Medieval and Modern lookout.


An early 17th century manuscript in the Castle Rushen Papers records, on a parish-by-parish basis, an arrangement whereby a coastal watch was kept for potentially unfriendly shipping. It has been suggested by BRS Megaw (director of the Manx Museum 1940-57) that this system of 'watch and ward' had its origins in Norse times (1941), whilst more recently Johnson (2002) has proposed that promontory forts reoccupied during the medieval period formed part of the system.


The document lists 'hills of the day watch', and of the two for the parish of Onchan one is recorded as Howe (modern Howstrake), and the warden recorded in 1627 as Thomas Banks. Banks' Howe is an alternative historical name for Howestrake.


The summit of the Howe lies at the grid reference provided, and is marked by a trigonometric pillar. No obvious feature has been identified which might indicate that a structure of some kind formerly stood in the vicinity. The hilltop and surrounding area are now occupied by a golfcourse.


In 1627, the port for the night watch (from which sentries listened for signs of nightime activity) was at the nearby Port Conchan (modern Onchan Harbour), for which the warden was likewiseThomas Banks.