Centre for Manx Studies Fieldwork, 1981-2007

Date(s): 1981-2007

Creator(s): Centre for Manx Studies

Scope & Content: The archive contains 78 projects and the general correspondence files of the Centre. The date range of some of the projects is greater than the life of the Centre up to 2007. Some projects had already begun by 1991 and were continued under the auspices of the Centre. Others had already ceased by that date but the materials from them were lodged with the Centre. Some projects have been completed since 2007. A good example of a wide date range is the Manx megaliths project which was begun in 1971 and completed in 2017.

Administration / Biographical History: The Centre for Manx Studies was established within the School of Archaeology, Classics and Oriental Studies in the University of Liverpool on 23 October 1991. It was conceived as a partnership between Manx National Heritage which provided accommodation and some core funding and the University which allocated the staff and gave access to academic resources. Dr Peter Davey was appointed as first director.

Although set within an archaeology department, the Centre’s area of activity was originally defined as ‘the identification, management and promotion of research projects focussing principally on archaeological, environmental and historical aspects of the Isle of Man’ [University of Liverpool, Senate 23 October 1991, Minute 24].

Between 1991 and 2007 when Dr Peter Davey retired many projects large and small were undertaken. These were of three main types: pure research, teaching and external contracts.

Research
Pure research projects were undertaken in a range of subject areas. The most important were:

• A research review carried out in 1993 and published in 1995 as CMS Research Report 1.
• A New History of the Isle of Man (1994 and ongoing)
• Manx Megaliths
• The Meayll Survey (including the Calf of Man)
• Vernacular architecture survey

Teaching
The Centre acted as a teaching unit within the university. In addition to day-schools, seminars and public lectures, award-bearing courses were devised and taught on the island:

• Diploma in Landscape Interpretation (Liverpool) offered on the Isle of Man in 1991 for the first and only time.
• Extra-mural certificate courses offered by the Centre for Continuing Education (Liverpool).
• MA and post-graduate Diploma in Manx Studies (Liverpool).
• MA in History and Heritage Management with Manx Studies (University of Chester).

Contracts for third parties
Archaeological and environmental assessment contracts, a product of the planning process, were carried out by the Centre for governmental organisations, private companies and individuals. The most important of these were:

• Kerrowdhoo
• IRIS
• King Orry’s Grave survey and excavation
• Ballacallow
• MEA gas pipeline
• Nunnery Estate

In addition, the Centre carried out a series of studies wholly or partly funded by Manx National Heritage. The most important of these were the excavations carried out at Rushen Abbey (not included in this archive), but also the Iron Age site assessment project, After the Vikings, Ballacosnahan and Langness.

Language: English

Extent: 22 boxes

Collection: Manuscript Archive

Level: FONDS

ID number: MS 14146

Record class: Private

Access conditions: Other than those series' closed for confidential reasons, no regulations or restrictions are implemented on this material. Advance notification of a research visit is advisable by emailing library@mnh.gov.im

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