Cronk ny Merriu
Encyclopedia
Cronk ny Merriu is one of the remains of promontory forts in the Isle of Man
. Close to Port Grenaugh
, this site dates back almost 2,000 years. The bank and ditch of Iron Age
date created a defensive promontory fort at Cronk ny Merriu. Later, a rectangular building of Norse style and layout stood here, part of a system of coastal lookout posts.
Several of the lookout posts, especially in Santon
, where Cronk ny Merriu is situated, can be visited using the coastal footpath. All of the posts have a rampart on their vulnerable landward side, and excavations have shown that access to the fort was via a strongly built gate.
The Scandinavians
who arrived in Mann in the eighth and ninth centuries sometimes re-used these Iron Age promontory forts, often obliterating the old domestic quarters with their characteristic rectangular houses; the fine example at Cronk ny Merriu has been used as the basis of the reconstruction in the House of Manannan.
(hill) (the dead) means literally 'hill of the dead'.
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
. Close to Port Grenaugh
Port Grenaugh
Port Grenaugh is a bay in the Isle of Man at the end of Glen Grenaugh, Santon and the mouth of an apparently unnamed stream which originates in the Newtown area of the parish by Ballakissack farm....
, this site dates back almost 2,000 years. The bank and ditch of Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
date created a defensive promontory fort at Cronk ny Merriu. Later, a rectangular building of Norse style and layout stood here, part of a system of coastal lookout posts.
Several of the lookout posts, especially in Santon
Santon (parish)
Santon is a parish of the Isle of Man. It has an area of approximately eight square miles and is the island's smallest parish, located in the sheading of Middle which is composed of the parishes of Braddan, Marown and Santon. Currently the Captain of the Parish is Donald Gelling.The parish church...
, where Cronk ny Merriu is situated, can be visited using the coastal footpath. All of the posts have a rampart on their vulnerable landward side, and excavations have shown that access to the fort was via a strongly built gate.
The Scandinavians
Scandinavians
Scandinavians are a group of Germanic peoples, inhabiting Scandinavia and to a lesser extent countries associated with Scandinavia, and speaking Scandinavian languages. The group includes Danes, Norwegians and Swedes, and additionally the descendants of Scandinavian settlers such as the Icelandic...
who arrived in Mann in the eighth and ninth centuries sometimes re-used these Iron Age promontory forts, often obliterating the old domestic quarters with their characteristic rectangular houses; the fine example at Cronk ny Merriu has been used as the basis of the reconstruction in the House of Manannan.
Etymology
In the Manx languageManx language
Manx , also known as Manx Gaelic, and as the Manks language, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, historically spoken by the Manx people. Only a small minority of the Island's population is fluent in the language, but a larger minority has some knowledge of it...
(hill) (the dead) means literally 'hill of the dead'.