Leader Les Cunliffe 473021

Sessions will be in the Lecture Room on the first floor of St John’s Mill monthly on Monday mornings.  Starting at 10am until about 12.15pm with a break for refreshments which will be tea, coffee and biscuits provided by the Mill.

Per person we need £6 each on the day for the room hire and refreshments.  As before Tony does not charge for his services which is  greatly appreciated.

Meetings:

APRIL 2026 MEETING

Our next meeting with Tony Cain will be in the Lecture Room on the first floor of St John's Mill on Monday the 20th April.  Starting at 10am until about 12.15pm with a break for refreshments which will be tea, coffee and biscuits provided by the Mill.

Per person we need £6 each on the day for the room hire and refreshments

The overview from Tony is:

'Tynwald Hill is an iconic monument within our Island landscape. This presentation will explore its origins through the lens of both archaeology and  history. What is the significance of the site in terms of its pivotal position within the Island's Central Valley in the area we now identify as St Johns? Let's examine how the site is intrinsically connected to the Viking occupation of the Isle of Man and its institutions and structures of administration and justice. The significance of Tynwald Hill can only be fully appreciated within the wider context of similar sites of Scandinavian origin elsewhere, namely within Scotland, Orkney, Shetland, Norway, the Faroe Islands and Iceland. Hopefully we will further appreciate and understand why Tynwald Hill is a lynchpin within the rich tapestry of our Norse cultural heritage''.

I hope you will be able to come along but there is no need to let me know in advance.

Les

MARCH 2026 Meeting

Our next meeting with Tony will be in the Lecture Room on the first floor of St John's Mill on Monday the 2nd March. Starting at 10am until about 12.15pm with a break for refreshments which will be tea, coffee and biscuits provided by the Mill.

Per person we need £6 each on the day for the room hire and refreshments.

The overview from Tony is:

'The Isle of Man, as we know it geographically today, saw its first inhabitants some 10,000 years ago. This was the Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age) period of pre-history, which saw our landscapes occupied by hunters and gatherers. We shall consider the Island within the context  of similar activity in the wider British Isles.

I hope you will be able to come along but there is no need to let me know in advance.

Les

SEPTEMBER MEETING

Our next Field Trip is on Monday the 22nd September at 10am starting at Langness Car Park (SC283659).  The road on the peninsula is in poor shape and uneven so drive very carefully.

We will be having a session on the peninsula and then driving back to St Michael's Island. Details from Tony below.

Overall very  friendly terrain with good car parking, recognised pathways and pretty flat. Spongy grass in places so sturdy footwear recommended. 

If anyone wants local refreshments the cafe at the Castletown Golf Club should be open.

Expect to finish 12.30 to 1pm.

From Tony:

'Langness Peninsula. We shall consider the landscape formation of this idyllic feature and ponder the geological phenomena known as 'The Arches' dating to some 480 million years ago. Archaeologically we shall observe two distinct sets of fortifications which style sections of the peninsula as a promontory fort and thought to date to the Viking period. Other structures relating to mine working, the 1811 Herring Tower and World War II will also be brought in to focus.

St Michael's Isle  - Fort Island - situated at the entrance to Derbyhaven Bay on the outskirts of Castletown and now connected via a causeway to the mainland. Two major structures are of note:(a) St Michaels Chapel built on the site of a former keeill and a well preserved example of early Manx Christianity (b) Derby Fort the prominent feature of the Isle and particularly important within the context of both national and international tensions during the time of Henry VIII and the later English Civil War. Tony will also provide a brief overview of the importance of Derbyhaven during the Viking period together with an archaeological snapshot of Hango Broogh a promontory fort (Iron Age and Early Medieval) directly opposite Fort Island  and situated strategically  at the entrance to Derbyhaven Bay.The Isle was also the site of a major confrontation during the later period of the Crovan Dynasty 1079-1265.'

As a contribution to the Groups Funds we are asking for £3 per person payable on the day.

I hope you can make it. There is no need to let me know just come along on the day.

One final message is that members or guests on taster sessions participating in the Field Trips do so at their own risk and the IOM u3a and the Archaeological Group's leaders and organisers can bear no responsibility for accidents.  We do not commit to having any qualified First Aider in the Group.

Les

AUGUST

Our next session with Tony Cain is a Field Trip on Monday the 18th August starting at 10am from the car park at the Sound.

Tony has outlined below the content:

'We shall meet at the Sound and walk the short distance to our first site, Burroo Ned. From an elevated position this location affords a wonderful view over the Sound and also towards the Chasms. The site, although unexcavated, has been interpreted as multi-period, with original occupation in the pre-historic Iron Age and later re-occupation in the Viking Age. The archaeological evidence consists of a prominent defensive rampart and a number of internal structures, namely round houses and a  rectilinear building. Also of intrigue are a series of cup marks grooved in the exposed bedrock. Whilst at this location Tony will also give a brief overview of the geological formations involved in the magnificent cliff structures known as the Chasms.

Descending to the Sound we shall then look at the flattened area (between the cafe and the sea) known as the Parade. Archaeological evidence here suggests a period of activity during the Viking incursion of the Island.

Following a break for refreshment at the Sound Cafe we shall then drive to the Meayll Circle situated above Cregneash Village. This site, dated to the pre-historic Neolithic (New Stone Age) is one of the many gems in our extremely rich archaeological landscape. Aside from the uniqueness of the site itself , the panorama vista in itself makes the visit worthwhile.'

The Field Trip will finish about 12.30-1.00pm.

