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Lorn House Keeill

Archaeology

The site of an early medieval chapel or keeill and burial ground thought to date to the period A.D. 500-1000. There have been no visible remains of a keeill within living memory. During a visit in 1898 by the IoM Natural History & Antiquarian Society it was reported that graves had been found on the site and that stones had been removed from it for use in the construction of a nearby stable in 1825.  


The site occupied the top of a low rise in a meadow when visited by J.R. Bruce in 1963-4. The burial ground, about 25 metres long on its longer axis, formed a slightly raised area of which the border is more evident on the north side.


The site consists of the grass-covered, flat-topped summit of a low hill which falls within a paddock associated with a private house. The Ordnance Survey First Edition 1:2500 mapping of 1867 shows a subcircular embanked enclosure at the grid reference provided, together with the annotation, 'Chapel & Burial Ground (Site of)'.  The enclosure measured approximately 24m across.  The beginnings of a second embanked enclosure are shown on the same survey immediately to the northeast but are cut by a modern roadway and do not reappear on the other side of the road.


Further graves have been reportedly found elsewhere within the grounds of the property: these include several burials close to the house, approximately 150m from the enclosure. Traces of the burial ground were reportedly seen in 1898 and some bones found. Lintel graves have been noted, including one found to the east-southeast of the keeill site in 1954 and examined by B.R.S. Megaw and A.M. Cubbon of Manx Museum.


Several reminiscences collected in the mid-20th century amongst local residents suggested, by way of the name Keeill Woirrey, that the chapel had been dedicated to St Mary. No separate corroboration of this oral tradition has been identified: it should be noted that the chapel just 400m to the south-southwest (PRN 0032) shares the same dedication.

Castletown

Connections

Book Chapters

  • Parish: Malew
  • Sheading: Rushen
  • Grid Ref: SC2671067720

Sources

  • Isle of Man Heritage Environment Record
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