The Ordnance Survey First Edition 1:2500 map of 1868 records "St Catherine's Chapel Burial Ground" here and marks the site at the grid reference provided.
The Manx Archaeological Survey (1968) describes the site as well authenticated though no remains are now visible. Durham's survey of the Island (1595, published by Speed, 1605) marked the chapel, and the Survey notes sources that record that a 17th century owner of the site was responsible for its demolition.
The Survey observes that the Ordnance Survey siting of the burial ground on high ground immediately west of the neighbouring stream would seem a likely position for the chapel. The Rev E.B. Savage in 1885 records that graves had been found there. Local tradition suggests a siting on lower ground by the stream (SC 22807012). This is highly improbable as the area is liable to occasional flooding.
Within a dozen or so yards of the keeill site, the little Bellabbey stream is spanned by a large flat stone, locally reputed to be the 'altar stone'. It is 5 foot 6 inch in length, 2 foot 6 inch wide, and very thick and heavy, far too substantial for an altar stone. It is devoid of any markings.
There are no remains to be seen of either a chapel or burial ground. Of the two postulated sites the OS site seems more likely as it follows the traditional siting of keeills on natural eminences. The stream-side site was pointed out by Mr. M. Walker of Bellabbey Farm and vague traces of what may be foundations are discernible. The stream too, appears to have been diverted to avoid this point but the area as a whole has been landscaped in the past and it is impossible to assess the significance of the hummocky ground indicated by Mr Walker. The alleged Altar Slab still serves as a slab bridge but nothing can be inferred from its appearance as it is devoid of markings.
This round-headed slab was re-used as a lintel over a door before being recovered north of the church. One face is decorated with a wheel-headed cross. Like Manx Cross 93 it is similarly carefully proportioned and decorated with a plaited interlace motif. On either side of the shaft can be seen two anthropomorphic beasts. Both figures face away from the cross, each sitting on a spiral or 'volute' which provides an expanded base for the cross.
The spiral motif is repeated on the arm and leg joints of both beasts. The beast on the left is better preserved than its partner on the right: it is possible to see its small eye, pronounced snout, many teeth, and long, pendulous tongue, which is wrapped around its wrist. At the base of the slab is a rare Manx example of a 'fylfot', a symbol made up of four linked spirals. Its presence has been suggested to indicate links and influences from Cumbria and Ireland.
Medieval carved stone cross, site of.
The Ordnance Survey 1:2500 First Edition mapping of 1867-8 bears the annotation 'St Catherine's: Sculptured Stones': the map defines the front garden of the dwelling, and three dots mark the sites of the crosses. The grid reference relates to one of the three sites recorded by the OS in 1867-8.
One of the crosses is a gable cross, an architectural fragment rather than a sculpted memorial.
The other two stones are fragments of carved cross slabs (Manx Cross 93 and Manx Cross 141). These were first illustrated by the local artist W Kinnebrook, who produced etchings of them in 1841, at which time he recorded them as being in 'Mrs Quane's garden in the village of Onchan.' The stones were later reported to form part of a rockery, which may be the reason for their position recorded by the OS.
There is no indication, either in the form of other archaeological remains or local tradition, to explain how the stones came to be at St Catherine's.
By 1892, two of the crosses had recently been moved to the garden of Hawthorn Villa (the 1867-8 OS map shows this property to be at SC3999278337: it is now the local authority office), and were there seen in the course of an excursion by the IoM Natural History and Antiquarian Society; the excursion account states that they had since been moved to the parish church, where they are displayed today.
Medieval carved stone crosses, site of.
The Ordnance Survey 1:2500 First Edition mapping of 1867-8 bears the annotation 'St Catherine's: Sculptured Stones': the map defines the front garden of the dwelling, and three dots mark the sites of the crosses. The grid reference is centred on the house and garden curtilage.
One of the crosses is a gable cross, an architectural fragment rather than a sculpted memorial.
The other two stones are fragments of carved cross slabs (Manx Cross 93 and Manx Cross 141). These were first illustrated by the local artist W Kinnebrook, who produced etchings of them in 1841, at which time he recorded them as being in 'Mrs Quane's garden in the village of Onchan.' The stones were later reported to form part of a rockery, which may be the reason for their position recorded by the OS.
There is no indication, either in the form of other archaeological remains or local tradition, to explain how the stones came to be at St Catherine's.
