Peel Castle Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Peel Castle
Peel Castle as seen from the swing bridge at the entrance to Peel harbour
General information
Town or city	St Patrick's Isle, Peel
Country	Isle of Man
Construction started	11th century
Completed	1860
Client	Magnus II of the Isle of Man
Design and construction
Architect	Several

Peel Castle (called Cashtal Purt ny h-Inshey in Manx Gaelic) is a famous castle in Peel. It is located on the Isle of Man. Vikings first built the castle.

The castle stands on St Patrick's Isle. A causeway connects the island to the town. Today, Manx National Heritage owns the castle. You can visit it during the summer months.

History of Peel Castle
Cathedral of St German (Ruins)
- About the Cathedral Ruins
- Inside the Cathedral
See also

History of Peel Castle

Building the Castle

Vikings built Peel Castle in the 11th century. This was under the rule of King Magnus Barefoot. Before the Vikings, there were older stone buildings from the Celts on the island. The first Viking forts were made of wood.

The tall, round tower was part of the Celtic monastery. Later, battlements were added to it. In the early 1300s, most of the castle walls and towers were built. They used local red sandstone, which is common in the area.

Later Uses and Discoveries

After the Vikings, the Church used the castle. This was because of the cathedral built there. It was the main church for the diocese of Sodor and Man. The castle was left empty in the 1700s.

The castle stayed a strong fort. New defenses were added as late as 1860. Most buildings inside the castle are now ruins. But the outer walls are still standing.

From 1982 to 1987, people dug up parts of the castle. They found a large graveyard. They also found what was left of Magnus Barefoot's first wooden fort. The most exciting finds were a 10th-century grave. It belonged to "The Pagan Lady." Her grave had a beautiful Viking necklace. Silver coins from about 1030 were also found.

The Black Dog Ghost

The castle has a famous "resident." It is a ghost called the Moddey Dhoo. This means "Black Dog" in Manx. Many people say they have seen this ghostly dog.

Peel Castle Today

Today, Peel Castle is shown on the back of the £10 notes. These notes are issued by the Isle of Man Government.

Sometimes, people confuse Peel Castle with Piel Castle. Piel Castle is on Piel Island. It is located to the east, across the Irish Sea. This confusion happens especially with a poem by William Wordsworth. He wrote about Piel, spelling its name 'Peele'. Wordsworth did visit Peel Castle and wrote about the Isle of Man.

Some people think Peel Castle might be the real location of Avalon. Avalon is a magical island from the stories of King Arthur.

St. Patrick's Isle seen from Peel Hill

Cathedral of St German (Ruins)

About the Cathedral Ruins

Inside Peel Castle, you can see the ruins of the Cathedral of St German. Like other buildings in the castle, the cathedral no longer has a roof. In 1877, Robert Anderson looked at the ruins. He reported what repairs were needed to fix the cathedral. However, none of these repairs were done.

Inside the Cathedral

There is a pointed, barrel-vaulted crypt below the chancel. A crypt is an underground room, often used for burials. This one measures about 10 meters long, 5 meters wide, and 3 meters high at one end.

In the middle of the transept (the part of a cross-shaped church that crosses the main body), is a tomb. Bishop Rutter was buried here in 1661. There is also a cemetery where the cathedral's nave (the main part of the church) used to be.

In 1980, the parish of German moved. It became part of the newer Cathedral Church of St German. This new church is on Albany Road in Peel.

The cathedral, inside the castle
Chancel of the Cathedral of St. German
The Cathedral behind the late 15th century Lord's Apartments
The round tower, in the ruins of Peel Castle
The 10th or 11th century round tower viewed through the window of St. Patrick's Church