Cabbal Pherick, Spooyt Vane
Period: Early Medieval
NGR Easting: 230770
NGR Northing: 488780
Description: Medieval chapel and burial ground. The keeill is orientated ENE-WSW, and measures internally 7 by 4m. The walls are between just 0.7 and 1.2m thick and survive to a height of up to 1m. The Manx Archaeological Survey in 1910 found that the north wall showed a distinct outside batter, whilst collapsed masonry was piled against the west gable.
The doorway is located in the west gable, and was found to have both internal and external splays. Inside the chapel just to the north of the doorway a simple cross-incised slab was recovered (Manx Cross 012). Coursed masonry in the east gable appeared preparatory to the placement of a window cill but the stone itself has been robbed.
Internally, paving only survived near the altar at the east end. Adjacent, the footings of a 2.3m wide altar, tapering to 1.6m towards the front also survived, but the larger slabs with which it was faced had been robbed.
Around the chapel a rather irregular oval enclosure defined by an earthwork bank is apparent, measuring about 27 by 24m. Outside, on the south-west side, a small rectangular building is attached to the embankment, and is thought to represent a cell for the priest. Although the enclosure was tested for burials, the Survey found none, having been frustrated by tree roots.
View map location on Archaeology Data Service
Site & Monument Type: keeill and burial ground
Category: National Monuments Record: Statutory Ancient Monuments
Site ID number: 0856.00
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