Peel Castle, St. Patrick's Isle

Peel Castle, one of the Isle of Man’s principal historic monuments occupies the important site of St Patrick’s Isle at Peel. The Castle’s Curtain Wall encircles the ruins of many buildings which are a testimony to the site’s religious and secular importance in Manx history. These include St. Patrick’s Church and the Round Tower from the 11th century, the 13th century Cathedral of St. German, and the later apartments of the Lords of Mann. The importance of the Isle as a centre of Manx Christianity was established in the 6th century and this role was to survive the arrival of the ‘pagan’ Norse Vikings at the end of the 8th century. In the 11th century it became the ruling seat of the Norse Kingdom of Man and the Isles, first united by Godred Crovan.

A major six year programme of archaeological excavation commencing in 1982 emphasised the prime importance of the site. The most dramatic find was the Norse-period grave of a lady of high social status; the jewellery and effects buried with her can be seen on display with other excavation finds in the Manx Museum.

After 1333, the construction of the best preserved building, the Gatehouse, was followed by the completion of the Curtain Wall and later by the emplacement of artillery. St German’s Cathedral was remodelled and the adjoining residential block of the Vicars Chorale became the ‘Lords House’, the apartments of a succession of Lords of Mann installed at this time.

The Revestment of the Sovereignty of the English Crown in 1765 found the importance of Peel Castle in decline and its buildings were allowed to decay through a period of limited military use which ended in the latter half of the 19th century.

Today, the House of Manannan provides an exciting introduction to St Patrick’s Isle, while ‘Manannan’s Tour of Peel Castle’ provides each visitor to the Castle with a personal electronic guide. The voice of Manannan himself explains the great stories in the stones which still stand here.

Click here to view a 360 degree panoramic view of Peel Castle.