By 1892, two of the crosses had recently been moved to the garden of Hawthorn Villa (the 1867-8 OS map shows this property to be at SC3999278337: it is now the local authority office), and were there seen in the course of an excursion by the IoM Natural History and Antiquarian Society; the excursion account states that they had since been moved to the parish church, where they are displayed today.
Medieval carved stone cross, site of.
The Ordnance Survey 1:2500 First Edition mapping of 1867-8 bears the annotation 'St Catherine's: Sculptured Stones': the map defines the front garden of the dwelling, and three dots mark the sites of the crosses. The grid reference relates to one of the three sites recorded by the OS in 1867-8.
One of the crosses is a gable cross, an architectural fragment rather than a sculpted memorial.
The other two stones are fragments of carved cross slabs (Manx Cross 93 and Manx Cross 141). These were first illustrated by the local artist W Kinnebrook, who produced etchings of them in 1841, at which time he recorded them as being in 'Mrs Quane's garden in the village of Onchan.' The stones were later reported to form part of a rockery, which may be the reason for their position recorded by the OS.
There is no indication, either in the form of other archaeological remains or local tradition, to explain how the stones came to be at St Catherine's.
By 1892, two of the crosses had recently been moved to the garden of Hawthorn Villa (the 1867-8 OS map shows this property to be at SC3999278337: it is now the local authority office), and were there seen in the course of an excursion by the IoM Natural History and Antiquarian Society; the excursion account states that they had since been moved to the parish church, where they are displayed today.
Medieval carved stone cross, site of.
The Ordnance Survey 1:2500 First Edition mapping of 1867-8 bears the annotation 'St Catherine's: Sculptured Stones': the map defines the front garden of the dwelling, and three dots mark the sites of the crosses. The grid reference relates to one of the three sites recorded by the OS in 1867-8.
One of the crosses is a gable cross, an architectural fragment rather than a sculpted memorial.
The other two stones are fragments of carved cross slabs (Manx Cross 93 and Manx Cross 141). These were first illustrated by the local artist W Kinnebrook, who produced etchings of them in 1841, at which time he recorded them as being in 'Mrs Quane's garden in the village of Onchan.' The stones were later reported to form part of a rockery, which may be the reason for their position recorded by the OS.
There is no indication, either in the form of other archaeological remains or local tradition, to explain how the stones came to be at St Catherine's.
By 1892, two of the crosses had recently been moved to the garden of Hawthorn Villa (the 1867-8 OS map shows this property to be at SC3999278337: it is now the local authority office), and were there seen in the course of an excursion by the IoM Natural History and Antiquarian Society; the excursion account states that they had since been moved to the parish church, where they are displayed today.
The site of the spring is now covered over, though it emanates from under the roadway and flows out onto the adjacent beach. The well was traditionally famous for the healing virtue of its waters, and it remained a favourite source of drinking water until the end of the 19th century; the spring was latterly covered in and a pump-standard provided for the convenience of local residents. This was removed when piped water supply became available.
William Milner, a philanthropist who resided in Port Erin until his death in 1874 erected a stone nearby, inscribed 'St Catherine's Well - Keep me clear'. Since 1923 this has been secured on top of a low wall above the well site.
Medieval holy well.
The Ordnance Survey First Edition 1:2500 map of 1868 records "St Catherine's Well", though no symbol locates the actual site. A modern stone wall defines the site, which lies at the given grid reference.
The Manx Archaeological Survey (1968) notes that the well has long been a place of 'traditional resort', though its waters were not known for any curative qualities. The well was closely associated with St Catherine's Fair, which was formerly held in the adjacent field. The well was surrounded by rough masonry, obviously not 'ancient' but unaltered within living memory.
Prior to the advent of a piped water-supply, the well supplied house and farm, but the Survey recorded that in recent years the well had been neglected and was approachable only through an extensive area of mud. The well has since been cleared.
A brass plaque is mounted in the Chapel of Remembrance. The Chapel of Remembrance was created by the removal of several pews on the north side of St George's church. It is now panelled in wood and bordered by a wooden screen. Seats have been provided and it serves as a small chapel for Communion.
The chapel was unveiled and dedicated in January 1929. It was erected by Messrs Jones and Willis, church-furnishers of Liverpool.
31 names listed by alphabetical order; First World War. Grey stone plaque with gold inscription by Archibald Knox.
Memorial was formerly located inside St Barnabas Church, Fort Street, Douglas. It was later relocated to St George's Church, Douglas c.1957 when St Barnabas Church was closed. St Barnabas Church was demolished in 1969 and St George's Church became the united parish of St George's and St Barnabas, on the instructions of the Lord Bishop of Sodor and Mann.
