Rushen Abbey - 1913 Dig

J R Bruce in the Manx Archaeological Survey Sixth Report has it that a Dr. R. Cochrane, President of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland suggested that Mr Cubbon should attempt to find the foundations of the Cistercian Abbey by excavation..

Where were they digging?

The east cloister range, including Chapter-House and Fratry, and some of the south range. [Note: the Chapterhouse was mistakenly identified at this time as being the building immediately south of what we now know is the Chapterhouse, but was then identified as the Slype].

What did they find?

Dr Lawrence Butler stated: "no plan of the building was published. No finds apart from stonework and tiles are recorded but Mr Cubbon's site museum was gradually augmented wih material from gardening activities throughout the abbey grounds."