north to south, where the rood-screen would be placed.
Masonry of the Gabled Building on the south side of Round Tower.
C. 1 foot 2 inches long; 1 foot high.
The material of this building is of stone, similar to that of the rock on which it stands. A very little red sand-stone is introduced. The masonry is irregular, and wide-jointed, the mortar being softer than that of the round tower, and of a wholly different texture. There are other buildings of much the same character within the area of the castle, but they retain no architectural feature which may determine their style and date. Some of the windows seem to have been circular, the voussoirs being very thin and deep, similar to those seen in Roman remains, the material being slate or schist.
[1]On referring to the ecclesiastical history of the Isle of Man, we shall be led to admit the probability that the remains of very ancient places of worship may yet be found in it. And I may add, that the feelings of the inhabitants who regard such ruins as marking the burial place of their forefathers, favour the success of the antiquary in his researches. St. German, whom St. Patrick left as bishop in 447, built a chapel to every district of four quarter lands throughout the island, which consisted of 771 quarter lands, each containing about 400 acres. This is referred to in a Manx ballad of the early part of the sixteenth century. "For each four quarter-lands he made a chapel, for people of them to meet to prayer. He also built German church in Peel castle, which remaineth there until this day." From the same authority we learn that Manghold, who was bishop in 498, divided the island into regular parishes.
Whether the original cathedral of St. German occupied the site of the present, or whether its remains are to be sought for among the other relics that are scattered over this interesting area, it would be difficult to ascertain, as the present building exhibits nothing earlier than the work of Simon, who succeeded to the bishopric in 1226, and began to rebuild the cathedral. His part is evidently the chancel, which is a pure and simple specimen of the then prevailing style. From its character indeed we might have pronounced it to be earlier;
- ↑ I have been indebted throughout for historical information, to Train's History of the Isle of Man; a work of great research, and abounding with curious and valuable references.
