This promontory fort was known as Castal y Vuggane Mooar. It is located on the coast about 550 metres northwest of Ballanayre. Only a small part of this fort as shown on the 1869 1:2500 scale Ordnance Survey map now remains. The remainder has been destroyed by coast erosion and since 1869 a little more has been eroded away. At present there is evidence of cracking and slipping in the west and northwest.
The grass covered fort, in which there is no visible trace of a dwelling, takes advantage of the natural defences supplied by precipitous cliffs to the west, north and northwest and steep-sided stream courses to the northeast and southwest leaving a narrow neck of land between these two latter features. Across this narrow neck a bank 1.5 m upper width, 1.3 maximum internal height and 3.0 m maximum external height has been constructed. A general lowering of the bank and absence of inner slopes creates a possible 2.5 m wide entrance. The ground to the southwest of the bank's southern end as shown on the 1869 map has slipped considerably. There may have an entrance at this point. There is no visible trace of an outer ditch but if there had been one it would probably have been ploughed out as the plough has been up to the foot of the bank.
Prehistoric flint scatter.
A single worked prehistoric flint was recovered from 'Bullycowell' by CH Cowley.
No further details concerning the discovery were recorded and the grid reference relates to the farmstead for indicative purposes only.
The antiquary Charles Harry Cowley was an avid collector of worked flint and coarse stone artefacts revealed by agricultural activity, mainly on farms located around Peel, and occasionally from further afield. He was active from 1900 until 1943. His entire collection of artefacts, together with a daybook cataloguing his discoveries, was later donated to Manx National Heritage.
The conjectured site of a stone circle. When surveyed, it was found that the only stones at this spot are small ones built into the field bank. They were examined but none fitting the description of a part of a stone circle were found.
Second World War. Slate mounted on stone obelisk.
Slate mounted below memorial inscribed with following information: Architect - Anthony Kellett. Construction - Stuart Clague / Edward Kelly. Plaque - David Gregg. Service for the unveiling and dedication of the memorial took place in the Arboretum, St John's on 16 July 1995, in the presence of the National Chairman Sir Bernard Chacksfield, K.B.E., C.B., and Lady Chacksfield. The service was conducted by the Rev. R.E. Cubbon, M.B.E.
Modern watermill.
Early 19th century newspapers advertise the sale of land on which a ruined mill was standing 'at the further end of the sand' (meaning the north end of Douglas Bay); included in the sale are 'also the dam and remaining walls of the said mill'.
From this it is clear that the mill was water-powered. The precise site of the mill and dam are unknown, although the source of power can only have been from what is now named Summerhill Glen.
The grid reference is placed below the cliff line, in line with the stream, which is now culverted for much of its lower course.
Modern watermill.
Early 19th century newspapers advertise the sale of land on which a ruined mill was standing 'at the further end of the sand' (meaning the north end of Douglas Bay); included in the sale are 'also the dam and remaining walls of the said mill'.
From this it is clear that the mill was water-powered. The precise site of the mill and millpond are unknown, although the source of power can only have been from what is now named Summerhill Glen.
The newspaper references (Manks Advertiser, 1812-1814) are confirmed by the will of Robert Heywood dated 1808 which refers to the 'ground of burnt mill near the shore', and for much of the 19th century the adjacent track, now a road, was known as Burnt Mill Hill (now Summerhill).
The grid reference is placed below the cliff line, in line with the stream, which is now culverted for much of its lower course.
Modern millpond.
Early 19th century newspapers advertise the sale of land on which a ruined mill was standing 'at the further end of the sand' (meaning the north end of Douglas Bay); included in the sale are 'also the dam and remaining walls of the said mill'.
From this it is clear that the mill was water-powered. The precise site of the millpond is unknown, although it must have been fed from what is now named Summerhill Glen.
Summerhill Glen was later the site of a waterworks operated by Douglas Corporation, and the arrangements for water management present in the glen today reflect this later development.
The grid reference is placed within the lower part of the glen, which appears the most likely and practical location for the dam mentioned in the early 19th century newspapers.
An outcrop of bedrock at SC17626642 bears a number of approximately circular depressions. They have an average diameter of 70mm, an average depth of 30mm and cover an area 0.5m across. Their date and purpose is unknown.
At SC17676644 lies a sub-circular feature, possibly representing a roundhouse. The structure is obscured by vegetation, but a scooped out interior measuring approximately 3m in diameter is visible. The walls are 2m wide, 0.3m externally and 0.4m inside. Stone has been observed in the wall but none is presently visible.