On accessibility:

To Burroo Ned about 1/2 mile initially flat  and quite narrow path  in places. Gradual incline uphill  with the first of two stiles - both easily negotiable. Increased gradient across a field with a fairly short steep section towards the end and second stile to gain access to the site. The site is for the most part flat with soft lumpy grass. Where bedrock is exposed surfaces may be uneven and slippery if wet.  Generally easily negotiable but very challenging for anyone with walking difficulties. Reverse walk the above details apply  - the Parade area is very flat. 

To the Meayll Circle we will drive up from the Sound  and take a left just before Cregneash Village parking about 20 yards down on either roadside which has plenty of space.  We will take a gentle winding uphill track which looks to  have been a road at one time servicing some derelict Second World War buildings on the top of the Hill. Again about 1/2 mile walk from the cars.

As always, stout footwear with a well-gripping sole is recommended together with warm/waterproof clothing. Walking poles may be useful.

As a contribution to the Groups Funds we are asking for £3 per person.  

One final message is that members or guests on taster sessions participating in the Field Trips do so at their own risk and the IOM u3a and the Archaeology Group's leaders and organisers can bear no responsibity for accidents. We do not commit to having any qualified First Aider in the Group.

I hope you can make it and look forward to seeing you on the day.

Les

JULY

Next meeting will be Monday 28th July in the Lecture Room, 1st floor of St John's Mill, starting at 10am through to about 12:15 with a refreshment break provided by the Mill. Per person we need £6 each on the day for the room hire and refreshments. Tony does not charge for his services which is greatly appreciated.

The subject per Tony:

Join us as we explore particular island locations in terms of ancestral belief systems, identity and attachment. What connected our forefathers (some dating back thousands of years) to particular places within our landscapes? How did patterns of belief via ritual and symbolism connect people to specific localities? To what extent was cosmology a significant factor in favouring certain places? In particular we shall consider the monumental megaliths of the Neolithic (New Stone Age) period, the keeills (early stone chapels), the holy wells and also that uniquely liminal (bounday) space where land meets sea.

I hope you will be able to come along but there is no need to let me know in advance.

Looking ahead we will be having Field Trips on Monday 18th August and Monday 22nd September in the mornings. August is likely to be Meayll Hill and Burroo Ned near the Sound. Further details at the meeting.

April

Our next meeting with Tony Cain will be in the Lecture Room on the first floor of St John's Mill on Monday the 7th April. Starting at 10am until about 12.15pm with a break for refreshments which will be tea, coffee and biscuits provided by the Mill.

Per person we need £6 each on the day for the room hire and refreshments. Tony does not charge for his services which is greatly appreciated.

The subject per Tony:

"Join Tony on an exciting journey of discovery as we explore St Patrick's Isle, Peel a most significant site within our Island landscape; and one in which our gaze will fall upon the abundantly rich archaeological and historical record.

The presentation will cover 3 distinct Periods of occupation:

Period 1. Prehistoric - c.5500 BC to c. 500 AD

Period 2. Early Christian & Viking Age - c.500 to 1000 AD

Period 3. Late Norse - c. 1000 to 1200 AD

In view of great interest in the Scandinavian settlement of the Isle of man , Periods 2and 3 will maintain our primary focus. Ecclesiastical, military and burial evidence will be scrutinised, the latter of which represents a sustained archaeological element within St Patrick's Isle.  As a specialist case study we shall consider the interpretations afforded by the grave of the famous 'Pagan Lady.'

As a visit to St Patrick's Isle may well form the basis of a field trip later in the year this presentation will afford an opportunity to make some general acquaintance with an outstanding location in the annals of Manx Heritage." 

I hope you will be able to come along but there is no need to let me know in advance. Les

March

Our next meeting with Tony Cain will be in the Lecture Room on the first floor of St John's Mill on Monday the 10th March. Starting at 10am until about 12.15pm with a break for refreshments which will be tea, coffee and biscuits provided by the Mill.

Per person we need £6 each on the day for the room hire and refreshments. Tony does not charge for his services which is greatly appreciated.

The subject:

"Look At The Island's Keeills

Today, join Tony on an exciting journey of discovery as we explore the historical origins of these well-known structures and their importance in terms of the contexts of their wider landscape settings. We will also examine the keeills in the light of recent reassessments. The remains of some 170 are known, with about 35 still surviving as visible features within the landscape. Whilst we will consider the Island’s keeills overall, the presentation will incorporate 4 specific site studies focusing on the keeills at Maughold churchyard, at Lhag ny Killey on the western slope of Cronk-ny-Arrey-Laa, at Cabbal Pheric (Patrick’s Chapel) near Spooyt Vane waterfall just outside Kirk Michael and finally at Balladoole (Chapel Hill) at Pooil Vaaish near Castletown – some of which may feature in future field trips. ".

 I hope you will be able to come along but there is  no need to let me know in advance.

February

As I hope it will be of interest we are also planning a 'show and tell' session at the Manx Museum in Douglas with Allison Fox, Curator of Archaeology at Manx National Heritage on the 24th February on the subject:

All at Sea - the maritime heritage of the Isle of Man

2024 was the 200th anniversary of the RNLI, founded because of shipwrecks around Manx shores. Allison will talk about the events surrounding the start of the RNLI and how the recent "All at Sea" exhibition was put together, along with sharing some of the Manx shipwreck stories. There will be an opportunity to see and handle some of the artefacts from our maritime heritage, and to learn how you can explore further online.

January

"Let's talk about the stones - the significance of pre-historical monuments - Cashtal yn Ard, King Orry's Graves, the Meayll Circle etc. - in the Manx Landscape'. We will vividly bring to life the great diversity of archaeological monuments so richly represented in the Island's pre-history".

Looking ahead for the next few months we are planning on having a further talk on the 10th March with the possibility of a Field Trip in April.