Isle of Man Medieval Castles
The Isle of Man is one of the geographical locations in the world that is steeped in history, and a must-visit for individuals who enjoy a glimpse at the past in its original settings. For history buffs the world over, the opportunity to visit castles, particularly medieval castles is especially significant as it provides an insight not only in to the type of lifestyles of a bygone era but also provides the opportunity to peek into and even touch a part of history that is long gone.
Introduction to Castle Rushen
If there is an opportunity to visit Castletown, which is the historical capital of the Isle of Man, it would be ideal if a day can be spent exploring Castle Rushen, in the south of the island. What makes this destination particularly valuable is not only its history but also the fact that it is currently still in use as a court house and a museum.
Castle Rushen is believed to have been constructed in the mid 1200s and the last Norse king, Mann Mangus III is believed to have died there in 1265. The Norse influence at this castle is prevalent bearing in mind that the Isle of Man has been under Norse control since the late 8th century. The original Castle Rushen has changed shape over the centuries with different rulers from the Norse to the Scots continually developing the castle.
Exploring Castle Rushen
Exploring Castle Rushen, it is possible to see the outer walls of defence, the five towers and even a drawbridge. Another must-see is the still functioning Castle Rushen clock which was presented by Queen Elizabeth I in 1597 when she was temporarily in control of the Isle of Man.
It is also possible to see the moat and glacis that extends as far as the moat.
Ideally an exploration of the physical remains of Castle Rushen should be conducted with a tour guide in order to gain an in depth understanding of the history at the different locations within Castle Rushen.
By the 18th century, as the defensive value of Castle Rushen declined, a mint was established within its grounds. In addition, it is ideal to visit The Lord’s Treasury, where the Isle of Man law books are also stored. Sections of the castle were also converted into a prison in the 19th century and it continued to be used as such until the 20th century. The prison housed not only male and female prisoners, but also the children borne of these prisoners were allowed to live within the prison.
Castle Rushen was also used as an insane asylum for the mentally ill, although the criminally insane were not housed there. There was also a site for executions.
By 1988 work on restoration of the castle began and it is primarily run as a museum. An exploration of Castle Rushen allows visitors to get a sense of how things were done over the centuries and this even includes an authentic medieval kitchen that is still used on special occasions.
It is suggested that a visit to Castle Rushen is the closest that visitors from the 21st century will be able to walk in the shoes of the people who lived more there almost 1000 years ago. This is an experience not to be underestimated, and don’t forget to bring a camera!
Introduction to Peel Castle
If in the mood for more castle exploration, a visit to Peel Castle, on St Patrick’s Isle is recommended. St Patrick’s Isle is connected to the town via a causeway, and the castle is open to visitors during the summer.
Peel Castle was originally built by the Vikings in the 11th century under the rule of King Magnus Barelegs. This castle remained a key fortification point for the island’s defences until the late 1800s and while much of Peel Castle is now ruins, there are still the outer walls that a visitor can walk through.
Peel Castle is however more famous for the findings that have been made during archeological evacuations conducted there in the 1980s. The findings include the remains of Magnus Bareleg’s original wooden fort, the grave of the 10th century Pagan Lady and her necklace; and silver coins that date back to about 1030 AD.
A visit to Peel Castle would not be complete without stepping into the ruins of Cathedral of St German. It will be possible to visit the cemetery there as well as the crypt where the tomb of Bishop Rutter has been interred since 1661.
There are early traces of flint tools from about 8000 years ago that were used by the people of the Mesolithic era, and while St Patrick’s Island is not suitable for agricultural purposes, there is evidence that people occupied the island from the late Bronze Era which ended in 600 BC.
More historical sites
Still on a trial of Isle of Man history, a visit to St Michael’s Isle is recommended. Popularly referred to as Fort Island, this too has several ruins that are worth visiting. One of these is St Michael’s Chapel, built in the 12th century and located at the south of the island. This is a Celtic-Norse chapel and while it is roofless now, there is still a sense of what the chapel was and how services were conducted there.
Derby Fort is another located to visit on the east of the island. This was built by the 7th Earl of Derby, who was a very religious man, and who has been described as being of noble character. He was very loyal to the King and was prepared to work to help the kingdom in whatever way possible. He however had an intense dislike of the Scots, a feeling that he took with him to the grave. A simple man, he was not directly involved in the politics of the palace, and this was often to his detriment.
Conclusion
There is much history on the Isle of Man and a visit to the castles and ruins are just the beginning. The evidence of early Christianity being practiced on the Isle of Man from as far back as 500 AD is tremendous and a visit to the Manx Museum is absolutely critical in order to immerse oneself into this history fully. There are many early Christian monuments worth visiting and as visitors do this, it is important to ensure that the proper guidance is available, so that there is a better understanding of the history that stands before the visitor.
