Medieval pinfold.


The parish pinfold for Kirk Onchan stood on the west side of the main highroad near Hillberry. It was not annotated as such on the Ordnance Survey 1:2500 First Edition mapping of 1867-8, but is indicated as OS Plot no. 1102, centred at the grid reference provided.


In 1940 the pinfold was described as rectangular with sod hedging on three sides faced internally with unmortared stones. The entrance, in the centre of the east wall, appeared more recent, stone-built, and with a slate lintel.


In 1971 the site was still complete, though it appeared that the east wall had been rebuilt, as the entrance was placed at the south end of the east wall. The enclosure was recorded as measuring 14.7m E-W, and 14m N-S.


The pinfold has since been heavily altered as a result of road improvements.


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.