Sources

Where the facts come from

Every factual claim on this site links to its source. This is the full list.

How we checked

Each fact was written alongside its source. Two sources are older pages kept by the Internet Archive (Manx National Heritage’s 2012 pages on gov.im), and one is an 1874 guidebook, which we use only for the old stories it reports. Our build script stores the source text and, for every fact, checks that the key words and figures really appear in it. 158 of 158 checks passed when this site was last built (checked 3 Nov 2026). Where we couldn’t read a source, we left the claim out. We quote short phrases only, and never reproduce anyone’s photographs or plans.

Figures that change

Opening times, entry and visitor notices can change. Facts like these are marked “checked 3 Nov 2026”.

What we leave out

This is a site about the history of the Isle of Man’s castles and forts and about spotting and visiting them. It isn’t a visitor guide with live opening times, prices or access advice: check with the site you’re visiting. Where a source gives an interpretation or says the answer is unknown, we say so rather than choose for it.

Manx National Heritage (22)

• Manx National Heritage: About the Isle of Man (6 facts)
• Manx National Heritage: Castle Rushen (7 facts)
• Manx National Heritage: Access Guide for Castle Rushen (2026) (4 facts)
• Manx National Heritage: Group visitor information for Castle Rushen (2 facts)
• Manx National Heritage: Castle Rushen Assessment of Significance (2017), on Planning Portal IoM (16 facts)
• Manx National Heritage: Castle Rushen’s medieval clock to undergo specialist conservation (5 facts)
• Manx National Heritage: Peel Castle (8 facts)
• Manx National Heritage: Access Guide to Peel Castle (2026) (3 facts)
• Manx National Heritage: Group visitor information for Peel Castle (2 facts)
• Manx National Heritage: St Michael’s Isle (Fort Island) (8 facts)
• Manx National Heritage: Hango Hill (4 facts)
• Manx National Heritage: Broogh Fort (3 facts)
• Manx National Heritage: Cass ny Hawin (4 facts)
• Manx National Heritage: Balladoole (1 fact)
• Manx National Heritage: The Braaid (1 fact)
• Manx National Heritage: House of Manannan (2 facts)
• Manx National Heritage: Manx Museum (2 facts)
• Manx National Heritage: King Orry’s Grave (2 facts)
• Manx National Heritage (archived gov.im page, 2012): Celtic Farmers, Iron Age (9 facts)
• Manx National Heritage (archived gov.im page, 2012): Iron Age Fortifications (16 facts)
• Manx National Heritage (archived gov.im page, 2012): Iron Age Farmsteads (3 facts)
• Manx National Heritage (archived gov.im page, 2012): Cronk ny Merriu (2 facts)

Visit IOM (2)

• Visit IOM: Castle Rushen (2 facts)
• Visit IOM: Peel Castle (2 facts)

Scottish Society for Northern Studies (Andrew Johnson and Peter Davey, 2002) (2)

• Andrew Johnson, “Watch and Ward on the Isle of Man” (Scottish Society for Northern Studies, 2002) (21 facts)
• Peter Davey, “Manx archaeology in the high Middle Ages” (Scottish Society for Northern Studies, 2002) (17 facts)

A Manx Notebook (Jenkinson’s guide, 1874, for old stories only) (1)

• Jenkinson’s Practical Guide to the Isle of Man (1874), Castletown, on A Manx Notebook (3 facts)

GOV.UK (Department for Education) (1)

• GOV.UK (DfE): National curriculum in England, history programmes of study (3 facts)

When sources disagree

Where sources give different dates, or say something is an interpretation or unknown, we show all of it, with links, and say how we handle it.

Who founded Castle Rushen, and when?

• 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
• It was built about 800 years ago for a Viking king. Manx National Heritage: 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)

How we handle it: Manx National Heritage’s own guides name two different Norse kings, Reginald and Magnus. Visit IOM says the late 12th or early 13th century. Peter Davey says archaeology cannot date it even to the nearest hundred years. We give each answer with its source.

