From hunter-gatherers to castle prisons
The island, the forts before the Vikings, Norse kings, castles, a Tudor fort, the Civil War and what came after.
Jump to: The island | Before the forts | The Iron Age | Vikings and Norse kings | Castles | Guns and the Civil War | The Watch and Ward | Later lives | Old stories | For teachers
The island
The Isle of Man is 52 kilometres long and 22 kilometres wide: 32 miles by 14 miles. Manx National Heritage: About the Isle of Man It sits in the middle of the Irish Sea, between England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. Manx National Heritage: About the Isle of Man
About 80,000 people live there. Manx National Heritage: About the Isle of Man The island has a 10,000-year history, with a strong Celtic and Viking past. Manx National Heritage: About the Isle of Man
It is governed by its own parliament, Tynwald, which Manx National Heritage calls the oldest continuous parliament in the world. Manx National Heritage: About the Isle of Man
The Manx have their own language, Manx Gaelic. “Traa dy liooar” means “time enough”. Manx National Heritage: About the Isle of Man
The island’s landscape keeps up to 8,000 years of human activity, from the Mesolithic to today. Andrew Johnson, “Watch and Ward on the Isle of Man” (Scottish Society for Northern Studies, 2002) Johnson puts this down to a varied landscape and a lack of intensive farming. Andrew Johnson, “Watch and Ward on the Isle of Man” (Scottish Society for Northern Studies, 2002)
Before the forts
Erosion 200 metres south of the fort revealed a hunter-gatherer camp from around 5700 BC. Manx National Heritage: Cass ny Hawin
King Orry’s Grave is a Neolithic tomb about 6,000 years old. Manx National Heritage: King Orry’s Grave Despite the name, there is little evidence to link it with the half-legendary King Orry. Manx National Heritage: King Orry’s Grave
Hango Hill is a Bronze Age burial mound with a later summerhouse on it. Manx National Heritage: Hango Hill
The Iron Age
Iron-working reached the British Isles from about 700 BC and soon replaced bronze for most tools and weapons. Manx National Heritage (archived gov.im page, 2012): Celtic Farmers, Iron Age
Manx National Heritage dated the Manx Iron Age to 600 BC to AD 500. Manx National Heritage (archived gov.im page, 2012): Celtic Farmers, Iron Age The first few centuries were unsettled, and many settlements were built at sites that could be defended. Manx National Heritage (archived gov.im page, 2012): Celtic Farmers, Iron Age
The Roman occupation of Britain had little direct effect on the Isle of Man. Manx National Heritage (archived gov.im page, 2012): Celtic Farmers, Iron Age A Roman naval presence in the Irish Sea may even have helped keep things steady. Manx National Heritage (archived gov.im page, 2012): Celtic Farmers, Iron Age
Davey calls the Iron Age the most puzzling and hard-to-find period in Manx prehistory. Peter Davey, “Manx archaeology in the high Middle Ages” (Scottish Society for Northern Studies, 2002) Archaeologist Peter Gelling dug many sites that looked Iron Age, and found at least half belonged to other times. Peter Davey, “Manx archaeology in the high Middle Ages” (Scottish Society for Northern Studies, 2002)
Iron Age sites on the island include the hillforts at South Barrule and Cronk Sumark and the coastal forts of Cronk ny Merriu, Close ny Chollagh and Burroo Ned. Manx National Heritage (archived gov.im page, 2012): Celtic Farmers, Iron Age
South Barrule is the earliest and only large summit hillfort on the island. Manx National Heritage (archived gov.im page, 2012): Iron Age Fortifications Its inside has never been excavated, but it is thought to have been built before 300 BC. Manx National Heritage (archived gov.im page, 2012): Iron Age Fortifications
A brooch dates the last Iron Age use of Close ny Chollagh to about AD 50. Manx National Heritage (archived gov.im page, 2012): Iron Age Fortifications Johnson says Close ny Chollagh’s four stone roundhouses were lived in into the 1st century AD. Andrew Johnson, “Watch and Ward on the Isle of Man” (Scottish Society for Northern Studies, 2002)
