Beach Road, Arbory, Castletown, IM9
The Viking period on the Isle of Man stretches from around 850-1265 AD. The first Norse king, Godred Crovan, came to rule the Island, after the Battle of Skyhill, in 1079. The Viking burial ship, at Balladoole, dates from the beginning of this period around 950AD. The ship was about 36 feet long and contained […]
Station Road, Ballacrosha, Ballaugh, IM7 5AQ
Completed in 1832, as a new larger, Baroque Church, for the Parish and majorly restored in 1893, when the stain glass windows were added. The organ, which is highly decoratively painted in a medieval style, dates from 1878. There is a small kitchen, meeting room and toilets at the back of the Church. The upper […]
Port Grenaugh , Santon
It’s not everywhere that you can find an Iron Age Fort dating back 2,000 years but you can in Santon. These Forts were really look out posts to keep watch for invaders. Excavated by Peter Stanley Gelling in 1950-52 and was visited again in 1970 when a halfpenny dating 1281 (Edward I) was found at […]
Ballaragh Road, Laxey, IM4 7PE
King Godred Crovan, conquered the Isle of Man in 1079 at the Battle of Skyhill creating the Kingdom of Mann, later the Kingdom of Soda and Man which his decedents were to rule until 1264. He is believed to be responsible for creating Tynwald based on a similar system existing in Iceland where he was […]
St Patrick's Isle , West Quay, Peel , IM5 1TB
Situated on St Patrick’s Isle, Peel Castle was originally a place of worship before becoming the fort of King Magnus Barefoot in the 11th century. The prominent round tower was originally part of the Celtic monastery with the battlements added at a later date. The cathedral was used by the Bishop of Sodor and Man […]
Sky Hill, Ramsey, IM7 2AH
The battle of Skyhill took place in 1079 when Godred Crovan defeated King Fingal Godredson. Fingal probably died in the battle. It had taken three attempts to capture the Isle of Man which was then divided into North and South with Godred and his descendants taking over the South where they built Castle Rushen.