Douglas Isle of Man's Capital
Douglas, pronounced Doolish by the locals, is the Isle of Man’s capital and largest town. Approximately 20 percent of the Isle of Man’s population live in Douglas, and this town forms its main commercial port and the government. It is here that the business, financial, shipping and transportation, and entertainment industries are centered, and as a visitor to the Isle of Man, Douglas will probably be the starting point of many journeys and adventures.
The History of Douglas
Historians and archeologists share the view that the name Douglas was derived from the original Celtic word Duboglassio which means `black river’. Written reference to Douglas goes as far back as 1192 in the Chronicles of the Kings of Man and the Isles, and then again in 1313, when the King of Scotland stopped over at the monastery of `Duglas’ on his journey to take over Castle Rushen.
By 1705, records establish that this early town comprised not only residences, but also formed the central military defence and port facilities. By 1765, Douglas was in a position to enjoy trade benefits after the discovery of the New World, primarily due to its location on the trans-Atlantic route. Instrumental to this was its natural harbor, known today as Inner Harbour.
Tourism began on the Isle of Man in the early 19th century, and by 1870, Douglas was an established holiday destination for the well heeled. Contributing to this was the designation of Douglas as the capital of the Isle of Man in 1869. Much of Douglas was actually rebuilt between the 1870s to the 1920s and this too enhanced Douglas’ positioning as a tourist destination.
Records show that tourism had become a prominent trade with reference to statistics that Douglas and the Isle of Man had 80,000 visitors in 1870; as compared to 182,000 in 1884; and then to 310,916 in 1887, when Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee celebrations were held in the United Kingdom!
On this specific note, a popular tourist attraction is the Jubilee Clock that was built in 1887 to commemorate this event, and this is located at the bottom of Victoria Street and Loch Promenade.
Attractions and Highlights
There are many attractions in Douglas, and for music lovers of the 1980s, a useful note is that the brothers Gibb, (Barry, Robin, Maurice and Andy) from the music group Bee Gees, were actually born in Douglas, the Isle of Man!
For tourists visiting the Isle of Man, Douglas will be the primary destination whether coming in by air or sea. Based on this, Douglas will also probably be the key tourist stopover with many sights to behold.
One of the more interesting attractions is the steam train service that continues to operate in Douglas. For a 15-mile journey on the steam train, tourists start at the Douglas Railway Station and can take this train to Port Erin and back.
Another must stop is at Tynwald, which is the Isle of Man Parliament. This is particularly relevant as Tynwald is apparently the oldest continuing parliament in the world and has been running since 979 AD! If possible do explore purchasing photos of the aerial view of Tynwald, which is rather unique.
There are many museums in Douglas and on the Isle of Man generally, but if there is only time for one museum visit, then this must be to the Manx Museum in Kingswood Grove. Visitors are literally taken back hundreds of years in the presence of historical artifacts that are extremely rare and priceless. These include :
- Results of excavations at Peel Castle, such as the Pagan Lady’s necklace, of Viking origin and thought to date back to 900 AD;
- The largest collection of Archibald Knox materials. He was a designer who lived and worked in Douglas between 1864 and 1933;
- The Calf of Man Crucifixion Stone. This was found in 1773 and is believed to date back to about 800 AD and is thought to have originated from a keeill, which was an early Christian chapel. This stone carving portrays Jesus Christ as still living at the time of the crucifixion, as his eyes are still open, and admittedly, the historical value of this to religious scholars is unparalleled;
- the national art collection.
If visiting Douglas between spring and early autumn, it is also possible to take a horse-drawn tram ride as part of the experience. This service runs between the Sea Terminal to the Manx Electric Railway Station, and when onboard these trams, it is as if the present has faded away, and the clatter of horse hoofs on the cobblestone will bring to life a bygone era.
For entertainment, a visit to the Gaiety Theatre and the Villa Marina are recommended. A strong liberal arts culture exists on the Isle of Man, and much of this is visible at these venues. The Gaiety Theatre itself is of historical relevance as it dates back to the 1900s and was designed by Frank Matcham, a theatrical architect. Other significant works by this architect include the London Coliseum that was opened in 1904, the Victoria Palace in 1911 and the Alhambra Theatre in 1912.
While at the Gaiety Theatre, it is possible to purchase tickets to watch a variety of different types of performances including the ballet, comedies and dramas and even rock music concerts. This is an eclectic combination of history and modernity joining hands synergistically.
The Sunken Gardens, located on Loch Promenade is also interesting to visit and it is important to take a step back and view the entire scenery in order to appreciate its impact. Created at the turn of the 20th century, there is a sense of history here and it is wonderfully picturesque. While at the Loch Promenade it is also possible to view a curving terrace of boarding houses that were built in the 1870s.
Douglas is also famous for the annual Isle of Man TT Races that are conducted there, and depending on the time of year that visitors arrive, it may even be possible to purchase tickets for this event. Racing and motorsport enthusiasts regularly mark this event on their calendar as an opportunity to enjoy the races while taking a little holiday on the Isle of Man at the same time!
There are many more interesting and vibrantly historical destinations to visit, not only in Douglas but also at other locations on the Isle of Man. In order to do justice to these locations, a camera is a must!
