Medieval pinfold.


One of two pinfolds for the parish of Kirk Christ Lezayre stood on the north side of the main road between Sulby and Ramsey at the mouth of Glen Auldyn. It was annotated as such on the Ordnance Survey 1:2500 First Edition mapping of 1869, and was indentified as OS Plot no. 2263, centred at the grid reference provided.


In 1940 the pinfold was described as measuring approximately 43 feet by 27 feet, with walls standing more than 6 feet high, built of stone throughout and with frequent evidence of repair. The entrance was in the centre of the south wall facing the road, with two slate jamb-stones standing more than 5 feet high, but no sign of a lintel. A stone projected from the outer face of the wall to one side of the entrance, apparently to facilitate inspection of the animals impounded within.


The entrance has since been widened to allow vehicular access, and is presently closed by a field gate.


Each parish was responsible for the maintenance and repair of its own pinfold. Their origins are uncertain although an early statute of 1422 confirms that the customary laws relating to their maintenance and use were already well established.