Celtic crosses and Parliament - Tuesday part 1

Tuesday morning – to Peel via Cronkbourne, Kirk Braddan and St Johns. Cronkbourne is a purpose-built industrial village established in the 1840s to serve a Flax Mill/Sailcloth works – not much to see (or maybe we missed it, we were a bit rushed) but you can find out more here .



Onwards via Kirk Braddan, an ancient church dating back to a Celtic Keeill (Chapel) around 400 AD. It stands close to a late Victorian Church of 1876. The old church has Celtic and Scandinavian crosses from 800 - 1265 AD. Several have the Manx ring chain design attributed to the sculptor Gaut and now used in the logo of Manx National Heritage.

Not exactly IA - but fascinating nevertheless.






At St Johns we stop to visit the Tynwald Hill, the ancient seat of the Manx Parliament, where every new law is still read out every year.















Again, not exactly IA, but still fascinating - but I won't go into this in detail here - there'll be a bit on the podcast - meanwhile take a look at this vertical turf - is this maintained using hidden geotextiles??

Today's blog to be continued in the next posting - Kippers and Castles...