Captivating Katie had me captivated. She said that her parents had
never heard this talk and that they would be in the audience. This fazed her
not one jot and I was delighted to find that her father was a pupil in
Ballakermeen when I was teaching there, shortly after the dawn of time!
Katie’s presentation was based upon Manx National Heritage’s archives
featuring some of the more unusual Victorian and Edwardian tourist tales. This
she did with charm, vivacity and piquancy. More of the latter later!
We were soon in a world where tourism transformed the Island from a
quiet farming and fishing community to one of the liveliest places in the
world. Some of the quotations used to attract visitors included, “There seemed
to be a gentleness about it that made one feel as if one was in Paradise.” This
still can be the case, thank goodness!
The climate was described as, “exceedingly salubrious. When Governor
Loch took up his post, aged just 38 in 1863 he couldn’t believe that the Island
wasn’t exploiting lovely beaches, scenery and sea bathing, made popular by
Queen Victoria. Loch arranged for Port Skillion to be the first official
bathing creek. Douglas Corporation insisted that this would be for men only and
women had to swim at Port Jack!
The only access for passengers was by Steam Packet. The crossing in the
early days could be anything from 12 – 24 hours. The worst was six days! Loch
insisted on improved steamers and piers.
Even so, some crossings must have been a little lively as one writer
records, “There was scarcely a person in the whole of steerage who was not
‘departing’ over the side.” By 1860, crossings were down to 6 hours with the
record of about 2 ½ hours!
The government got a grip of this new tourist industry following the
creation of ‘holidays’ for working people. The advertisements were very
attractive, by top artists. Combined rail and sail tickets cost just 1p more
than the rail fare! Just as many cross channel companies do now, fares are
cheap but the on-board spend of thousands of passengers ensure profitability.
Any chance of this happening again!
From 1870 onwards, posters featuring beautiful girls lured young men
over in droves. This in turn fired up thousands of girls who were looking for
freedom from their normally restrained lives with the prospect of a love for
life. Not surprisingly, a large local industry of ladies who dispensed favours
for a price, developed! Public houses and dance halls flourished.
Loch had slums cleared with housing on the edge of Douglas for those
displaced and had fine hotels built. He also fired up the transport system,
introducing the steam trains and electric trams we enjoy today. The horse trams
took care of the ‘missing link’ from the station along the prom to Derby
Castle. The whole island was transformed in both appearance and prosperity.
Pleasure gardens and the glens were developed. Glen Helen had a zoo,
including the legendary badger named in the title of the talk. The police dealt
with this poor animal when it escaped, by shooting it! Apparently they also
gunned down a monkey from elsewhere. Our wallabies had better watch out for
blue, flashing lights!
I can’t do justice to this sparkling talk in an article. We’ll get
Katie back!
Saturday the 12th and Sunday the 13th July are
Peel’s Secret Gardens from 1.00 – 5.00pm. Adult admission is by the glorious
programme with original art works at just £2. Accompanied children are free.
Programmes are available in Peel News Centre, Mitchell’s Newsagents, in the
Market Square on open days, Greeba Plant Centre, Jurby Water Gardens, Felton’s
Ironmongers, Ramsey, Kirk Michael Post Office, Shamyr Hey Tea Room, Peel, Ward
Library Peel, Fairfield on Tynwald Day, The Welcome Centre in Douglas. Open gardens
will also have a supply.
This bi-ennial event is a highlight. There are 16 gardens to enjoy, all
clearly marked and a map in the brochure.