Davey notes the fort in the north is Scottish in character and the one in the south is Welsh. Peter Davey, “Manx archaeology in the high Middle Ages” (Scottish Society for Northern Studies, 2002)
Vikings and Norse kings
Manx society hardly changed until the Vikings arrived, around AD 800. Manx National Heritage (archived gov.im page, 2012): Celtic Farmers, Iron Age There are 20 recorded promontory forts on the island, and some were reused in Viking times. Manx National Heritage (archived gov.im page, 2012): Iron Age Fortifications
The Manx Museum says the island has more Viking silver per square kilometre than England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Manx National Heritage: Manx Museum
The Chronicles of the Kings of Man and the Isles tell the story of a Norse dynasty founded by Godred Crovan. Peter Davey, “Manx archaeology in the high Middle Ages” (Scottish Society for Northern Studies, 2002) Davey says the Chronicles’ story cannot be checked against archaeology. Peter Davey, “Manx archaeology in the high Middle Ages” (Scottish Society for Northern Studies, 2002)
That kingdom ended with the Treaty of Perth in 1266. Peter Davey, “Manx archaeology in the high Middle Ages” (Scottish Society for Northern Studies, 2002)
King Olaf founded Rushen Abbey in 1134, linked to Furness Abbey in England. Peter Davey, “Manx archaeology in the high Middle Ages” (Scottish Society for Northern Studies, 2002)
The island’s capital moved from Peel to Castletown. Peter Davey, “Manx archaeology in the high Middle Ages” (Scottish Society for Northern Studies, 2002)
It was a place of worship before it became the fortress of Magnus Barefoot, an 11th-century Viking King of Mann. Manx National Heritage: Access Guide to Peel Castle (2026) Its round tower was built about 900 years ago, to protect people from raiders. Manx National Heritage: Peel Castle
Visit IOM says Vikings first built it in the 11th century, in wood; many stone walls and towers came in the 1300s. Visit IOM: Peel Castle
Castles
It was built about 800 years ago for a Viking king. Manx National Heritage: Castle Rushen
Manx National Heritage’s access guide says Castle Rushen was founded by the Norse King Reginald in the late 1100s. Manx National Heritage: Access Guide for Castle Rushen (2026) Its group guide says the oldest part dates from the time of Magnus, the last Norse King of Mann. Manx National Heritage: Group visitor information for Castle Rushen
Visit IOM says it is thought to date from the late 12th or early 13th century. Visit IOM: Castle Rushen
Davey says Castle Rushen cannot be dated by archaeology even to the nearest hundred years. Peter Davey, “Manx archaeology in the high Middle Ages” (Scottish Society for Northern Studies, 2002)
Robert the Bruce attacked it in 1313. Peter Davey, “Manx archaeology in the high Middle Ages” (Scottish Society for Northern Studies, 2002)
Its two main building periods match two big threats: the Anglo-Scottish wars of the 1300s and the Civil War of the 1600s. Manx National Heritage: Castle Rushen Assessment of Significance (2017), on Planning Portal IoM
Guns and the Civil War
Derby Fort on St Michael’s Isle was built on the orders of King Henry VIII to keep out French or Spanish invaders. Manx National Heritage: St Michael’s Isle (Fort Island) It was one of many such forts built along the coasts of the British Isles. Manx National Heritage: St Michael’s Isle (Fort Island)
In 1536 to 1540 a round tower was built in the moat, with a sloping bank of earth called a glacis. Manx National Heritage: Castle Rushen Assessment of Significance (2017), on Planning Portal IoM
From 1639 to 1651 the defences were adapted, and a gun platform called the “New Worke” was built on the shore. Manx National Heritage: Castle Rushen Assessment of Significance (2017), on Planning Portal IoM
In the Civil War Castle Rushen was a Royalist outpost; James Stanley and Countess Charlotte hurriedly added defences. Manx National Heritage: Castle Rushen Assessment of Significance (2017), on Planning Portal IoM
