The unlocated site of an early medieval chapel or keeill known as Keeill Vael which is thought to have been sited in Bride parish.
In a letter published in the Manx Advertiser of 7 September 1826 C. Radcliffe states that amongst other keeills in Bride was "Keeill Vael... if I remember right, dedicated either to Michael the Archangel, or St. Mael or Mel, one of the disciples of St Patrick, by whom his life was written."
The probable site of an early medieval keeill or chapel which would have been in use during the period circa AD500 to circa AD1000. This site was described by the Ordnance Survey as being 'Well-known as the site of an ancient Chapel. Mr Cubbon, on whose land the Chapel stands, removed the remains a few years ago when improving the field.' The name is now lost but the nearby Chibbyr Vael Well suggests a probable dedication to Michael.
The exact site of the keeill known as Keeill Vael, which gave its name to Glion Keeill Vael, mentioned in a deed of property near the head of Glen Auldyn, has not been located, Tthe name would seem to refer to the little glen formed by a stream from Barrule running north from the mountain road and opening into the larger glen between Ballameanagh and Balleighteragh. The approximate site of the Keeill would appear to have been in the fields shown as Plots 3243 or 3244 on the 1870 1:2500 scale Ordnance Survey map.
A slate slab with a cross incised on one face was found during excavations at Keeill Vael in 1979 before the site was flooded by the Sulby Reservoir. The stone measured 17 centimetres by 14 centimetres and 1.25 centimetres thick. The stone is now kept at the Manx Museum.
This stone was found during excavation at Keeill Vael (IOMHER 0806.00) in 1979. On one face the slab bears a simple incised cross with approximately equal length arms.
This stone was found during excavation at Keeill Vael (IOMHER 0806.00) in 1979. On one face of this irregular slab an incised and pecked cross has been carved, with equal upper, left and right arms and an extended lower arm. There are traces of a pecked border surrounding the cross.
This stone was found during excavation at Keeill Vael (IOMHER 0806.00) in 1980. One face of the slab bears a deeply incised cross augmented by many scratched strokes.
This stone was found during excavation at Keeill Vael (IOMHER 0806.00) in 1980. One face of the slab bears a crudely incised cross within an irregular incised frame. Two additional crosslets hang from the foot of the frame.
This stone was found during excavation at Keeill Vael (IOMHER 0806.00) in 1980. The slab is broken and appears to lack the lower end, as one arm of a cross formed by multiple scratched strokes is truncated.
This stone was found during excavation at Keeill Vael (IOMHER 0806.00) in 1980. The slab is almost rectangular, and bears an incised cross near the head of one face. The vertical line is formed from a single scratched line while the horizontal arm is made from two lines. None of the arms are of equal length.
Medieval chapel.
The site was investigated by the Manx Archaeological Survey (1915) and the remains of a medieval chapel were found to measure 7.2 by 3.8m internally. The Survey noted that the western end of the chapel was largely destroyed, and the structure is now obscured by field clearance stones. It lies within an enclosure about 45m long by 40m wide.
The site of the burial ground of an early medieval keeill or chapel, which would have been in use between circa AD500 and AD1000. St Matthew's Chapel or Keeill Vian was recorded by P.M.C. Kermode in 1915, when it had been part preserved through having been converted into a root-house.
The building stood within an enclosure was on a naturally raised plateau about 120 metres above sea level, but its bounds could not be clearly traced, but would be as shown on the 1870 1:2500 scale Ordnance Survey map. Graves had been found across the farm road and suggested that the burial ground extended further to the north. Many lintel graves had also been seen to north and west of the building.
Medieval chapel, alleged.
The Ordnance Survey 1:2500 First Edition mapping of 1867 marks the site of a chapel and burial ground at this location, together with the annotation 'Site of St Matthew's Chapel (Keeill Vian)'. A marker is placed on the alleged position of the chapel and an area of rough ground is defined, which could represent a burial enclosure.
The Manx Archaeological Survey (1915) briefly states that a keeill dedicated to St Matthew stood here. The Survey makes no mention of burials, and there is no tradition of any graves having been disturbed in the area.
A Royal Commission field inspector noted in 1976 that there were no surface remains of any kind, and expressed the view that the location was a most unlikely one for site of this type.
The site now lies within the garden curtilage of a modern dwelling.
Medieval chapel, alleged.
The Ordnance Survey 1:2500 First Edition mapping of 1867 marks the site of a chapel and burial ground at this location, together with the annotation 'Site of St Matthew's Chapel (Keeill Vian)'. A marker is placed on the alleged position of the chapel.
The Manx Archaeological Survey (1915) briefly states that a keeill dedicated to St Matthew stood here.
A Royal Commission field inspector noted in 1976 that there were no surface remains of any kind, and expressed the view that the location was a most unlikely one for site of this type.
The site now lies within the garden curtilage of a modern dwelling.
Medieval burial ground, alleged.
The Ordnance Survey 1:2500 First Edition mapping of 1867 marks the site of a chapel and burial ground at this location, together with the annotation 'Site of St Matthew's Chapel (Keeill Vian)'. An area of rough ground is defined, which could represent a burial enclosure.
The Manx Archaeological Survey (1915) briefly states that a keeill dedicated to St Matthew stood here. The Survey makes no mention of burials, and there is no tradition of any graves having been disturbed in the area.
A Royal Commission field inspector noted in 1976 that there were no surface remains of any kind, and expressed the view that the location was a most unlikely one for site of this type.
The site now lies within the garden curtilage of a modern dwelling.
