I've recently mentioned the life, locations, and characters of Hall Caine. Here's another little chapter:

Below is Kirk Maughold Church, which we visited on Saturday:




This figures in Hall Caine's novels (I've started reading The Manxman, and a crucial marriage was solemnized in this spot...), and in his life (he is buried here).

His tombstone was designed by Archibald Knox, who not only "left behind a remarkable legacy that continues to inspire designers and collectors to this day", but also taught my mother's art class at school... She didn't have fond memories... According to what she told me, if the great man didn't like what you had drawn, he would literally wipe it out with a sponge... Given that he died in 1933, when she was 14, she must have experienced some of his last lessons.





Maughold church is also home to some notable Celtic crosses, ancient and modern:




There's an impressive war memorial:



And not far from the church there's the lighthouse:


A wonderful bit of the world...


Today we popped in at another church famous for its crosses, St Andrew's in Andreas. The ancient stones are inside, though, and they were fixing the door, and anyway it was so cold that I didn't want to take my hat off to put my mask on... So we need to go back another day.



Meanwhile, in Ramsey -- not far from either Maughold or Andreas, that is -- you can visit the Fynoderee Distillery. I love these guys... Not only do they make the most amazing drinks (based, at least, on our tasting to date), but they also specifically showcase Manx products and folklore:


Our purchases so far:


The "spring" gin features hand-picked local gorse. It's super-refreshing... The spiced rum (named after a folkloric character who used to frighten the wits out of me as a child) is Christmas pudding in a bottle... It's delicious as is, or -- in a nod to brandy Alexander -- it's wonderfully decadent mixed 1-1 with Manx double cream...

There have been other indulgences, too: