“Chapel of the Red Ridge.” The name Cabbal Dreem Ruy echoes through time. We stand before more than just ruins. We are at Ballayelse Keeill. It is a place steeped in history and whispers of ages long past.
Cabbal Dreem Ruy stands close to Cringle Plantation. It dates back to the early Christian era. Some say it may even stand on a much older pagan site.
Imagine this field long ago. It wasn’t just a field. It was a sacred space. The keeill, as these ancient chapels are known, served as a center of worship. People gathered here to connect with the divine.
In 1894, P. M. C. Kermode connected the name Cabbal Dreem Ruy with this keeill in a list of Manx antiquities. Before that, it was mostly known as Ballayelse Keeill because it sits on Ballayelse Farm land. It has no known dedication to a saint.
In 1899, the Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society visited. They noted its state of ruin. The keeill measured 19 feet 6 inches by 10 feet 6 inches internally. Its walls were about three feet thick and six feet high inside. An uncultivated space marked the ancient burial ground. There was a doorway near the east end of the south wall. They saw no windows or carvings.
Eight years later, Kermode mentioned the keeill at Ballayelse again. He noted the wall thickness varied. Ballayelse was the only example with walls still standing at their full height of six feet.
By our time, the keeill is fenced off. It appears well-cared for. But the walls are more like three to four feet high now. There has been deterioration over the last century.
Notice the large quartz boulders. They mark each corner. Quartz stones scatter throughout the walls. This is distinctive. The white stones suggest a possible earlier Bronze Age site. These stones held religious significance. They may be a continuation of their importance from earlier pagan times.
Sadly, many of the white stones were taken away. They were reused in farm buildings. This depleted the structure.
In 1878, the Archaeological Commissioners described the remains as extensive. The walls were six feet high and three feet wide at the base. They thanked Mr. Cubbon of Ballayelse for preserving this interesting monument. But his descendant didn’t share the same respect. He used stones from the keeill to build a barn.
Canon E.B. Savage found a graveyard marked by a circle of large stones. It was 30 yards from the chapel. Many stones from the burial site had been removed for reuse in the 1800s. Locals believed the death of cows and calves followed this sacrilege. No more stones were taken after that.
The Museum and Ancient Monuments Trustees renovated the keeill in 1937. They cleaned the fallen stones. They replaced them on the walls to a height of several feet. They also erected a post and wire fence. This gives the structure its neat look.
Today, Cabbal Dreem Ruy is a reminder of older churches in Man. In 1963-64, the number of white quartzite blocks made it conspicuous. The renovations of 1937 largely shaped its present appearance. Two very large quartzite boulders mark the outer corners of the west end.
Seen from the Awin Vitchel Bridge at Ronague, Cabbal Dreem Ruy stands as a testament to time. It represents the enduring spirit of faith. Despite destruction and renovation, Cabbal Dreem Ruy remains. It is a sacred place on this ancient island.