“A hidden well?” I overheard a tour member whisper, intrigued. We stood before Ballavarry Farmhouse, its traditional Manx stonework a testament to its history. Ballavarry Farmhouse, a registered building, stands proudly on Bernahara Road in Andreas, Isle of Man. But beyond its charming exterior lies a secret, a hidden well tucked away in the back room floor. Imagine generations of families who lived in Ballavarry Farmhouse drawing water from this hidden source. One resident’s grandfather and uncle, both farmers at Ballavarry Farmhouse, cleverly utilized the well. To avoid metered water charges for cleaning the cow house, they drew water from this hidden well. Even the resident’s mother recalled using the well during dry summers, keeping the farm going when water was scarce. The old Ordnance Survey maps from the late 1800s, mark a pump at the farmhouse. This likely points to the same well, connecting us to those past inhabitants of Ballavarry Farmhouse. Today, the well’s existence is uncertain, shrouded in mystery. The thought of a hidden water source, sustaining life at Ballavarry Farmhouse for generations, adds a touch of magic to this historic home.
The Curragh Nature Reserve
Wallabies in the Isle of Man? The Curragh Nature Reserve is full of surprises. This wetland area has a rich