A second, larger roundhouse lies at SC17656643. It has an internal diameter of 5.5m, with 2m thick walls. Again the interior is lower, such that the walls stand 0.5m high internally an 0.2m outside.
A third structure lies at SC17636642. It is apparent as two unconnected curved banks, which have a strong stone content. The surviving lengths are 10m and 12m respectively and the walls stand 0.3m high and 2m wide. The curved walls suggest a classic longhouse-type structure.
It is possible that Burroo Ned was used as a look-out during the Norse and medieval period, as part of a watch-and-ward system of coastal defence, and the building may have been constructed for shelter for the militia undertaking these duties.
Defended promontory. This distinctive site is unlike other promontory forts found elsewhere around the Island. While the site makes use of precipitous cliffs to the seaward side there are no gullies or re-entrants to shorten its artificial defences to the landward. The protection of the unusually large enclosure relies on a weak and much denuded bank with an average width of 5m, an internal height of less than 1m and an external height of 1.5m, and chiefly on the deliberate positioning of this bank on the crest of the ridge that crosses the headland from north-east to south-west. No original entrance has been detected.
The footings of two sub-circular and one sub-rectangular structure are apparent within the enclosure. Several areas of exposed bedrock are pockmarked with numerous small artificial hollows, the purpose of which is not certain. They have been seen as cup-marks, but may have a more practical use as shallow footings for signal posts or sea-marks.
This has been identified as the site of a possible promontory fort. A possible rampart, has been described, with a built-up entrance to the west. It has been speculated that it may be of both Iron Age and Early Medieval date. Across this neck of the promontory is a linear rock outcrop with evidence of the artificial infilling of some gaps, one of which is up to 30 metres long, with an inner height of 2.0 metres. A second gap was 1.5 metres wide, with an inner height of 0.6 metres, and may originally have served as an entrance point. From the rock outcrop the land slopes steeply down to the north, falling away by some 5.0 metres. There is no visible trace of an outer ditch, any internal structure or a definite entrance. The site cannot be compared to any other known examples on the island except for its size, which is comparable to the Early Medieval forts.
SC 15236594
Bushell's House is a ruined structure which was thought to stand on the site of an early medieval keeill or chapel and a burial ground. The ruins appear to be those of a small, supposedly cruciform building which is said to have been used by the 17th century adventurer and prospector Thomas Bushell, who lived in self-imposed exile on the Calf of Man during the period 1626-9.
The site was examined by Bruce and Neely in September 1931, who reported that the remains were not compatible with any known type of keeill and that there was no definite proof that they represented Bushell's residence.
They recorded the remains as consisting of the lowest courses of a narrow rectangular building, 55 feet long aligned due north and south. On the east side, an opening, 2 feet wide, appeared to be an original entrance, while on the same side a projecting wing formed a 'transept' to the main structure; there were indications of a counterpart to this wing on the west side. The foundation of a cross-wall was faintly visible and it is possible that the entire T-shaped area with its thinner walling may have been of a different date to the rest of the structure. There were also differences in construction between the east and west sides of the building. The west side was practically only a stone revetting to the earth bank beyond which the free standing east wall consisted of a number of large upright slabs connected by dry-walling laid in roughly horizontal courses. The east wall of the main building north of the modern building is 0.6 metres wide and is faced on the east side with upright stone slabs about 0.4 metres high.
The site may have been robbed of stone by the Ordnance Survey in 1866-68 to build an adjacent marker cairn. A small, ruined, rectangular hut has been built in the north-east angle of the projecting wing. It is situated on the highest and most exposed part of the island and seems more likely to be a look-out post than a normal dwelling.
There was no visible trace of a burial ground.
Medieval chapel and burial ground. The name means the 'chapel of the red ridge'. The structure is orientated WNW-ESE. In 1885 the chapel was described as measuring 5.8 by 3.1m internally, with walls 1.8m high, and a doorway towards the east end of the 'south' wall. In the 1920s and 1930s the structure was reduced almost to foundation level and rebuilt. Its dry stone walls are now 1.3m high internally, 0.5m externally and are 1m thick. There is an entrance 0.5m wide in the SW wall but no visible trace of an altar.
A mound once observed surrounding the chapel is now difficult to discern on the ground, unless represented by the line of the present boundary fence which was erected in 1937, but a cropmark suggesting an oval enclosure was apparent on aerial photography current in 2009. Finds include Edward I silver coins recovered from near the base of a wall, a hollowed boulder, a perforated slate disc, and a perforated slate slab.
