Musket that survived Brig Lily explosion displayed

The musket was found in a field after the explosion in 1852

A musket that was found in a field following a catastrophic explosion on a ship wrecked off the island's coast 172 years ago has been put on display in a Manx military museum.

The gun was among many trade goods, including bales of cotton cloth, rum, guns and gunpowder on the Brig Lily, which had been bound for Africa from Liverpool.

The ship anchored off the Calf of Man in a storm before five of its crew died when it was wrecked on the rocks of the small islet Kitterland on 27 December 1852.

The weapon was found in a field at Church Farm in Cregneash following the blast during a salvage operation on the vessel the next day.

It killed 29 men from Port St Mary and the surrounding area and left 22 widows and 77 fatherless children in its wake.

An explosion on the Brig Lily happened when villagers returned to the wreck

The musket, which had been kept in the possession of the same family since being found, has been added to an exhibition at the Manx Aviation and Military Museum at Ronaldsway.

Museum director Ivor Ramsden said it was "one of those objects which make the hairs stand up on the back of my neck".

"It is a direct link with an event which has now almost passed into Manx Folklore but which at the time had a devastating effect on the small southern communities," he said.

Mr Ramsden said while it was not a military or aviation object, it was "such a rare and historic" item he had "no qualms about including" in the museum's collection.

He said: "We shall briefly tell the story of the tragedy alongside the gun and I hope that it will encourage people to find out more.”

Although the metal parts were "seized with rust", the 56-inch (142cm) long gun was in "remarkable condition" and the woodwork "looks almost new", he added.