found during maintenance work at Lag ny Keeilley (IOMHER 1033.00) in 1994, in masonry built up to thicken the west wall of the chapel structure north of the doorway. The slab bears a simple cross on one face.
This stone was found during maintenance work at Lag ny Keeilley (IOMHER 1033.00) in 1994, in masonry built up to thicken the west wall of the chapel structure north of the doorway. The slab bears a simple cross on one face.
This slab was found during excavation at Lag ny Keeilley (IOMHER 1033.00) by the Manx Archaeological Survey in 1909. It bears a simply incised cross in outline, with equal upper arms and an extended and expanded lower limb.
This slab was found during excavation at Lag ny Keeilley (IOMHER 1033.000) by the Manx Archaeological Survey in 1909. It has a simple cross on each face. One side is more weathered than the other, and may once have borne an equal limbed cross, while the other has a 'latin' cross, with the lower arm longer than the others.
Medieval cell.
The site was investigated by the Manx Archaeological Survey in 1908, during which the chapel and burial ground enclosure were surveyed.
Just below the enclosure on the north side are the remains of a small building which the Survey interpreted as a cell occupied by the priest using the keeill.
Beyond to the north lies a square enclosure partly formed out of a hollow in the hillside. No burials have been detected in this area, and its presence may be entirely coincidental: the enclosure may have been a fold for animals, and the cell a shelter for a shepherd.
Medieval chapel, burial ground and cell. The site was investigated by the Manx Archaeological Survey in 1908. It lies on a slight terrace within a steep cleft on the west side of a hill: the name means 'the hollow of the chapel'.
The Survey found the chapel to be orientated east-west, with the door in the west gable. The structure measures 4 by 2.6m internally. The walls stand to a maximum height of 1.2m, but lean inwards as a consequence of the weight of collapsed material bearing on them outside. Removal of some of this material has revealed that the walls were strengthened historically, increasing their thickness to between 1 and 1.3m. The cills of the east window and the south window (close to the east end of the south wall) were recognised, and the fallen head of the east window was found when clearing rubble to reveal the base of the altar. The latter measures 1 by 0.6m and 0.3m high. A socket stone and lintel for the doorway were also discovered.
The chapel stands within an oval enclosure on a slight terrace, which was used as a burial ground - the site has produced a total of ten carved crosses which appear once to have served as grave-markers, though many of them were found built into the walls of the chapel.
The enclosure measures about 24 x 30m and has been artificially levelled by cutting into the slope on the east side. From this higher ground a bank has been extended about two thirds of the distance round the north end and a quarter of the way round the southern, thus defining the enclosure. An entrance from the south-east is marked by an upright stone, 1.2m high. The two cairns of stones marking the approach from the north are substantially modern.
Just below the enclosure on the north side are the remains of a small building which the Survey interpreted as the monk's cell, and beyond lies a square enclosure partly formed out of a hollow in the hillside: no burials have been detected in this area. Its presence may be entirely coincidental and it may have been a fold for animals.
Medieval chapel. The site was investigated by the Manx Archaeological Survey in 1908. It lies on a slight terrace within a steep cleft on the west side of a hill: the name means 'the hollow of the chapel'.
The Survey found the chapel to be orientated east-west, with the door in the west gable. The structure measures 4 by 2.6m internally. The walls stand to a maximum height of 1.2m, but lean inwards as a consequence of the weight of collapsed material bearing on them outside. Removal of some of this material has revealed that the walls were strengthened historically, increasing their thickness to between 1 and 1.3m.
The cills of the east window and the south window (close to the east end of the south wall) were recognised, and the fallen head of the east window was found when clearing rubble to reveal the base of the altar. The latter measures 1 by 0.6m and 0.3m high. A socket stone and lintel for the doorway were also discovered.
A number of cross slabs have been found incorporated into the masonry of the chapel and in collapsed material derived from it. Though all are relatively simple gravemarkers, Lag ny Keeilley is, after Maughold, the most productive site for such medieval crosses on the Island.
Medieval carved stone cross.
A simple gravemarker (Manx Cross 9) found close by the keeill during investigations by the Manx Archaeological Survey in 1909.
Medieval carved stone cross.
A slab bearing several incised crosses (Manx Cross 15) was found re-used as a sillstone within the east window opening of the keeill during investigations by the Manx Archaeological Survey in 1909.
Medieval carved stone cross.
A simple gravemarker (Manx Cross 34) found close by the keeill during investigations by the Manx Archaeological Survey in 1909.
Medieval carved stone cross.
A simple gravemarker (Manx Cross 201) found during maintenance work in 1994, in loose stones derived from the excavations of 1909 by the Manx Archaeological Survey.
