Ballasalla
Encyclopedia
Ballasalla is a village
in the parish of Malew
in the south-east of the Isle of Man
, close to the town of Castletown. The village was built mostly from the ruins of the nearby Rushen Abbey
, a Cistercian abbey
founded in the 12th century and dissolved in the 16th century.
The village since 2010 has had a very popular Community Partnership located at 'The House' 25 Clagh Vane, Ballasalla set up with involvement by Isle of Man Government, outside agencies and local residents, with Malew and Santon
MHK Graham Cregeen as Chairman. http://ballasallacommunitypartnership.community.officelive.com/default.aspx
, the Isle of Man airline, is at Hangar 9 at Isle of Man Airport
near Ballasalla. The former Manx Airlines
also had its head office at the Airport.. At Balthane on the eastern edge of the village is an industrial estate with local businesses including Athol Garage, sellers of motor vehicles, and Pooil Vaaish, dealing in slate, marble and monumental masonry.
football club play their home games at the Malew Football Ground, Clagh Vane and Ronaldsway
play their home games at the Ronaldsway Aircraft Factory Fields. Both clubs compete in the Isle of Man Football League
.
, Castletown, Port St Mary and Port Erin operated by the nationalised Bus Vannin
. There are also infrequent buses to Peel and Foxdale. Ballasalla railway station
on the Isle of Man Railway
is on the eastern side of the village and the railway operates between March and November. The station used to have its own cattle dock and goods sidings, seeing intensive use in the early to middle 20th century, although these were lost to office developments in 1985 when the station building was relocated. The A5 Douglas to Port Erin road runs through the village and this is the main route to the south of the island. The Isle of Man Airport
is at Ronaldsway
just south of the village and also has a small request stop on the railway, a short distance from the terminal. Arriving air passengers sometimes catch trains for the novelty value of travelling by steam train.
, Mark Hildesley. It was intended to serve as a chapel of ease
and a parish school more conveniently located for those from the outlying hill district than Kirk Malew Church. There was an ancient church near the site which is said to have been dedicated to St Mark. St Mary the Virgin, Abbey Church was built from local limestone sourced from Scarlett Point south of Castletown, with the foundation stone being laid in 1895 by Lady Ridgeweay, the wife of the then Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man
, Sir Joseph West Ridgeway
. The church was consecrated in 1896 and remains in regular use today, now boasting its own substantial church hall within its grounds. Both churches are Church of England
in the Diocese of Sodor and Man
.
Ballasalla has had three Methodist
chapels in the past. The original Ballafesson Wesleyan Methodist Chapel dates from about 1798. It was restructured in 1846, although the original roof slate is still intact. It is now a scout hall. Ballasalla (Bridge Road) Primitive Methodist Chapel was built in 1833. It closed as a chapel in 1949, but continued to be used as a Sunday school
until 1975. It was sold in 1980 and the seats, pulpit and choir pews were moved to Ballafesson Wesleyan Methodist Chapel. A second Wesleyan Methodist chapel was built in the village in 1893. It closed in 1980 and was demolished in 1981 as the building was unsafe.
which leads to the Manx National Heritage
site of Rushen Abbey
; this forms part of the Story Of Mann set of attractions established in 1989 and now part of an island-wide series of attractions. The abbey was extensively redeveloped as a heritage site in 1996, having latterly been home to The Academy, one of very few nightclubs outside of Douglas. Also near the village is Silverdale Glen, with a small boating lake, café and sprawling playing fields and playground including a water-powered carousel. In a small hamlet above the village the eponymous St Mark's Fair is held annually on the third Saturday in July. The Millennium Way
long distance footpath
, opened in 1979, which begins at Castle Rushen
and heads north towards Ramsey
, runs through the village alongside the banks of the river leading to Poulsom Park in Castletown to the south, and high above the village to St. Marks to the northwest..
