Iron Age defended promontory. This headland stands higher than the adjacent land, a natural defence which is augmented by a bank and ditch protecting the interior of the promontory. The bank still rises 2.5m from the bottom of the ditch, despite the former no doubt being eroded and the latter partially filled with debris. The inner height of the bank is 1.3m. The whole site is covered by vegetation and the interior of the promontory shows no trace of internal structures, nor of a peripheral bank.
The site lies just 250m from the defended promontory of Cronk ny Merriu (1068).
The site of a series of possible "pit dwellings", represented by circular depressions cut into the rock. They were described as being located on a rock, almost perpendicular on all sides, the western edge of which was protected by an embankment. It was recorded that 'Inside the embankment is a circular depression about 8 foot diameter, the earthen walls being about 2 foot or more in height.' Similar depressions were seen to the northeast and southeast of the most obvious depression.
Later inspection noted four approximately circular depressions on top of the rock, with average diameters of 5.0 metres and average depths of 0.3 metres. From the cliffs above they appeared to be hut circles but close inspection revealed that they had been created by subsidence caused when the rock mass broke away from the cliff. Evidence of this subsidence can be seen around the rims of the depressions. No evidence of a protecting embankment was found.
Port St Mary is a fishing village and harbour on the southern coast of the Isle of Man. It served as one of the Island's active fishing ports, with its fleet participating in the herring fisheries that were historically one of the principal industries of the Island.
Modern church.
St Mary's Church, Port St Mary, was completed in 1884, on land given by Mrs Emily Gawne (1814-1889, great grand-daughter of John Murray, 3rd Duke of Atholl and Lord of Man).
Mrs Gawne was a generous benefactor of the poor and contributed to educational and religious good causes throughout the parish of Rushen.
First World War and Second World War. There are two upright monuments in polished black marble, both inscribed with the heading "We will remember them / Cooineemayd orroo" followed by a list of the names of the fallen; their regiment and the war in which they served.
Modern gas works.
The gas works was constructed in the 1890s, and was the last site on the Island to produce gas from coal, ceasing operation in 1971. The site was subsequently converted to supply natural gas.
The gas storage tanks are now redundant and redevelopment is now in prospect (2016).
Port St Mary harbour has the advantage of some natural shelter from the prevailing wind. This has been enhanced by two main piers, of cut limestone. Cannon bollards are reputed to have been lifted from off the Chasms by the Laird of Melgin in 1664 but old iron guns were similarly re-used at Douglas and, as may be seen from an illustration, at Ramsey. As usual, the ends of the breakwaters are marked by lights. The lifeboat was established in 1896. Although it has a boathouse, it normally lies at anchor because the harbour dries out at low tide. Nevertheless this is a popular centre for small craft.
The inner pier at Port St Mary was completed in 1812; it is one of the oldest surviving harbour structures on the Island.
The dogleg structure extends out a total of 225m to the Bealevayer Rock, protecting the harbour from the south-east and east. Its end is marked by a lighthouse (3898.00).
The inner harbour, which is tidal, was improved by the creation of the new west quay in 1848 and the port's facilities were later significantly enlarged by the completion of the outer breakwater in 1886 (further extended in 1892), creating the outer harbour which is accessible at all states of the tide.
Modern lighthouse.
The Ordnance Survey First Edition 1:2500 map of 1868 shows a lighthouse at this location on the end of the old breakwater on the Bealavayer Rock.
Modern limekiln.
The Ordnance Survey First Edition 1:2500 map of 1868 shows a limekiln at this location.
It is possible that this kiln is the one illustrated on a landscape painting by John 'Warwick' Smith produced in 1795 (one of a series of accurate landscapes of the Isle of Man produced by Smith for the Duke of Atholl).
Modern chapel.
The original Primitive Methodist chapel in Port St Mary stood on the corner of Lime Street and Loch Road, until replaced by Mount Tabor in 1903. The gable faced Lime Street whilst the entrance porch was on the south side facing Loch Road.
The building was subsequently altered by the insertion of a wide vehicular door in the east gable and used as a coal store.
It has since been demolished and replaced by modern garages, and the adjacent road junction widened.
Modern chapel.
The Mount Tabor Primitive Methodist chapel opened in 1903 and replaced the original Port St Mary chapel which stood on the corner of Lime Street and Loch Road.
The replacement chapel is much larger than its predecessor and incorporates a Sunday school and other ancillary rooms.
It was built to the designs of Todd & Morris of Southport.
The Ordnance Survey 1:2500 First edition map of 1867 shows a Primitive Methodist chapel to the south of the harbour. The chapel was closed during the second half of the 20th century, though it continued in use as a Sunday school until 1975. The building was sold in 1980 and converted for alternative use.
Modern smithy.
The Ordnance Survey First Edition 1:2500 map of 1868 shows a smithy at this location. The much altered building is now used as a storeroom.
The Ordnance Survey 1:2500 large-scale mapping published in 1869 records a schoolhouse at the grid reference provided, together with the annotation 'School'.
The building no longer survives.
Modern chapel.
The original Wesleyan Methodist chapel stood on the High Street and opened in 1835. It was replaced by a larger chapel in 1895 at a new site further to the north, but continued in use as a Sunday school.
It was sold and demolished in 1972, allowing the road to be widened. A garden of remembrance was created on the site in 1975.
Modern chapel.
A new Wesleyan Methodist chapel was constructed on Bay View Road in 1895, replacing the earlier chapel nearly 300m to the south.
It was eventually sold in 1970 and used as a Baptist church until demolished in 2000 on safety grounds.
The site is now occupied by a modern church.