The site of an early medieval keeill known as Magher Keeill. It is not marked on the 1870 1:2500 scale Ordnance Survey map, but is thought to be in the orchard numbered as Plot 1520 on that map. The farm name Ballacuberagh suggests a dedication to St Cuthbert.
A Bronze Age bowl barrow is recorded in the field known as Magher ny Grongan. There is also some conjecture that an Early Medieval keeill and burial ground were located here.
A Bronze Age bowl barrow is recorded in the field known as Magher ny Grongan. There is also some conjecture that an Early Medieval keeill and burial ground were located here.
Medieval chapel and burial ground. The remains of a raised enclosure are contained within a sub-rectangular fenced boundary measuring 27 by 14m. This is thought to represent a cemetery which is likely to have once extended further; the field name appears to translate as the 'barley field', and the west and east sides of the enclosure appear to have been truncated by ploughing.
The burial ground is raised about 1m above the surrounding field. In the centre is a cist-like feature, which measures 1.0 m x 0.4 m x 0.6 m deep. It is considered too small to be either Bronze Age or a lintel grave. Several large stones are exposed, apparently by trenching, and two erect stones at the north end of the enclosure appear to mark an entrance. The chapel is now difficult to discern.
The site was investigated by the Manx Archaeological Survey (1915). The trenches would appear to be the result of their excavations. The Survey recorded the burial ground as pear-shaped, with its wider end to the south. At the extreme southern end two standing stones appeared to define a second entrance, much as that still visible to the north. Paving stones appeared to mark a short path leading 2m to the doorway of the chapel, located towards the west end of the south wall.
The chapel was found to be orientated almost east-west, and to have measured internally 4.6 by 2.1m. The walls survived only to the height of only two or three courses, and substantial portions had slipped out of place. Collapsed material obscured the outer faces of the walls. The altar did not survive, although its base could still be seen, measuring 1 by 0.6m.
The investigation showed that a pathway led south from the northern entrance of the enclosure as far as the chapel, and that an additional path appeared to cross at least half of the surviving width of the enclosure from east to west. The remainder of the enclosure was not tested for burials.
Medieval chapel.
The site was investigated by the Manx Archaeological Survey (1915). It is now somewhat difficult to understand on account of the various trenches left open by the Survey.
The keeill lies towards the southern end of the enclosure. Paving stones marking a short path lead to the doorway of the chapel, located towards the west end of the south wall of the chapel, which was found to be orientated almost east-west, and to have measured internally 4.6 by 2.1m. The walls survived only to the height of only two or three courses, and substantial portions had slipped out of place. Collapsed material obscured the outer faces of the walls. The altar did not survive, although its base could still be seen, measuring 1 by 0.6m.
Alleged earthwork.
An annotated set of 1:10560 Ordnance Survey maps curated by Manx National Heritage records antiquarian observations of archaeological and landscape features.
PMC Kermode (director of the Manx Museum 1922-32) noted '?Fort' at the north end of Ordnance Survey Field no. 1590, centred at the grid reference provided. His successor W Cubbon (director of the Manx Museum 1932-40) noted 'Magher y Caggey' in the field immediately to the north.
Kermode also refers elsewhere (Manx Antiquities, 1930) to Moore's earlier observation (Surnames and Place Names, 1890) that 'Forty years ago (i.e. 1850) this field contained a complete semi-circular entrenchment but it has since then been almost entirely levelled.' Moore repeats this in his account of an excursion of the IoM Natural History and Antiquarian Society he led in 1900, referring to 'the site of another entrenchment, now levelled, but about fifty years ago a large and perfect semicircle. The field in which it stood was known as Magher-y-Caggey, 'Field of the Battle'.'
No artificial features could be identified by a Royal Commission field inspector in 1955, at which time the field name was not remembered.
Following a field visit in 1978, LS Garrad (Manx Museum 1966-96) however drew attention to a break in slope apparent in OS Field no. 1584 (Cubbon's Magher y Caggey). This would appear to be confirmed by a change in vegetation and a semicircular line of shrubs visible in aerial photography flown in 2015: the feature extends for a distance of c100m on an irregular radius of 40-45m, the centre of which is at SC3732578665.
In addition to the two burial cists with standing stones (one recumbent) found at Magher y Clagh, a cremation burial contained in a small pot with incised decoration was found between the surviving standing stone and the cist nearest it. This is originally thought likely to have been covered with the same barrow mound as the large cist.
The site of two cists with standing stone markers which were excavated and found to contain cremations and inhumations. They were first recorded in the field known as Magher y Clagh in 1888. The field name reflects the presence of the largest standing stone, reputed to be 5 metres long overall, although only about half this shows above ground level.
The site was first excavated by Crellin circa 1894. Skillan rediscovered these cists and they were re-excavated by Garrad in 1986. Radio-carbon dated the inhumation to 3530 + 50 bp (1820-1890 BC).
On excavation, one cist, about 25 metres from the large stone, was found to contain a small food vessel 9.5 centimetres high (Manx Museum, Accession No. 1954-0995) and a few scraps of cremated human bone. The second cist was 150 metres west-southwest of the standing stone and contained an extended inhumation burial.
In addition, a cremation burial (PRN1388.20) contained in a small pot with incised decoration was found between the surviving standing stone and the cist nearest it. This is originally thought likely to have been covered with the same barrow mound as the large cist.
In 1888 a burial cist containing an extended skeleton, alongside which was a food vessel. The cist was found 150 metres southwest of a large standing stone. The stone stands 2.5 metres high by 1.5 metres wide at the base and 1.2 metres wide at a height of 0.5 metres with an average thickness of 0.5 metres. It leans slightly to the southeast.