The village has a pub and various shops. The local authority Malew Parish Commissioners
office is next to the pub and a modern office development, Portland Court occupies former railway goods yard. This was sold off in 1985 for redevelopment and the new station lies on the opposite side of the tracks.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in the parish of Malew
Malew
Malew is a parish in the Isle of Man. It is in the sheading of Rushen together with the neighbouring parishes of Rushen and Arbory.Malew parish covers an area from Langness Peninsula and Scarlett up to Foxdale, and includes the villages of Ballasalla, St Mark's and Derbyhaven. The area includes...
in the south-east of the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
, close to the town of Castletown. The village was built mostly from the ruins of the nearby Rushen Abbey
Rushen Abbey
Rushen Abbey was an abbey on the Isle of Man, located near Ballasalla. Originally home for monks of the Savignac order, it soon came under Cistercian control and remained so until its dissolution. The abbey is located two miles from Castle Rushen; the most important political entity on the island...
, a Cistercian abbey
Abbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
founded in the 12th century and dissolved in the 16th century.
Governance
The local authority is Malew Parish Commissioners who are based in Ballasalla. There are currently five commissioners. The day to day actives of the authority are run by the clerk, Mr Barry Powell.. The commissioners' offices are located on the main road of the village close to the Whitestone Inn and have their own dedicated car park adjacent, once the site of a playground until the site was redeveloped when the new offices were built.Residents' Association
The village has an active residents' association, Ballasalla and District Residents Association (BADRA)..The village since 2010 has had a very popular Community Partnership located at 'The House' 25 Clagh Vane, Ballasalla set up with involvement by Isle of Man Government, outside agencies and local residents, with Malew and Santon
Malew and Santon
Malew and Santon is a House of Keys constituency in the Isle of Man. It elects one MHK and the constituency covers the parishes of Malew and Santon. This is slightly unusual since Malew and Santon are in different sheadings.-MHKs & Elections:...
MHK Graham Cregeen as Chairman. http://ballasallacommunitypartnership.community.officelive.com/default.aspx
Economy
The HQ of Manx2Manx2
Manx2 Limited is a virtual commuter airline, with its head office in Hangar 9, Isle of Man Airport in Ballasalla, Malew, Isle of Man. It sells flights and services from several airports in the UK with bases in Belfast City, Blackpool, Cardiff and Isle of Man...
, the Isle of Man airline, is at Hangar 9 at Isle of Man Airport
Isle of Man Airport
Isle of Man Airport , also known as Ronaldsway Airport and, in Manx, Purt Aer Vannin, is the main civilian airport on the Isle of Man. It is located in the south of the island at Ronaldsway near Castletown, southwest of Douglas, the island's capital. Along with the Isle of Man Sea Terminal, it is...
near Ballasalla. The former Manx Airlines
Manx Airlines
Manx Airlines was an Isle of Man based airline which existed between 1982 and 2002. Its head office was located on the grounds of Isle of Man Airport in Ballasalla, Malew. An airline of the same name had existed between 1947 and 1958.-History:...
also had its head office at the Airport.. At Balthane on the eastern edge of the village is an industrial estate with local businesses including Athol Garage, sellers of motor vehicles, and Pooil Vaaish, dealing in slate, marble and monumental masonry.
Sport
MalewMalew F.C.
Malew A.F.C. are a football club from Ballasalla, Malew in the Isle of Man. They compete in the Isle of Man Football League. They wear a red and black kit and play their home games at Clagh Vane in Ballasalla.-History:...
football club play their home games at the Malew Football Ground, Clagh Vane and Ronaldsway
Ronaldsway F.C.
Ronaldsway A.F.C. is a football club from Ronaldsway in the Isle of Man. They compete in the Isle of Man Football League and wear a royal blue kit...
play their home games at the Ronaldsway Aircraft Factory Fields. Both clubs compete in the Isle of Man Football League
Isle of Man Football League
The Isle of Man Football League, also known as Canada Life Premier League due to sponsorship purposes, is a football league for clubs on the Isle of Man run by the Isle of Man Football Association. The league does not form part of the English football league system. All clubs on the island are...
.
