The Isle of Man is 33 miles long and 12 miles wide. It is situated in the Irish Sea, 16 miles south of Burrow Head in Wigtownshire, 28 miles south-west of St Bees Head in Cumberland, 27 miles east of Strangford Lough and 58 miles north of Holyhead. It is known as Ellan Vannin , the Romans referred to it as Mona in 54 BC and the Scandinavian stories called it Mon or Maon. The Island was inhabited in the Mesolithic Period and communities were established in the Bronze and Iron Age when the Celts constructed several fortified sites.
Christianity was brought to the Isle of Man in the fifth or sixth century and it is claimed that St Patrick was one of the missionaries. AD 798 saw the first recorded raid of the Vikings and the beginning of Norse rule which covered the Western Isles of Scotland, part of Ireland and the north west of England. Godred Crovan ruled the Island from 1079 to 1095 and his family continued the Kingship until 1263. It was granted to Sir John Stanley in 1405 by Henry 1V and his grandson was created Earl of Derby in 1485. The Lordship of Man was passed to the second Duke of Athol by the tenth Earl in 1736.
The rights of the Island were purchased by the British Government from the third Duke in 1765 because of concerns over smuggling activities. The Duke felt that the money he received was not sufficient and was later granted another amount in compensation, and was appointed Governor General in 1793. He died in 1830 and since then the Isle of Man has been administered by Lieutenant Governors, appointed by the Crown.
It was claimed in the 1930’s that there was no place in the British Isles where the traveller was more cheaply and efficiently catered for than in Douglas. The tourist trade had increased dramatically during the late Victorian and Edwardian period when the paddle steamers brought thousands of holiday-makers from the mainland each week in the summer months. Most people remained in Douglas where the hotels and boarding houses on the front, and the numerous facilities and establishments in other parts of the town offered a good choice to the visitor.
However, there are many other places of interest on the Isle of Man such as Ramsey, which is the second town in size and population. It is also situated in a large bay with a large beach, park and unrivalled scenery. Port Erin is on the south-western coast with Port St Mary close by, providing bathing and boating. The old capital Castletown, with its fortress and golf links at Langness is also popular with visitors. The old fishing port of Peel is referred to as “The Western City”. Laxey is situated in one of the largest glens on the Island, extending from Snaefell to the sea and contains the “Big Wheel”, which was built to pump water from the lead mines. The Manx Electric Railway, steam trains from the Isle of Man Railway and a fleet of buses convey people around the Island to places such as Dhoon Glen, Ballaglass, Sulby and the peak of Snaefell.
The Isle of Man: In Old Photographs by Ian Collard is available from The History Press now.