The Manx Towns

I thought a quick tour around the Island's towns might be of interest. It won't take long.....there are only four! I will start with Douglas [ Doolish , in Manx ]..the Island's capital...so named from the convergence of two rivers just outside of the town....the River Dhoo and the River Glass.....but there are some that dispute this. Population just over 25,000 and centre of the Island's off shore financial businesses along with tourism and light manufacturing . Quite busy traffic wise, but amongst all the traffic on the two mile sea front, can still be seen the Douglas horse trams...the last surviving horse tram service in the world. They have been clip clopping along the prom since 1876. Douglas had, at one time , it's own cable tram way similar to San Francisco but this ceased working, I think, in the 1930's. Incidentally, I was born in Douglas, in a house on the sea front . Pictured is a Douglas horse tram and a view from the walkway on the promenade



Ramsey [ Rhumsaa ] is the most Northerly of the Manx towns, sheltering under the bulk of North Barrule. , with the Islands longest river, the Sulby, entering the sea at this point . Nothing outstanding about the place, small shipbuilding and tourism main industries. Population about 7.500. The Mooragh Park, with boating and other facilities is Ramsey's main attraction .
Sometimes known as Royal Ramsey,due to the fact that on one one occasion, in 1847 Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband was rowed ashore to a secluded beach from the Royal Yacht, during a cruise around the British Isles. He climbed a nearby hill, had a quick gander at the town below him, and then returned to the yacht to comtinue their cruise . Queen Vic stayed aboard ...she was sea sick !!! All the towns dignitaries had gathered on the harbour side to welcome him and the then Governor of the Island on hearing of the visit drove furiously from Douglas in his coach just in time to see the Royal Yacht diappearing over the horizon . A great story ! On hearing of this honour bestowed upon them. the ever so grateful Manx rushed out and built a Tower on the spot he had momentarily viewed their town !!! See picture of the Albert Tower and palm trees in the town ......and thats enough about Ramsey.

I wont say too much about Peel [ Purt ny h'Inshey ] as there are lots of references to it in these blogs [ my town ] so I will go right on to Castletown. This Southern town, once the Island's capital now slumbers peacefully on the coast, 10 miles South of Douglas. Castletown [ Balley Chashtal ] as the name implies has it's Castle and.........and......I can't think of anything else ! The Castle however. is one of the best preseved Norman castles in the UK. Indeed , up to the late 1800's it was garrisoned by the Manx Militia, the home of the Island Governor, the law courts and the Island 's prison [dungeons ]
Castletown is the nearest town to the Kelly homestead and in all probability they bought there provisions here . Annie Kelly married to Alfie Mylchreest lived here . Photograph of the Castle