Transport
There are 3 buses an hour to DouglasDouglas, Isle of Man
right|thumb|250px|Douglas Promenade, which runs nearly the entire length of beachfront in Douglasright|thumb|250px|Sea terminal in DouglasDouglas is the capital and largest town of the Isle of Man, with a population of 26,218 people . It is located at the mouth of the River Douglas, and a sweeping...
, Castletown, Port St Mary and Port Erin operated by the nationalised Bus Vannin
Bus Vannin
Bus Vannin is the title of the government owned and operated bus service on the Isle of Man. The name was adopted in June 2009 having previously been branded as Isle of Man Transport...
. There are also infrequent buses to Peel and Foxdale. Ballasalla railway station
Ballasalla railway station
Ballasalla Railway Station is located in the village of Ballasalla in the south of the Isle of Man, close to the airport, and is served on a seasonal basis by the Isle of Man Railway...
on the Isle of Man Railway
Isle of Man Railway
The Isle of Man Railway is a narrow gauge steam-operated railway connecting Douglas with Castletown and Port Erin in the Isle of Man. The line is built to gauge and is long...
is on the eastern side of the village and the railway operates between March and November. The station used to have its own cattle dock and goods sidings, seeing intensive use in the early to middle 20th century, although these were lost to office developments in 1985 when the station building was relocated. The A5 Douglas to Port Erin road runs through the village and this is the main route to the south of the island. The Isle of Man Airport
Isle of Man Airport
Isle of Man Airport , also known as Ronaldsway Airport and, in Manx, Purt Aer Vannin, is the main civilian airport on the Isle of Man. It is located in the south of the island at Ronaldsway near Castletown, southwest of Douglas, the island's capital. Along with the Isle of Man Sea Terminal, it is...
is at Ronaldsway
Ronaldsway
Ronaldsway is a place in Malew in the south of the Isle of Man, between the village of Ballasalla and the town of Castletown. It is notable as the location of Isle of Man Airport and historically RNAS Ronaldsway, together with the adjoining customs free zone and industrial estate.Ronaldsway is the...
just south of the village and also has a small request stop on the railway, a short distance from the terminal. Arriving air passengers sometimes catch trains for the novelty value of travelling by steam train.
Religion
St Mark's Church is some distance from the village itself and is found on St Mark's Road. The foundation stone was laid in 1771 and it was consecrated in 1772 by the then Bishop of Sodor and ManBishop of Sodor and Man
The Bishop of Sodor and Man is the Ordinary of the Diocese of Sodor and Man in the Province of York in the Church of England. The diocese covers the Isle of Man. The see is in the town of Peel where the bishop's seat is located at the Cathedral Church of St German, elevated to cathedral status on 1...
, Mark Hildesley. It was intended to serve as a chapel of ease
Chapel of ease
A chapel of ease is a church building other than the parish church, built within the bounds of a parish for the attendance of those who cannot reach the parish church conveniently....
and a parish school more conveniently located for those from the outlying hill district than Kirk Malew Church. There was an ancient church near the site which is said to have been dedicated to St Mark. St Mary the Virgin, Abbey Church was built from local limestone sourced from Scarlett Point south of Castletown, with the foundation stone being laid in 1895 by Lady Ridgeweay, the wife of the then Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man
Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man
The Lieutenant Governor is the representative on the Isle of Man of the Lord of Mann . He/she has the power to grant Royal Assent and is styled His Excellency. In recent times the Governor has either been a retired diplomat or senior military officer...
, Sir Joseph West Ridgeway
Joseph West Ridgeway
Colonel Sir West Ridgeway GCB, GCMG, KCSI, PC was a British civil servant and colonial governor.-Military career:...
. The church was consecrated in 1896 and remains in regular use today, now boasting its own substantial church hall within its grounds. Both churches are Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
in the Diocese of Sodor and Man
Diocese of Sodor and Man
Sodor and Man is a diocese of the Church of England. Originally much larger, today it covers just the Isle of Man and its adjacent islets.-Early history:...
.
