Ballafayle

Nearest town:
Ramsey (6km WNW)
OS reference:
SC478901
OS sheet:
95
Latitude:
54° 17' 0.87 N
Longitude:
4° 20' 17.73 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Ballafayle (Chambered Cairn) by thesweetcheat

From the northeastern corner, showing the edging of drystone wall. The summit of North Barrule peeks over the intervening ridge.

Image credit: A. Brookes (19.8.2019)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Dec 27, 2019
Image of Ballafayle (Chambered Cairn) by thesweetcheat

The bank running across the monument is apparently a modern addition. Now that the surrounding trees are gone, it sports a nice growth of heather.

Image credit: A. Brookes (19.8.2019)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Dec 27, 2019
Image of Ballafayle (Chambered Cairn) by thesweetcheat

The band of exposed stone is the line of the 1926 excavation trench.

Image credit: A. Brookes (19.8.2019)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Dec 27, 2019
Image of Ballafayle (Chambered Cairn) by thesweetcheat

Uprights in what I assume would have been a facade around the inner edge of the courtyard.

Image credit: A. Brookes (19.8.2019)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Dec 27, 2019
Image of Ballafayle (Chambered Cairn) by thesweetcheat

The wedge-shaped tomb from the north, with the forecourt on the right.

Image credit: A. Brookes (19.8.2019)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Dec 27, 2019
Image of Ballafayle (Chambered Cairn) by Moz

Taken from the south-west, July 2008CE.

Image credit: Moz
Moz
Moz Jul 13, 2008
Image of Ballafayle (Chambered Cairn) by Moz

Taken from the north east, July 2008CE.

Image credit: Moz
Moz
Moz Jul 13, 2008
Image of Ballafayle (Chambered Cairn) by Kammer

Taken 24th August 2003: The end of the cairn. It’s not clear whether the wall truncates it, or just runs very close to it.

Image credit: Simon Marshall
Kammer
Kammer Nov 11, 2003
Image of Ballafayle (Chambered Cairn) by Kammer

Taken 24th August 2003: A solitary standing stone, possibly flanking the entrance to the chamber.

Behind the wall is the road, and beyond that the little green plack next to Rullic Ny Quakern.

Image credit: Simon Marshall
Kammer
Kammer Nov 11, 2003
Image of Ballafayle (Chambered Cairn) by Kammer

Taken 24th August 2003: The remains of the cairn viewed from the north east, or thereabouts.

Image credit: Simon Marshall
Kammer
Kammer Nov 11, 2003

Articles

Ballafayle

Moz
Moz Jul 13, 2008

Visited July 2008CE. This is a nice site in a quiet location. Unfortunately most of the trees in the low-walled enclosure had been blown down when I visited. Consequently, most of the south east of the cairn was not visible. From the debris on the ground it looks like it has been like this for a while.

Ballafayle

Kammer
Kammer Nov 11, 2003

Visited 24th August 2003: I spotted Ballafayle on the Ordnance Survey map, so we decided to take a look on our way to Cashtal yn Ard. Given the low profile the site has in the tourist leaflets and on the web we were surprised to find that there’s good access to the site, and quite a bit to see. This was my first proper Manx cairn, so I found it very puzzling.

The lane runs right past Ballafayle, with space for a car to park. Immediately opposite the cairn is Rullic Ny Quakern, a Keeill that was later used as a 17th Century Quaker burial ground. Access to from the road to both sites is unnecessarily hindered by low stone stiles.

Miscellaneous

Ballafayle
Chambered Cairn
Kammer
Kammer Nov 12, 2003

The Manx Museum and National Trust plaque next to the remains of the tomb says:

BALLAFAYLE CAIRN
REMAINS OF NEOLITHIC BURIAL SITE, 2000 TO 1500 B. C. WEDGE SHAPED CAIRN,
CONTAINING MANY STONES FUSED BY HEAT.
BOUNDED BY DRY-STONE WALLING ON ONE SIDE. CREMATED BURIALS FOUND IN CAIRN.
CONCAVE BANK WITH STANDING STONES ON
THIS SIDE* OF CAIRN BORDERS A PAVED
FORE-COURT.
EXCAVATED 1926

* The western side.

Sites within 20km of Ballafayle

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