Bemaken Friary
The church stands at the centre of the farmyard with its east gable facing the road. Its most obvious feature is the now-blocked east window, only part of which survives above a later doorway; the surviving original dressed stonework defines a Gothic window. The original roof profile is also visible in the gable, and can just be seen in the stonework below the verges.
Inside, the creation of the doorway in the east gable has removed any evidence for an altar, though a recess where the south wall meets the gable almost certainly marks the position of a piscina. Door and window openings in the north and south walls have the shouldered lintel known as a 'Caenarvon arch', other examples of which may also be seen at Castle Rushen and the Monks' Bridge.
The west end of the building has been rebuilt, so the dressed stone surrounding a door and window in the west gable may not be original. The entire structure now measures about 19 by 7m, but due to the reconstruction of the west end it is not known whether this reflects the proportions of the original building.
The Friary Church is the only surviving building of the former religious house of Bemaken, and the other farm buildings are of various later periods. The church has a modern slate roof and is now used as a store. A plaque on the outside wall states that it is a protected monument.
Connections
Book Chapters
- Parish: Arbory
- Sheading: Rushen
- Grid Ref: SC2495570312
Sources
- Isle of Man Heritage Environment Record