The memorial was designed and sculpted by Archibald Knox. It was installed at personal expense and dedicated by the Lord Bishop of Sodor and Mann, G.E. Gordon, M.A.
The site of a modern watermill. The Ordnance Survey First edition mapping of 1869 shows a mill race leading to an unmarked structure at this location.
The building began life as a flour mill in the 1850s, operated by a proprietor named Moughtin. A Lancashire silk weaver, Egbert Rydings invested in the mill in the early 1880s together with prominent artist and philanthropist John Ruskin's Guild of St George, converting and extending the building to provide space for carding, dyeing, spinning and weaving. Additional buildings were progressively constructed on a 90 metre frontage of land along the Laxey River and Glen Road providing outhouses and drying sheds. The mill was subsequently operated by a succession of owners and managers, using a range of powered machinery, before converting to the handlooms in use today.
The mill complex was served by water drawn from a weir 140 metres upstream along a mill race. Water would once have been augmented by water recycled or returned to the river from the washing floors. A short tail race returned water to the river immediately downstream.
The site of a modern corn mill. The Ordnance Survey First edition mapping of 1869 shows a mill race leading to an unmarked structure at this location. The building began life as a flour mill in the 1850s, operated by a proprietor named Moughtin. Within twenty years cornmilling ceased, and the mill was later converted for textile manufacture and subsequently operated by a succession of owners and managers, using a range of water-powered machinery.
The site of a modern textile mill. The Ordnance Survey First edition mapping of 1869 shows a mill race leading to an unmarked structure at this location. The building was converted from a flour mill in the early 1880s by a Lancashire silk weaver, Egbert Rydings who invested in the mill together with prominent artist and philanthropist John Ruskin's Guild of St George.
The original mill was converted and extended to provide space for carding, dyeing, spinning and weaving, and additional buildings were progressively constructed on a 90 metre frontage of land along the Laxey River and Glen Road to serve as outhouses and drying sheds. The mill was subsequently operated by a succession of owners and managers, using a range of powered machinery, before converting to the handlooms in use today.
A collection of modern industrial outbuildings. A mill race is shown adjacent to this site on Ordnance Survey First edition mapping of 1869. The race initially served a flour mill in the 1850s, but this was converted into a textile mill in the early 1880s. The business expanded and progressively acquired more space for outhouses and drying sheds which were constructed on a 90 metre frontage of land along the Laxey River and Glen Road.
The Ordnance Survey First edition mapping of 1867 shows a weir at this location. The weir pooled water in the Laxey River which was then drawn via a 140 metre mill race to Moughtin's flour mill (1850), later St George's Woollen Mill. Remnants of the weir still survive although water is now managed by means of more recent weirs 15 metres and 20 metres upstream.
The course of a modern mill race. The Ordnance Survey First edition mapping of 1869 shows a mill race at this location. For mapping purposes the grid reference provided marks the tail of the race: its start is adjacent to the weir (see PRN 2369.40). The mill race served a corn mill built in the 1850s which was converted for textile manufacturing in the early 1880s. The race is now dry but part of its length still survives adjacent to the mill building.
The site of an early medieval burial ground associated with the early monastic settlement on St Patrick’s Isle. The earliest recorded remains are two lintel graves in the south transept of the cathedral. They were found in the only undisturbed area uncovered, and they were probably part of a larger cemetery which was disturbed by Medieval levelling and later burials. They are of 5th - 8th century date and confirm the tradition that Peel Island was the site of an early ecclesiastical community founded by St German, who died about 476 AD.
St German’s Cathedral was founded in the early 13th century on site of 5th-8th century monastic cemetery and church. Some of the earliest surviving fabric is found in the north and south walls of the chancel, where plain walling of slate rubble, with some sandstone that includes the dressed stone of the ach mouldings to the lancet windows is thought to date to work undertaken c,1226 under the direction of Bishop Simon, representing the first phase of development at the cathedral.
Under the chancel of St German’s Cathedral is a massive vault of 13 ribs placed there after the chancel was built. It is contemporary with the north wall of the nave and thought to date to circa AD1300, representing the second phase of development at the cathedral.
The nave arcade of St German’s Cathedral is built in red sandstone ashlar with circular pillars and thought to date to the mid-14th century, representing the third phase of development at the cathedral.