Was Castle Rushen built in 960?

• 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 first stage, around 1200, was a great tower inside a ditch. Manx National Heritage: Castle Rushen Assessment of Significance (2017), on Planning Portal IoM

How we handle it: An 1874 guidebook reported this claim and doubted it. The 2017 assessment of significance puts the first stage around 1200.

How did Peel Castle begin?

• 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)
• 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
• Its round tower was built about 900 years ago, to protect people from raiders. Manx National Heritage: Peel Castle

How we handle it: The sources describe a place of worship that became Magnus Barefoot’s fortress, a first castle built in wood in the 11th century, and a round tower about 900 years old. They differ in detail, so we quote each.

How many houses stood inside South Barrule?

• Its stone-faced turf rampart enclosed at least 85 house sites. Manx National Heritage (archived gov.im page, 2012): Iron Age Fortifications
• Peter Davey counts at least 80 roundhouses inside two wide-spaced ramparts. Peter Davey, “Manx archaeology in the high Middle Ages” (Scottish Society for Northern Studies, 2002)

How we handle it: Manx National Heritage says at least 85 house sites; Peter Davey says at least 80 roundhouses. Both say “at least”.

How many promontory forts does the island have?

• 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 island’s National Monuments Record listed 22 forts in 2002, plus 10 possible sites. Andrew Johnson, “Watch and Ward on the Isle of Man” (Scottish Society for Northern Studies, 2002)
• More promontory forts may have been lost where soft cliffs of sand and clay are wearing away in the north. Andrew Johnson, “Watch and Ward on the Isle of Man” (Scottish Society for Northern Studies, 2002)

How we handle it: Manx National Heritage’s archived page says 20 recorded. Andrew Johnson says the National Monuments Record listed 22 in 2002, plus 10 possible sites. Counts change as sites are found, or lost to the sea.

When was Close ny Chollagh last lived in?

• 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)

How we handle it: A brooch points to about AD 50; Johnson says into the 1st century AD. These fit together, but they are worded differently.

Was Castle Rushen’s clock a gift from Elizabeth I?

• It is believed to be a gift from Queen Elizabeth I, but no document has yet been found to prove it. Manx National Heritage: Castle Rushen’s medieval clock to undergo specialist conservation
• Its style, design and radiocarbon dating fit that belief. Manx National Heritage: Castle Rushen’s medieval clock to undergo specialist conservation
• 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

How we handle it: The 1874 guide states it as fact, with the date 1597. Manx National Heritage says it is believed, and the evidence fits, but no document has been found to prove it.

What were the reused promontory forts for?

• 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)
• Manx National Heritage describes the later Cronk ny Merriu building as part of a system of coastal lookout posts. Manx National Heritage (archived gov.im page, 2012): Cronk ny Merriu
• At Vowlan near Ramsey, the first site to be dug, the excavator Bersu thought six buildings were huts for guards left by Viking raiders. Andrew Johnson, “Watch and Ward on the Isle of Man” (Scottish Society for Northern Studies, 2002)
• Johnson argues the forts make poor farms: exposed, hard to reach and with no water supply. Andrew Johnson, “Watch and Ward on the Isle of Man” (Scottish Society for Northern Studies, 2002)

How we handle it: Johnson suggests lookout posts in the Watch and Ward; the excavator Bersu thought the Vowlan huts were for guards left by Viking raiders. These are interpretations, so we quote them as theirs.

What was Broogh Fort?

• It is probably a medieval motte, though it may have been a Bronze Age burial site or an Iron Age ringfort. Manx National Heritage: Broogh Fort
• It has never been properly excavated, so what it was for is still unclear. Manx National Heritage: Broogh Fort

How we handle it: Probably a medieval motte, but it might be a Bronze Age burial site or an Iron Age ringfort. It has never been properly excavated.