Manx National Heritage (MNH) has outlined to concerned parishioners the options being considered for the better storage of Maughold Churchyard’s ancient crosses.

Almost a third of all pre-Norse cross slabs found in the island are housed in an open wooden shelter within the church grounds, which was built in 1906.

Concerned parishioners called a public meeting for MNH to make arrangements for the ’better protection and promotion’ of the crosses, highlighting concerns about their deterioration and security in the current location.

Attended by around 70 people in Maughold Church Hall, the meeting resulted in a small committee being formed to take on the task of coming up with provisions for the crosses’ short term protection.

Consisting of four parishioners, a representative of Maughold Church (who own the crosses) and one from MNH (the crosses’ guardians), the committee are due to report back in October, after having also examined viable options for their future.

Parishioner Pam Kerruish, who instigated the meeting, said that there had been ’agreement’ with speakers Edmund Southworth (outgoing MNH director) and Clare Faulds (representing the church) that the crosses ’were not being cared for as they deserve to be’.

Mr Southworth circulated to attendees plans of the ’options appraisal’ which MNH had previously funded to examine potential new sites.

He explained that no progress had been made on a scheme for the preferred site, immediately outside the church gates, because of difficulties in communicating with the landowner.

It was agreed that as the re-siting of the crosses will take time, action should be taken to improve the building in which they are currently sited.

This would involve restoring the building itself and ensuring the crosses are better interpreted for the public.

MNH had also considered extending or replacing the existing crosshouse.

Parishioners had also complained that the crosses were not properly displayed given their historical value, with Ms Kerruish describing them as ’squashed together, ill lit and with laughable labelling’.

Mr Southworth said that MNH could assist the Parish with arranging for better signage relatively quickly, and that this would not be expensive.

Maughold’s potential as a pilgrimage site was also discussed, with a trail and a community centre for housing the crosses.

MNH did, however, dispute Mrs Kerruish’s point that the crosses were deteriorating in their current conditions, pointing to a comparison between modern laser cans and the original 1906-1908 casts which showed little difference.

Nevertheless, they are at risk from lichen and bird droppings.

Manx National Heritage (MNH) has outlined to concerned parishioners the options being considered for the better storage of Maughold Churchyard’s ancient crosses.

Almost a third of all pre-Norse cross slabs found in the island are housed in an open wooden shelter within the church grounds, which was built in 1906.

Concerned parishioners called a public meeting for MNH to make arrangements for the ’better protection and promotion’ of the crosses, highlighting concerns about their deterioration and security in the current location.

Attended by around 70 people in Maughold Church Hall, the meeting resulted in a small committee being formed to take on the task of coming up with provisions for the crosses’ short term protection.

Consisting of four parishioners, a representative of Maughold Church (who own the crosses) and one from MNH (the crosses’ guardians), the committee are due to report back in October, after having also examined viable options for their future.

Parishioner Pam Kerruish, who instigated the meeting, said that there had been ’agreement’ with speakers Edmund Southworth (outgoing MNH director) and Clare Faulds (representing the church) that the crosses ’were not being cared for as they deserve to be’.

Mr Southworth circulated to attendees plans of the ’options appraisal’ which MNH had previously funded to examine potential new sites.

He explained that no progress had been made on a scheme for the preferred site, immediately outside the church gates, because of difficulties in communicating with the landowner.

It was agreed that as the re-siting of the crosses will take time, action should be taken to improve the building in which they are currently sited.

This would involve restoring the building itself and ensuring the crosses are better interpreted for the public.

MNH had also considered extending or replacing the existing crosshouse.

Parishioners had also complained that the crosses were not properly displayed given their historical value, with Ms Kerruish describing them as ’squashed together, ill lit and with laughable labelling’.

Mr Southworth said that MNH could assist the Parish with arranging for better signage relatively quickly, and that this would not be expensive.

Maughold’s potential as a pilgrimage site was also discussed, with a trail and a community centre for housing the crosses.

MNH did, however, dispute Mrs Kerruish’s point that the crosses were deteriorating in their current conditions, pointing to a comparison between modern laser cans and the original 1906-1908 casts which showed little difference.

Nevertheless, they are at risk from lichen and bird droppings.