Neolithic chambered tomb. Despite its name, which is an invention of local folklore, the tomb was begun as much as 6,000 years ago, and comprises two separate chambered monuments. It is a rare example of two such tombs built in such close proximity that they have become confused as one. The two tombs were probably constructed several hundred years apart.


The westerly tomb comprises two rectangular chambers built using massive slabs of local stone which may have been collected from several miles around. The original construction involved the chamber nearer the house, but a second, subdivided chamber was later built and a forecourt added at the end furthest to the south-west which took the form of a shallow horseshoe overlooking the nearby gully and the main Laxey valley. Only one tall stone and the stumps of several others survive to indicate how these standing stones held back a cairn of rubble which was built up over the burial chambers. The early part of the structure is comparable with Cotwold tombs, whilst the forecourt is reminiscent of tombs in south-west Scotland and Northern Ireland.