During groundworks associating with the construction of the small reservoir which once prvided water for Castletown, a burial mound was discovered from which a Neolithic pottery sherd of Ronaldsway type was recovered.
The precise location of the discovery is not known, but as most of the footprint of the reservoir lies in the historic parish of Rushen, the find has been located to this parish rather than Arbory.
The Ordnance Survey 1:2500 large-scale mapping published in 1870 shows a large burial mound at the grid reference provided. A Neolithic stone axehead, of GRoup VI Langdale type, was found in the tumulus and is now in the Manx Museum collections. The mound was described as 'razed' by 1930, and is today completely ploughed down.
The place-name Le Mod, or Ny Mod, derived from the same root as 'moot', or meeting, used to be attached to the mound.
The remains of burial ground have been recorded here, about 620 yards southeast of Keeill Pharlane, within the Treen of Scarclowte (Scarlet). The keeill has long since vanished, but a grass-covered, roughly circular enclosure with internal measurements of 31.0m x 27.0m survives. It is defined by by a grass-covered bank with an average width of 4.0m and an average height of 0.4m. There is no trace of any internal building.
No early investigation appears to have been made except being 'pointed out' on an NHAS visit in 1913. The site was visited by J.R. Bruce on many occasions up to 1966. The burial-ground enclosure could be best traced in low evening light, standing up to 0.45 metres above the general ground level but nothing could be seen of the keeill-site.
Traces of a relict field system of possible prehistoric or early medieval date have been noted here. When recorded the land was cultivated and quite flat. Further fragments of the same field system were reported along the cliff edge to the south and south-east and back towards Scarlett Point. All these fragments lie outside the stone walls which belong to a phase of enclosure of circa 1870. The relict features only exist on the rough ground of the headland and in the one field containing the 'site of Keeill Scarlett Burial Ground.
The remains of burial ground have been recorded here, about 620 yards southeast of Keeill Pharlane, within the Treen of Scarclowte (Scarlett). The keeill has long since vanished, but a grass-covered, roughly circular enclosure with internal measurements of 31.0m x 27.0m survives. It is defined by by a grass-covered bank with an average width of 4.0m and an average height of 0.4m. There is no trace of any internal building.
No early investigation appears to have been made except being 'pointed out' on an NHAS visit in 1913. The site was visited by J.R. Bruce on many occasions up to 1966. The burial-ground enclosure could be best traced in low evening light, standing up to 0.45 metres above the general ground level but nothing could be seen of the keeill-site.
A large, prostrate stone, partly embedded in turf, is shown on Ordnance Survey 1:10560 scale map of 1868. It was raised and inspected by Mr Leighton Stowell and J.R. Bruce in 1966 but no artificial markings were observed. Evidently a stone with markings of 'circles and a sort of zig-zag' were seen by Stowell in the area, circa 1916. An isolated boulder also marked on Ordnance Survey 1:10560 scale map of 1868 and on the Ordnance Survey 1:2500 scale map of 1868 at SC 25096650) was also devoid of artificial markings.
Undated standing stone and post medieval ridge and furrow.
The boulder stands 0.9m high with sides of 0.8 and 0.6 m respectively. The surrounding land has been noted for the survival of ridge and furrow and this is still evident running WSW-ENE parallel with the field boundary to the SE.
The stone is not particularly prominent as a landscape feature, and does not appear to mark an existing or lost boundary.
It is noteworthy that the stone is not recorded on the Ordnance Survey 1:2500 First Edition mapping of 1868.
Undated standing stone.
This boulder stands 0.9m high with sides of 0.8 and 0.6 m respectively. The stone is not particularly prominent as a landscape feature, and does not appear to mark an existing or lost boundary.
It is noteworthy that the stone is not recorded on the Ordnance Survey 1:2500 First Edition mapping of 1868.
Neolithic pottery.
A prehistoric urn was uncovered during routine agricultural ploughing on 26th May 1955. The discovery was reported to JR Bruce of the Manx Museum and the site investigated the following day.
The urn proved to be a round-based Neolithic pot of the Ronaldsway type, and had been buried wedged between rough slabs of the local stone. The farm workers who discovered the site reported that the pot had been covered by one or two slabs, and that when these were initially disturbed the pot appeared to be empty.
The urn had been perforated by stones from below and partially compressed by a slab to one side, and was recovered in several pieces. Several detached sherds were recovered from a midden lying just to the north of the findspot, where they had been placed by one of the farmworkers the day before.
The excavation report suggests that the slabs around the pot were not part of a deliberate structure, but were instead a natural occurrence in what was otherwise a noticeably stoney field. Nevertheless, together with the covering slabs they appear to have formed a structure which was effective in preventing soil from entering the mouth of the vessel, which was empty.
A brief handwritten account of the discovery and excavation was prepared by Bruce, along with a set of photographs, which together allow the findspot to be quite accurately located. The site lies on a slight eminence in a sloping field with a south-easterly aspect, which Bruce noted was locally referred to as 'the Cronk Field', perhaps alluding to the former presence of a mound.
The urn was donated by the landowner and is now in the Manx National Heritage collections, accession no. 1983-0209.
Modern watermill and associated water management.
The Ordnance Survey 1:2500 First Edition mapping of 1868 shows a corn mill at this location. The mill is fed via a short leat from two millponds which lie immediately to the north.
Planning approval has been given to convert the mill for domestic use.
Modern watermill.
The Ordnance Survey 1:2500 First Edition mapping of 1868 shows a corn mill at this location.
The mill has been converted for domestic use.
Modern millpond.
The Ordnance Survey 1:2500 First Edition mapping of 1868 shows a millpond at this location. Together with a second millpond to the north, these provided waterpower to a corn mill located a short distance to the south.
The millpond is quarried from bedrock but is now drained.
Modern millpond.
The Ordnance Survey 1:2500 First Edition mapping of 1868 shows a millpond at this location. Together with a second millpond to the south, these provided waterpower to a corn mill located a short distance to the south.
The millpond is retained by a masonry dam along its south side and still contains water, although it now only covers approximately 60% of the area recorded by the 1868 survey.
Post medieval ridge and furrow.
The land surrounding the standing stone is notable for the survival of ridge and furrow and this is still clearly evident running WSW-ENE parallel with the field boundary to the SE.
Worked flints, including flakes and scrapers, of indeterminate late Mesolithic or Neolithic type, were found at School Hill by Canon Quine c.1919.
The name School Hill was centred at the grid reference provided on maps pre-dating the residential development that has now occurred over the site.
The site of a post-medieval corn mill, shown on the 1869 1:2500 scale Ordnance Survey map. It was powered by water supplied by a mill leat from the south which fed a large, dammed mill pond. The mill stood to the north of the pond and the mill race flowed past the mill and continued northwards, returning the water to the stream.
The site of a post-medieval corn mill, shown on the 1869 1:2500 scale Ordnance Survey map. It was powered by water supplied by a mill leat from the south which fed a large, dammed mill pond. A dam formed the eastern end of the pond, with the mill race entering the pond from the south and exiting to the north. Two further dammed ponds are shown on the 1870 map to the northeast.
The site of a post-medieval corn mill, shown on the 1869 1:2500 scale Ordnance Survey map. It was powered by water supplied by a mill leat from the south which fed a large, dammed mill pond. A dam formed the eastern end of the pond, with the mill race entering the pond from the south and exiting to the north. Two further dammed ponds are shown on the 1870 map to the northeast.
Modern horsewalk.
The Ordnance Survey First Edition 1:2500 map of 1868 shows a horsewalk at this location.
This was a covered structure and it still survives.