Spooyt Vane Keeill
This Keeill stands in a small plantation on the broogh above the stream, about 130 yards N. W. of the charming little waterfall known as Spooyt Vane, and about 150 ft. above sea level. It was found to measure about 23ft. by 13ft., the walls standing from 28in. high at the West end to 30in. on the North and South, and 40in. on the East.
The door-way is in the middle of the West wall, and proved to be 25 in wide inside, narrowing to 16 in. at a point two feet from the inner face of the wall, whence it expanded outwards to about 18 in. There appeared to have been a step of about 12 in. down from the outside, against which.; the usual bank of earth and rubble could be traced for a width of about 4 ft., but no sill-stone was found there; across the inside there was another step of 9 in., the sill was .now represented by a small stone on edge, 1zin. by 11in. high, and 4in. thick. One of the jamb-stones remained on edge on the North side, the rest was built of rather large flat stones. Several of the. pavement stones remained in position at the East end, mostly of small size, flat and irregular in outline. The Altar was of unusual shape, measuring 7 ft. 6in., against the East wall I whence it narrowed to 5 ft. 3 in. in front, being aE in. wide, and now about -rz in. at its highest point ; the sides were marked by small stones set on edge, the purpose of which may have been to support the large upright slabs with which it was probably faced. The sill of the East window, as well as the jamb-stones had gone, but the bed prepared for it could be traced, at a height from the floor pavement of 40 in. The walls showed a slight but distinct batter which was more conspicuous on the North side, where it measured at the foundation aft. 6in., but at a height of aft. 6in. was reduced to a width of aft. Sin. Mr. J. R. Quayle, Secretary of the local Committee, at our request cut through this wall just opposite the face of the Altar, and gave us.the section here figured, showing that the wall consisted of an inner and an outer face of stone, filled in with soil and rubble. The stones, set without mortar, were undressed, but carefully fitted, those of the lowest course of some size. Just inside, to the North of the doorway, Mr. Kermode found a small flat stone lying on its face, on which was incised a very simple linear cross. It is of clay-slate and measures only 25in. long, by Sin. wide, and an inch thick, ;showing no surface dressing, but its very simplicity makes it difficult to suggest a date for it. The broken upper-stone of a granite quern was found loose in the Keeill, probably thrown in after it had long been in ruins; very few white pebbles were met with. The enclosure, irregular in shape, was surrounded by a low embankment of earth strengthened with stones, about 4 to 6 ft. wide at base. Its greatest length, North and South, was about 32 yards, and greatest width, East and West, 25 yards, the Keeill standing in the Northern half. Trials were made at different places, and in one on the South side, two flat stones were met with, 2 ft. and 2 ft. 6 in. long, beneath which the soil had been disturbed, but no other trace of burial was found ; the whole enclosure was so thickly matted with roots of trees that digging was very difficult. Outside, at the South-west corner, the foundations were found of a small rectangular the hollow, passing close beside it. Mr. Keig, the owner, willingly granted permission for us to make; the examination, and presented the little cross-slab to the Manx Museum and Ancient Monuments Trustees, who intend to place it with the others from this parish in the handsome Cross-house and Lych-gate, which, with the assistance of parishioners and friends subscribing, they have erected at the Parish Church.
It is told of this Keeill that the last Priest who officiated in it was guilty of mending his carranes on a Sunday, and in consequence, met with a sudden and dreadful end. The story as told by the late Mr. Cannell was as follows: "The priest of Cabbal Pherick, at the Spooyt Vane, was a cobbler to his trade. One day he was so busy mending a pair of shoes that he did not notice the people passing in the road and looking at him in surprise. His housekeeper came to him at last and said 'Are you not ashamed to be doing work on the Sabbath and all the people waiting at the Chapel for you.' What are thou talking of woman,' he said, 'Go and count the eggs and see how many are in the nest.' For the priest had a hen which laid an egg every day and they were collected only once a week, and that is how he knew what day it would be. So the woman went, and when she came back she said-Seven eggs there are.' Then the priest threw down his tools, and rushed away with such haste that he fell down the Spooyt Vane, and was drowned. And the people never used the Chapel any more." Another version lays stress on the fact that he waxed his shoe-laces, and when he was crossing the stream he tripped ever them and was carried down the fall !
[Source: Third report of the Manx Archaeological Survey Report 1911]