Douglas
Douglas maps (1 available)
Map of Isle Of Man
Beautifully hand-drawn and coloured, dating from around 1840
See this old map of Isle Of Man
Douglas books (3 available)
- 61 photos on Douglas appear in 6 Frith books - View photos of Douglas
- Read extracts and see photos from these books on Douglas and Isle Of Man
Douglas memories
Read and share memories of Douglas and Isle Of Man inspired by Frith photos
Peckham the Fishmonger
My great grandfather, Henry William Peckham was a fishmonger, mentioned in Brown's Directory of 1882. He is reputed to have owned some land on the coast/beach/promenade at Douglas. Here fish was sold 'on the front' from a table.
My father was born at Douglas in 1896 and stories have carried forward of his sisters, or aunts, still selling fish there in early 1900's.
Contributed by Lynne McCarrick
Isle Of Man memories
The Hut Grounds
Seeing this photograph reminded me of the name by which we used to know this site, namely 'The Hut Grounds'. Nowadays it is mostly referred to as 'Bradda Glen Cafe', but in my childhood it was 'The Hut Grounds'!
In the height of the tourist boom in the late 1950s, through to the late 60s and perhaps just into the 70s, this was a popular destination for visitors to walk to and sit outside at tables sheltered from the sun by large umbrellas over them. Here they could sit and enjoy afternoon tea, or icecreams while their children played in a small playground among the trees. This playground contained a slide, a seesaw and a couple of swings. Not much, but ...read more here
A memory of Port Erin contributed by Anthony Archibald
Swimming pool
See memories in my album
A memory of Port Erin contributed by Anthony Archibald
Swimming pool
In 1959, my father, Cecil Archibald, was employed for the summer season as attendant at the swimming pool at Spaldrick, Port Erin.
You could enter the swimming pool by paying a fee, for a day; for a week; for two weeks; for a month; or for the season. This arrangement accommodated locals and visitors admirably. With dad working there, I got in for free!
It was a very popular site, as it was something of a sun-trap and was sheltered from all but a wind from the due west. There was a shallow end to the pool at the cafe end, while at the sea end of the pool, it was deep enough to allow diving from both a 3 metre ...read more here
A memory of Port Erin contributed by Anthony Archibald
Extracts From Douglas & Isle Of Man books
Port Skillion at the foot of Douglas Head was reached by ferry from the harbour, fare 1d, and was used by gentlemen only for open-air bathing. Ladies wishing to avail themselves of the efficacious pleasures to be experienced from sea-bathing were expected to engage the use of a bathing machine.
An extract from from"Isle of Man Photographic Memories".
It could be said that the life of Sir William Hillary (1771-1847) was the stuff of ripping
yarns. A knight of St John of Jerusalem, soldier, author and philanthropist, he was
also a suspected bigamist, who settled in the Isle of Man in order to put a few miles
and a little water between himself and his creditors, and to bury quietly the murkier
details surrounding his elopement and marriage to his wife. At this date there were
few lifeboats in service around Britain’s coast, and no umbrella organisation to
oversee things. Sir William served as a crew member of the Douglas lifeboat, and in
1824 became the principal founder of what would become the RNLI. In 1832 he built
the Tower of Refuge on Conister Rock as a shelter for mariners unfortunate enough
to be shipwrecked there. During his service with the Douglas lifeboat, Sir William
assisted in the rescue of over 500 people, and on one occasion continued to help with
a rescue despite having sustained six fractured ribs. Sir William died in 1847 and was
buried in St George’s churchyard, Douglas. Even in death he was still pursued by his
creditors. They dug up his body and sold it for dissection.
An extract from from"Victorian and Edwardian Maritime Album".
The Falcon Cliff Hotel is little more than a dot on the landscape on the left of the picture. Below that, however, is the imposing bulk of the Palace and New Opera House which opened in 1889 and featured what was then the largest ballroom in Europe.
An extract from from"Isle of Man Photographic Memories".
Built as a private residence in 1834, Derby Castle was converted into an entertainment centre in 1877, featuring variety shows, afternoon concerts and dancing in the ballroom. The site was redeveloped in the early 1970s: the Castle was demolished and replaced by the Summerland complex.
An extract from from"Isle of Man Photographic Memories".
Douglas Head Lighthouse was erected in 1892, replacing the sixty year old Red Pier light. In 1786 Douglas harbour lighthouse had been destroyed during a storm and not rebuilt. The following year disaster struck the local herring fleet when the temporary light was somehow dislodged during a storm, leaving many of the boats blind. The following morning the beach and rocks were littered with wreckage and bodies.
An extract from from"Isle of Man Photographic Memories".