Medieval shieling.


The place name Ardarry (historical forms include Arderry and Ardary, modern forms include Ardairey and Ardery) relates to one of the primary land divisions known as 'treens'. Additionally, one of the four constituent quaterland farms within the treen also bore the name historically. The quarterland was latterly centred on a farmstead named Ballastroke, although the names Ardery and Ardairey is still closely associated. The grid reference is centred on Ballastroke. The Ordnance Survey of 1868 placed 'Ardairey' at SC2467570920, though this farm is now named Ballacurphey: it lies in the neighbouring treen of Ballafadda.


The name appears to derive from 'Ard-eary' meaning 'high shieling', relating to the practice of seasonal transhumance, or the moving of stock from lowland farmland to upland grazing during the summer months. There is extensive physical and place name evidence for the former practice on the Isle of Man.


Although there is no clear evidence for the sites of shielings on Ardairey, it is noteworthy that the treen shares the place name element '-eary' with two more of the nine treens which make up the parish of Arbory.