The findspot of Mesolithic Heavy-blade type flints, pottery sherds of Neolithic Ronaldsway and 'megalithic' type and a rubbing stone. These were collected from an area of eroding occupation levels sectioned by Roger Dackombe, 130-140 metres north of the end of the road.
The findspot of a number of Ronaldsway type flints, including 2 hump-backed scrapers, a Mesolithic Heavy-blade 'missile head' (PRN 1200.10) as well as 5 sherds of pottery, 2 of which were of Neolithic Ronaldsway type, and samples of charcoal and burnt clay. These were collected from the shoreline in an area of coastal erosion.
The conjectured site of a Bronze Age settlement based on pottery sherds found in 1977 and 1983, as well assorted flints collected along the shore on this eroding coastline. It is not certain that they were derived from the same site, which would now be destroyed by erosion.
The location of a post-medieval waste midden located on the coastline 25 metres north of Port Cranstal. Material sampled from the midden included the base of an 18th or 19th century wine bottle, limpets, dog whelks, edible winkles and peaty soil.
The conjectured site of a Neolithic or Bronze Age settlement based on discoveries of flints and decorated pottery sherds, a broken granite saddle quern and a utilised pebble here. The finds were collected from freshly eroding occupation debris extending 130 metres north from the end of the road.
The site of a conjectured early prehistoric settlement based on finds of an arrowhead and a chip, a granite grain rubber and flint waste, some of which was sea-rolled, all collected from the shore or eroding cliffs. The precise findspots are not known.
The conjectured site of a Bronze Age settlement based on a collection of pottery sherds, including a carinated bowl with everted rim and whipped cord decoration of Bronze Age appearance.
Extract from Pliny the Elder's Natural History (Book IV, Section XXX) describing Britain, Ireland, and surrounding islands including references to Mona (Isle of Man). Includes parallel Latin and English text. Relevant to understanding pre-medieval geographical and classical knowledge of the Isle of Man and its position in relation to Britain.
Extract from Pliny the Elder's Natural History (A.D. 23) describing Britain, Ireland, and surrounding islands including Mona (identified as the Isle of Man in footnote). Provides Roman geographical knowledge of the British Isles, distances, circumferences, and neighbouring islands. Includes parallel Latin text from Caius Plinius Secundus.
The findspot of an early prehistoric flint scraper. This large, much weathered piece was an isolated find collected on the shore. The precise findspot is unknown and the grid reference provided is for indicative purposes only.
A subsidary lighthouse to Robert Stevenson's Point of Ayre lighthouse (03892.00). This smaller lighthouse was added in 1899, 230 metres to the northeast of the original light, due to the accretion of shingle banks along the coastline.
The Old Lighthouse at the Point of Ayre was the work of Robert Stephenson and was built on the northern-most tip of the Isle of Man. It was first lit in 1818 and had Argand lamps with two foot reflectors. Its foghorn house and a subsidiary light, which was made necessary by the accretion of shingle banks, were built 230 metres to the northeast in 1899 and lie between the Old Lighthouse and the present tideline. The original lighthouse is shown on the 1870 1:2500 scale Ordnance Survey map. It remains operational to the present day, though is now fully automated.
The Ordnance Survey 1:2500 large-scale mapping published in 1870, marks a sundial, together with the annotation 'Sun Dial' at the grid reference provided in the garden to the northern side of the lighthouse on the Point of Ayre.
The sundial is no longer in situ.
An early post-medieval coastal fort was constructed close to the Pollock Rock in Douglas Bay in the 1530s or 1540s to protect the harbour from the threat posed to Henry VIII by his continental enemies. It is likely that Edward Stanley, 3rd Earl of Derby, would have been directly responsible for its construction.
The fort was stone built, circular, and about 12 metres in diameter. Curphey, in his summary of coastal defences (1967), suggests that the fort would have provided four gunports, with a guardroom and battlemented fighting platform above. The inventory prepared when the Island was surrendered to Parliamentary forces in 1651 lists three cannon and four smaller pieces of ordnance in the fort, and five more cannon outside the fort, possibly to defend it from landward assault.
The fort was partially demolished in 1818, but sufficient remained for it to appear on mid 19th century photographs and its location to be marked on the 1:2500 Ordnance Survey First Edition mapping of 1870.
A natural knoll with steeply scarped sides situated at the western end of a small low ridge above which it is elevated by some 2.0 metres. It is sited down a valley extending northeast, which it commands by its position, and is not far removed from a north-south pass with which it is intervisible. The flat top measures 14.0 metres east-west and 21.0 metres north-south. There are no traces of internal banks as an outer ditch, if it had existed, would probably have been ploughed out. In the northeast, and on the mound top, is a small mound with an average diameter. of 6.0 metres and an average height of 0.6 metres. It may be a natural feature but could possibly by a medieval motte or a prehistoric barrow.
There is a record of a licensed brewer named Michael Oates at "Pooldhooie" Ramsey in 1837-1838, mentioned in the 'Industrial Archaeology of the Isle of Man' of 1972.
Prehistoric flint scatter.
A single worked prehistoric flint was recovered from the Poortown Road by CH Cowley, from 'Thallooquayle Hedge, Poortown Road'.
Thallooquayle fronts on to the Poortown Road for a distance of 250m. The grid reference marks the mid point for indicative purposes only.
The antiquary Charles Harry Cowley was an avid collector of worked flint and coarse stone artefacts revealed by agricultural activity, mainly on farms located around Peel, and occasionally from further afield. He was active from 1900 until 1943. His entire collection of artefacts, together with a daybook cataloguing his discoveries, was later donated to Manx National Heritage.
Prehistoric flint scatter.
A small quantity of worked prehistoric flint was recovered from Poortown by CH Cowley, from the 'Sandpit'.
The description appears to relate to the sandpit by Ballacross and Ballalough, at the eastern end of OS Field no. 2006, which is centred at the grid reference provided.
The antiquary Charles Harry Cowley was an avid collector of worked flint and coarse stone artefacts revealed by agricultural activity, mainly on farms located around Peel, and occasionally from further afield. He was active from 1900 until 1943. His entire collection of artefacts, together with a daybook cataloguing his discoveries, was later donated to Manx National Heritage.
Pope Calixtus III (1378-1458), born Alfonso de Borgia, held the papacy from 1455 to 1458. His connection to the Isle of Man relates to the Diocese of Sodor and Man and papal involvement in the appointment and jurisdiction of the Island's bishops during the medieval period.
