Castletown, Laxey and Port Erin, Isle Of Man Week 73 19th - 21st September 2012
                 
Time to look more closely at Castletown.

A couple of miles along the Silverburn. Again.

 
The Nautical Museum is in the quirky house of George Quayle and his 18th century vessel the Peggy.

The open cupboard has no door handle. Opened by a hidden string from the other side of the room.

 
The Peggy was walled up in its original mooring when found some time before 1950.

Quayle was a member of the House of Keys (Parliament) as well as probably involved in the running trade (smuggling).

Import duty to the Isle Of Man was 20% rather than the 100% in England so the Island became a way point.

 
There's some paraphernalia. Including this net loom.

There's also memorabilia from the Crellin's fleet of schooners.

 
Castletown and South Barrule from the top of the castle.
 
Bradda Head, yet again. This time from the top of the castle.

The Witch's Mill is in the centre. Castle Rushen High School (what I went to) is to the left of the mill.

 
The clock tower from the flag tower.

Scarlett in the background.

 
Clock Tower from the Clock Tower.
 
Bridge House (where George Quayle lived) has all the windows. 

The museum is next door to the right.

Derbyhaven and Langness in the background.

 
The inscription says Earl Of Derby 1729.

The Earls of Derby ruled the Island for a period.

 
Across the castle roofs.
 
And some more.

I've never noticed the sandstone round the windows before.

 
Its been "restored" three times in my lifetime.

The first time there was a model of what the kitchen may have looked like.

This time there was a peat fire.

 
There's the keep. A curtain wall with ramparts around. Then another wall with an inclined bank for the cannon balls to land on.
 
Parliament Square.

Castletown is no longer the capital. That went to Douglas many moons ago.

 
The clock tower.

The clock was undergoing repairs. Not bad, it was wound by Elizabeth First.

It only has one hand. But then that's all that's needed.

 
Time to leave.
 
The following day we took advantage of 20% off at Marks and Sparks in Douglas.

Then carried on north to Laxey.

Alongside the tram tracks this is looking towards Groudle again.

 
No gates, no bells, just a single warning sign and a few marks on the road.

The tram on the left is Snaefell Mountain Railway. The one on the right is Manx Electric Railway from Ramsey. Both about to arrive at Laxey.

Just as well we stopped.

 
Lady Isabella.

22m diameter. Largest working water wheel in the world.

Built in 1854 to pump water out of the Laxey mines.

 
The water to power the wheel is supplied from a cistern behind us piped through the circular tower then onto the wheel.

There's a long push rod from the centre along the arches to the left.

It moves more than 3m to and fro.

 
The other end is a transition from horizontal to vertical motion which drives the underground pumps. Seven of them to pump water from 2000 ft underground.
 
Winding house above the Welsh shaft.

Also water driven with small water wheels.

 
The compressor house was added later.

No coal on the Island so also water driven.

 
The wheel through the trees.
 
Wheel and horizontal drive.

The mine was predominantly lead/zinc with some silver. Largest in the British Isles when operating.
 
Back through Douglas.

A bit of sunshine this time.

 
So much sunshine we drove over to Port Erin to watch the sun set.
 
The hills on the horizon are the Mountains of Morn in Ireland.
 
Slieu Whallian, Isle Of Man Week 73 22nd September 2012
 
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