In the 1640s James Stanley, Earl of Derby, had it refurbished during the English Civil War. Manx National Heritage: St Michael’s Isle (Fort Island)
William Christian, Illiam Dhone, was charged with defending the island against Parliament’s forces. Manx National Heritage: Hango Hill In 1651 he negotiated the island’s surrender, against the wishes of the Earl’s widow. Manx National Heritage: Hango Hill
He was later tried and executed at Hango Hill. Some now see him as a Manx patriot. Manx National Heritage: Hango Hill
In the 1600s at least two batteries of cannon were made on the Calf of Man. Andrew Johnson, “Watch and Ward on the Isle of Man” (Scottish Society for Northern Studies, 2002)
The Watch and Ward
Digs led to a view that several promontory forts, apparently Iron Age, were lived in again in the Middle Ages. Andrew Johnson, “Watch and Ward on the Isle of Man” (Scottish Society for Northern Studies, 2002)
Andrew Johnson suggests the reused forts were lookout posts in a coastal watch called the Watch and Ward. Andrew Johnson, “Watch and Ward on the Isle of Man” (Scottish Society for Northern Studies, 2002)
A document of 1627 lists the wardens of the day watch and the night watch. Andrew Johnson, “Watch and Ward on the Isle of Man” (Scottish Society for Northern Studies, 2002)
More on how the watch worked.
Later lives
By the early 1800s the keep had become the island’s prison, for the next 100 years. Manx National Heritage: Castle Rushen Assessment of Significance (2017), on Planning Portal IoM The castle stopped being a prison when Victoria Road prison opened in Douglas in 1891. Manx National Heritage: Castle Rushen Assessment of Significance (2017), on Planning Portal IoM
In 1904 to 1910 the architect Armitage Rigby restored it and removed the prison buildings. Manx National Heritage: Castle Rushen Assessment of Significance (2017), on Planning Portal IoM
It was used as a museum until the Manx Museum opened in Douglas in 1922. Manx National Heritage: Castle Rushen Assessment of Significance (2017), on Planning Portal IoM
In 1988 it became a Manx National Heritage site, and it opened to the public as one in 1991. Visit IOM: Castle Rushen
The island’s courts stopped using its courtroom in 2013. Manx National Heritage: Castle Rushen Assessment of Significance (2017), on Planning Portal IoM New Lieutenant Governors are usually sworn in there. Manx National Heritage: Castle Rushen Assessment of Significance (2017), on Planning Portal IoM
After the war it became a lighthouse, until about a century ago. Manx National Heritage: St Michael’s Isle (Fort Island)
Old stories
In 1874 a guidebook reported the claim, made by many writers, that Castle Rushen was built in 960 by King Godred, and doubted it. Jenkinson’s Practical Guide to the Isle of Man (1874), Castletown, on A Manx Notebook
The same guide said some writers compared the castle to Elsinore in Denmark. Jenkinson’s Practical Guide to the Isle of Man (1874), Castletown, on A Manx Notebook
It also said Queen Elizabeth presented the clock in 1597. Jenkinson’s Practical Guide to the Isle of Man (1874), Castletown, on A Manx Notebook
Today’s sources tell a different story: see was Castle Rushen built in 960? and who gave the clock?
For teachers: where this fits
And it lists Iron Age hill forts: tribal kingdoms, farming, art and culture. GOV.UK (DfE): National curriculum in England, history programmes of study KS2 also covers the Viking and Anglo-Saxon struggle for the Kingdom of England, including Viking raids. GOV.UK (DfE): National curriculum in England, history programmes of study
England’s KS2 curriculum includes a local history study, which can be a site beyond 1066 that matters in the locality. GOV.UK (DfE): National curriculum in England, history programmes of study
Our sources give dates in different ways: some in years BC or AD, some as centuries or “years ago”. We copy each date as its source gives it, rather than converting, so every figure matches its link. Things that can change, like opening times, show the date we checked them. See when sources disagree for the open questions side by side.
Next: how they worked →