I’ve been doing some web based research about the derelict cottage (Ballaskella) where the Grid was last located. I came across an interesting snippet about a mystery large black grid guardian dog some time in the 1800’s.
‘A Manx Scrapbook . . . “Ballaskella (O.S. map), ” Wood Farm,” lies high on the East side of the glen. A common-place story connected with it may be repeated here, if only for the sake of a picturesque phrase. A friend of mine, when a young man living and working on Ballaskella, was going home from Sulby up the steep zigzag road to the farm-house about two o’clock one very dark and foggy night, when a great dog nearly as big as a calf, whose ” eyes glittered like the stars,” came up behind and followed him, growling terribly. He, being as matter-of-fact in his youth as he now is in his seventies, turned round from time to time and tried to hit it with his stick, but missed it with every ” skutch.” Though not afraid, he thought there was something unusual about it, and mentioned it to his employer the farmer next morning, fearing it might do harm to the sheep. The farmer said he had seen the same thing himself a number of times ; there was no fear of its worrying the sheep, but there was ” something not right ” about it, and it was best left alone. My friend never went up by himself late at night afterwards, but preferred, if belated, to stop in Sulby till the morning.”
