Medieval burial ground.


The Ordnance Survey 1:2500 First Edition mapping of 1867 shows the location of a chapel and burial ground at this location, formerly on Colby farm, together with the annotation, 'Site of St Nicholas' Chapel & Burial Ground'. Field boundaries to the west and north, and steep slopes to the south, define the location, within which the site is marked. The rectilinear form of the boundaries is unlikely to represent a cemetery enclosure, as these tend to be curvilinear.


The Manx Archaeological Survey (1915) records the site as lying on a knoll, and notes that the site is sometimes known as Cashtal Niglus on account of its obviously defensible position, suggestive of a fort, overlooking the lowest bridging point on the Laxey river and the mouth of a natural harbour. The Survey also draws attention to the survival of the chapel's dedication, which is comparatively rare for such sites on the Isle of Man.


The Survey makes no other comment about the site, implying that neither the chapel nor the burial ground were visible.


A Royal Commission field inspector in 1976 was similarly silent about the possible extent of the site.