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St Mary's Chapel, Keeill Woirrey

Archaeology

The site of St Mary's chapel and burial ground (Keeill Moirrey). The keeill is thought to date to AD 500-1000. No feature identifiable as a chapel or burial ground enclosure remains today and the area is now covered by fern, gorse and grass. The ground slightly falls away to the south but the slopes appear to be natural. 


The Ordnance Survey's 6 inch map of 1868 shows a banked enclosure here, apparently about 80 feet in diameter, but more recent 6 inch maps omit the feature and renders the name 'Keeill Woirrey', according with the present local pronunciation. The field name 'Keeill Wornish' occurs in a Deed of Conveyance of 1892 and is also recorded by Gill. 


No foundations of the keeill or associated burials appear to have been recorded from the site. The site is heavily overgrown with gorse and it is almost impossible to define its borders. It appears, however, to contain no vestige of banks or walling. In the vicinity are several spoil heaps, doubtless connected with the nearby waterworks (Lower Ballacannell Reservoir).

Connections

Book Chapters

  • Parish: Arbory
  • Sheading: Rushen
  • Grid Ref: SC2278073000

Sources

  • Isle of Man Heritage Environment Record
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