Ballasalla has had three Methodist
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
chapels in the past. The original Ballafesson Wesleyan Methodist Chapel dates from about 1798. It was restructured in 1846, although the original roof slate is still intact. It is now a scout hall. Ballasalla (Bridge Road) Primitive Methodist Chapel was built in 1833. It closed as a chapel in 1949, but continued to be used as a Sunday school
Sunday school
Sunday school is the generic name for many different types of religious education pursued on Sundays by various denominations.-England:The first Sunday school may have been opened in 1751 in St. Mary's Church, Nottingham. Another early start was made by Hannah Ball, a native of High Wycombe in...
until 1975. It was sold in 1980 and the seats, pulpit and choir pews were moved to Ballafesson Wesleyan Methodist Chapel. A second Wesleyan Methodist chapel was built in the village in 1893. It closed in 1980 and was demolished in 1981 as the building was unsafe.
Ameneties & Events
Ballasalla is the site of the mediaeval Monks' Bridge over the Silver BurnSilver Burn
The Silver Burn is a small river on the Isle of Man which rises near the South Barrule and flows under the Monks' Bridge at Ballasalla, reaching the sea at Castletown harbour. The burn runs through the attractively wooded Silverdale Glen, a site which the Manx National Trust acquired in 1966. It is...
which leads to the Manx National Heritage
Manx National Heritage
Manx National Heritage is the national heritage organisation for the Isle of Man. It was established in 1951 as the Manx National Trust, and its legal title is the Manx Museum and National Trust.-Overview:...
site of Rushen Abbey
Rushen Abbey
Rushen Abbey was an abbey on the Isle of Man, located near Ballasalla. Originally home for monks of the Savignac order, it soon came under Cistercian control and remained so until its dissolution. The abbey is located two miles from Castle Rushen; the most important political entity on the island...
; this forms part of the Story Of Mann set of attractions established in 1989 and now part of an island-wide series of attractions. The abbey was extensively redeveloped as a heritage site in 1996, having latterly been home to The Academy, one of very few nightclubs outside of Douglas. Also near the village is Silverdale Glen, with a small boating lake, café and sprawling playing fields and playground including a water-powered carousel. In a small hamlet above the village the eponymous St Mark's Fair is held annually on the third Saturday in July. The Millennium Way
Millennium Way
The Millennium Way is a long distance footpath on the Isle of Man. The path is approximately 28 miles in length, stretching between Castletown and Ramsey.The footpath was opened in 1979 to mark the thousandth year of the parliament of the Island, Tynwald....
long distance footpath
Long-distance trail
Long-distance trails are the longer recreational trails mainly through rural areas, used for non-motorised recreational travelling ....
, opened in 1979, which begins at Castle Rushen
Castle Rushen
Castle Rushen is a medieval castle located in the Isle of Man's historic capital, Castletown in the south of the island. It towers over the Market Square to the south-east and the harbour to the north-east...
and heads north towards Ramsey
Ramsey, Isle of Man
Ramsey is a town in the north of the Isle of Man. It is the second largest town on the island after Douglas. Its population is 7,309 according to the 2006 census . It has one of the biggest harbours on the island, and has a prominent derelict pier, called the Queen's Pier. It was formerly one of...
, runs through the village alongside the banks of the river leading to Poulsom Park in Castletown to the south, and high above the village to St. Marks to the northwest..
The village has a pub and various shops. The local authority Malew Parish Commissioners
Malew
Malew is a parish in the Isle of Man. It is in the sheading of Rushen together with the neighbouring parishes of Rushen and Arbory.Malew parish covers an area from Langness Peninsula and Scarlett up to Foxdale, and includes the villages of Ballasalla, St Mark's and Derbyhaven. The area includes...
office is next to the pub and a modern office development, Portland Court occupies former railway goods yard. This was sold off in 1985 for redevelopment and the new station lies on the opposite side of the tracks.
External links
- Malew Parish Commissioners website
- http://ballasallacommunitypartnership.community.officelive.com/default.aspx Website