Myerscough: Lezayre - survey and excavation
Date(s): 2003-2005
Creator(s): Centre for Manx Studies
Administration / Biographical History: Following the 1996-1997 Upper Glen Dhoo SMR and field boundary survey - part of a large CMS survey entitled the ‘Ballaugh Glen Project’ - the extent of the unrecorded archaeological sites located in the hills above Ballaugh became clear. Due to this a decision to survey an additional area of land called Myerscough in the parish of Lezayre, a parcel of land which had belonged to Rushen Abbey was undertaken. The land being an ecclesiastical holding, rather than secular in its management was thought to allow for some interesting comparisons with other areas of land surveyed.
2 seasons of survey work were carried out in the area during 2003 to 2005. The survey located a staggering 85 new sites and a precise surveyed plan of the area was produced by David Radcliffe and PJD. Student Claire Corkill decided to use the study area for her MA dissertation and looked at the lord’s land immediately to the west (across the other side of Sulby Glen) as a contrast to the Myerscough (monastic) land holding.
In 2007 excavations were undertaken to evaluate a sample of the new sites located. They included: a section across a round house at SC 41310 91858, a section across the large linear earth work which the modern Sulby Road has cut though (SC 41331 91862) and two sections across old road systems. The latter two excavations were situated a couple of hundred yard from each other, the first is located on the Royal Way (SC 40835 91520) and the second at the upper end of the Narradale Road (SC 40819 91531). Archaeological deposits were much better preserved on the Narradale Road section than on the Royal Way.
People:
David Radcliffe, Peter Davey (PJD) and Claire Corkill (CEC)
Language: English
Collection: Manuscript Archive
Level: SERIES
ID number: MS 14146/61
Access conditions: No regulations or restrictions are implemented on this material. Advance notification of a research visit is advisable by emailing library@mnh.gov.im