Nearby, on the top of a large, apparently natural mound, is a prostrate stone slab orientated east-west which may be a burial cist. The stone measures 1.0 metre by 0.6 metres by 0.1 metres with minor depressions around the sides perhaps indicating subsidence. It is partly grass covered.
The site was first excavated by Miss A.M. Crellin circa 1894 and re-excavated by Dr Larch S. Garrad in 1986.
The food vessel was donated to the Manx Museum by Bishop Bardsley (Accession No.1954-0995)
Magnus Olafsson (d. 1265) was the last Norse King of Mann and the Isles. His death in 1265, during the period when Norwegian control of the western isles was waning, effectively ended Norse sovereignty over the Isle of Man. The Treaty of Perth in 1266, which ceded the Hebrides and Mann to Scotland, confirmed the end of Norse rule.
Swing bridge in Castletown named Cain Bridge in honour of the Isle of Man's only Victoria Cross winner. Cain Bridge was unveiled on 7 September 2014 by Frances Clarkson nee Cain (Major Cain's daughter). It was dedicated by Richard Hall, Methodist Minister and Jules Gomes, Church of England. The bridge was originally built by A. Handyside & Co. Ltd of Derby & London in 1903. Castletown Commissioners are custodians of the memorial.
Major Dawson was an official connected to the governance of the Isle of Man in the post-Revestment period. Bishop Richmond reported in 1776 that Dawson had directed the twenty-four Keys regarding legislation, indicating his influence over the Island's parliamentary affairs during the period when Tynwald was reasserting itself after the years of silence following the Revestment.
Letter from Major Joseph J Durbin (Mount Murray) to James McCrone requesting assistance in securing the Duke of Atholl's patronage for a subscription to build a schoolhouse for poor children at Foxdale lead mines. The letter dates to 1825, well after the 1765 Revestment, but provides contextual information about Atholl family charitable interests and land-holding patterns on the Isle of Man during their post-Revestment period.
Major John Taubman was a member of the prominent Taubman family of the Isle of Man, which produced several Speakers of the House of Keys and other leading figures in Manx public life.
This large slab was discovered in use as a lintel above a window in the old church in 1772. It bears a cross carved in low relief on one face and inscriptions on the other. The decorated side shows a shafted cross with limbs connected by a ring. Both the shaft and circle have a cable border ending at the foot in the head and tail of a serpent. In the centre of the cross is a circle of ring-chain, while each limb contains two interlinked rings bound by a diamond-shaped ring, and ends in four linked triquetras. The shaft is decorated with panels containing plaits of nine and seven strands. To the left of the shaft are a hart and hound, and a robed priest with arms raised, supported by a staff. On the right side are the worn remains of what may possibly be another hart and hound. Below them a seated man plays a harp to the right of whom another figure carries what appears to be a drinking horn. Below the harpist is another priest with uplifted arms, again holding a staff. The ogham alphabet is incised vertically in the space below the cross shaft. The other face bears a long runic inscription to the right which has been translated as, 'Mael Lomchon raised this cross to the memory of Malmura his foster mother, daughter of Dugald the wife whom Athisl had.' A second inscription to the left reads, 'Better is it to leave a good foster-son than a bad son.' A third inscription, in ogham, placed centrally near the top of the slab, is only lightly scored and is not decipherable.
See also Manx Cross 130.
This large slab was discovered in use as a lintel above a window in the old church in 1772. It bears a cross carved in low relief on one face and inscriptions on the other.
The decorated side shows a shafted cross with limbs connected by a ring. Both the shaft and circle have a cable border ending at the foot in the head and tail of a serpent. In the centre of the cross is a circle of ring-chain, while each limb contains two interlinked rings bound by a diamond-shaped ring, and ends in four linked triquetras. The shaft is decorated with panels containing plaits of nine and seven strands.
To the left of the shaft are a hart and hound, and a robed priest with arms raised, supported by a staff. On the right side are the worn remains of what may possibly be another hart and hound. Below them a seated man plays a harp to the right of whom another figure carries what appears to be a drinking horn. Below the harpist is another priest with uplifted arms, again holding a staff. The ogham alphabet is incised vertically in the space below the cross shaft.
The other face bears a long runic inscription to the right which has been translated as, 'Mael Lomchon raised this cross to the memory of Malmura his foster mother, daughter of Dugald the wife whom Athisl had.' A second inscription to the left reads, 'Better is it to leave a good foster-son than a bad son.' A third inscription, in ogham, placed centrally near the top of the slab, is only lightly scored and is not decipherable.
Malachy Postlethwayt (c. 1707-1767) was an English economist and writer on trade and commerce, best known for his *Universal Dictionary of Trade and Commerce* (1751-1755). His writings discussed the Isle of Man's role as a centre for smuggling and illicit trade, providing contemporary commentary on the commercial activities that led to the Revestment of 1765.
Two Viking-type swords were found in the course of grave-digging in the churchyard during the 19th century. No further detail is known about the circumstances of their discovery, location, nor of their fate, though one or more burials may be implied.
A number of parish churchyards on the Isle of Man have produced Viking weapons, implying that ‘pagan’ burials (usually characterised as graves accompanied by grave-goods) have taken place in Christian contexts. The discovery of several similar graves, during the archaeological excavation of the otherwise Christian cemetery in Peel Castle / St Patrick’s Isle in the 1980s, shows that this interpretation of the earlier isolated finds is valid.
