St. Michael's Isle

St. Michael's Isle is a very small place just off the coast from the Langness Peninsula. These days, it is connected to the peninsula by a narrow causeway. It seems to be a popular place for the Manx to walk their dogs (or themselves).



On this island, is St. Michael's Chapel, a 12th century building constructed on the site of an old chapel. What is left today is the stone part of the building, complete with the opening in the front tower for the bell to hang. This must mean that people were living on the island (or(or possibly the Langness peninsula) since the sound of the bell would not have carried far enough to be heard from mainland.

In the 13th century, this place was also the site to two battles important to the Manx.

The island is the site of two great battles for the control of the Isle of Man in 1250 and 1275, when England, Scotland and the Manx were fighting for control of the island. The Manx won the first battle, but 25 years later they lost control to Scotland.^[1]

Also here is a small round fort dating from the 1645. It was built to protect the nearby port of Derbyhaven (just next to Castletown). There are still cannon inside.