The site of a deserted farmstead known as 'The Close' is situated on the high moorland in the northern extremity of Braddan parish.  It was the home of a celebrated preacher 'Illiam y Close' or William Cowley, who died in 1848.  


The farm was possibly established before 1706 as the earliest date associated with the site is an inscription 'IC:1706' on one of the slate stones of the existing stable. Presumably this refers to a member of the Cowley family who built (or rebuilt) the stable in that year.  


The layout of The Close farmstead can be described as scattered, as no attempt was made to group the buildings. 50 metres north of the house, on the left bank of the streamlet which flows from the Flax-dub, are the remains of a corn-drying kiln (PRN 0718.10), which measures 6.4 metres x 3 metres overall (SC 36768927).  A lime kiln is located at NGR SC 36578819 (PRN 0718.20). All the buildings of the Close, except the stable, are shown as roofless on the 1870 1:2500 scale Ordnance Survey map. The fields around the farmstead are ridged in long broad butts.