The site of an early medieval keeill or chapel, which would have been in use between circa AD500 and AD1000. St Matthew's Chapel or Keeill Vian was recorded by P.M.C. Kermode in 1915, when the ruined walls were in part preserved through having been converted into a root-house. The chapel measured internally 7.0 metres x 3.9 metres and the walls, which stood generally up to their eaves, averaged in width 0.8 metres. The west end appeared to have been rebuilt and the building may have originally measured about 8.0 metres long. There was no trace of an altar. A doorway - possibly modern - was in the east wall with possible remains of a window in the south wall.
The building was orientated east-southeast to west-northwest. The walls were badly bulging and decayed so that Kermode was unable to examine the foundations. The side walls were skirted by stone slabs, set on end, which were a feature of some older keeills, but the thickness of the walls and style of construction throughout indicated that the building did not belong to the oldest period; the dedication of the Keeill to St Matthew also indicated this.
The enclosure was on a naturally raised plateau about 120 metres above sea level, but its bounds could not be clearly traced, but they were shown on the 1870 1:2500 scale Ordnance Survey map. Graves had been found across the farm road and suggested that the burial ground extended further to the north. Many lintel graves had also been seen to north and west of the building.
Remains of a keeill which is thought to have been in use between AD500 and AD1000. It is located on a small triangular easement of the old road leading from the top at Kennaa to Glen Elly on the treen of Ballahig. The north hedge of the road is the boundary of Ballagarman, which stands just to the east.
Very little remains of the building but during excavation by Mr R. Lace in 1910 traces of the west and east walls, the paved floor and indications of the altar were found. The remains of the keeill were orientated northwest to southeast and consist of the northwest wall, which measures 3.8 metres long, and the northeast wall, which measures 6.2 metres long and which appears as an extension of the road boundary. The walls are turf covered and average 0.7 metres wide and 0.3 metres high with some stone showing in the northwest wall where a farm track has cut through on the southwest side. There is now no visible trace of the altar or of the paved floor. The location of these remains fits the historical, topographical, description of the site but they have not been confirmed as the remains of a chapel.
A fragment of a slate cross-slab bearing one limb of an incised cross was found at the site of Keeill Vreeshey in 1908. It measured 15.2 centimetres x 15.2 centimetres x 3.2 centimetres. The fragment has been lost.
This fragment of a slab was found in 1908 close to the altar at Keeill Vreeshey (IOMHER 0734.00). It was subsequently lost some time between 1924 and 1932. It bore one limb of an incised cross.
Medieval chapel and burial ground. The site lies within a small modern enclosure in a cultivated field which has borne the names 'Chapel Field', 'Garey Keeil Vreeshey' and 'the Breesh'. It was investigated by the Manx Archaeological Survey in 1908.
The Survey found that the chapel measured 4.8 by 2.9m, with walls averaging 0.9m in thickness and standing 1.5m high internally. The surrounding enclosure is higher than the floor of the chapel and collapsed, turf-covered masonry obscures the outer faces of the walls to a depth of 0.6m, and spreads outwards for about 1m; the weight of collapsed material has pushed the walls slightly inwards.
A narrow door is located at the west end of the south wall, and the cills of both a south window (at the east end of the south wall) and an east window survive. The Survey found remains of an altar, though no trace can now be seen. Behind the altar a niche was found in the east gable, which is likely to have served as a reliquary.
At the time of the Survey, the surrounding oval enclosure was in places defined by a 1.5m wide bank and measured 15 by 10m internally. Burials had reportedly been found beyond the enclosure, suggesting that the cemetery had once been more extensive than was then apparent. The Survey also found evidence of burial close to the southern wall of the chapel.
Medieval chapel. The site lies within a small modern enclosure in a cultivated field which has borne the names 'Chapel Field', 'Garey Keeil Vreeshey' and 'the Breesh'. It was investigated by the Manx Archaeological Survey in 1908.
The Survey found that the chapel measured 4.8 by 2.9m, with walls averaging 0.9m in thickness and standing 1.5m high internally. The surrounding enclosure is higher than the floor of the chapel and collapsed, turf-covered masonry obscures the outer faces of the walls to a depth of 0.6m, and spreads outwards for about 1m; the weight of collapsed material has pushed the walls slightly inwards.
A narrow door is located at the west end of the south wall, and the cills of both a south window (at the east end of the south wall) and an east window survive. The Survey found remains of an altar, though no trace can now be seen. Behind the altar a niche was found in the east gable, which is likely to have served as a reliquary.
Medieval burial ground. The site lies within a small modern enclosure in a cultivated field which has borne the names 'Chapel Field', 'Garey Keeil Vreeshey' and 'the Breesh'. It was investigated by the Manx Archaeological Survey in 1908.
At the time of the Survey, the surrounding oval enclosure was in places defined by a 1.5m wide bank and measured 15 by 10m internally. Burials had reportedly been found beyond the enclosure, suggesting that the cemetery had once been more extensive than was then apparent. The Survey also found evidence of burial close to the southern wall of the chapel.
Medieval chapel and burial ground. The site was investigated by the Manx Archaeological Survey (1915). The ground surface on a south-facing hillside has been built up to create a more level site, probably as a result of burial activity. The chapel is located within an oval enclosure measuring about 40 by 20m.
The structure is orientated ENE-WSW, and the Survey found that it measured 4.1 by 2.9m, though its plan is slightly irregular and its walls deformed through settlement. The walls stand from 0.6 to 1.2m high, and are 0.9m thick. The door is in the 'west' wall, and the base of the altar against the 'east' gable is 1.2m wide 0.6m deep.
The enclosure around the chapel contains several stones set on edge which probably represent lintel graves. Three carved and inscribed stones have been recovered from the site.
