Douglas Head
Encyclopedia
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...
overlooking Douglas Bay and harbour. Views extend to include Snaefell
Snaefell
Snaefell is the highest mountain and the only summit higher than on the Isle of Man, at above sea level. The summit is crowned by a train station, cafe, and several communications masts.- Views :...
Mountain and Laxey
Laxey
Laxey is a village on the east coast of the Isle of Man. Its name derives from the Old Norse Laxa meaning 'Salmon River'.The village lies on the A2, the main Douglas to Ramsey road. Laxey Glen is one of the Manx National Glens, with Dhoon Glen being located close by...
General
Until 1870, the headland was originally owned by The Nunnery Estate when Sir John Goldie-Taubman gave part of it to 'the people of Douglas' by donating it to Douglas Town Council. The headland was a popular area during the Victorian tourismTourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
period with access available via South Quay or by using the 3 steam ferries of Douglas Harbour Ferry Service.
Historic Facilities
- Douglas Head AmphitheatreDouglas Head AmphitheatreDouglas Head Amphitheatre is a structure on the promitory of Douglas Head on the Isle of Man.At the turn of the 20th century the Isle of Man was a hugely popular holiday destination with the working class factory workers from the northerly part of England and Douglas Head had many attractions, most...
- Douglas Head Hotel
- Grand Union Camera ObscuraGrand Union Camera ObscuraThe Grand Union Camera Obscura is an unusual building which, via methods of light and mirrors, reflects images of the surrounding area onto large white screens within the dark confines of the building. The apparatus used is called a camera obscura...
- The Black Mast
- Warwick Tower
- Funicular Railway
- Douglas Head Marine Drive Railway
- Port Skillicon Pool
- Douglas Head Restaurant
Memorials
Douglas Head is home to three memorials:- A statue of RNLI founder and Isle of ManIsle of ManThe 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...
resident Sir William HillaryWilliam HillarySir William Hillary, 1st Baronet was an English soldier, author and philanthropist, best known as the founder of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution in 1824....
who was the man behind the building of the Tower of Refuge on Conister Rock - A large stone anchor is dedicated to the contribution and sacrifice made by Manx people during the Battle of TrafalgarBattle of TrafalgarThe Battle of Trafalgar was a sea battle fought between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the French Navy and Spanish Navy, during the War of the Third Coalition of the Napoleonic Wars ....
and was placed on the headland marking the bi-centenary of that event - A Granite bollard and plinth from the harbourside in the Isle of WhithornIsle of WhithornIsle of Whithorn is one of the most southerly villages and seaports in Scotland, lying on the coast, north east of Burrow Head, about three miles from Whithorn. Whithorn, , is a former royal burgh in Dumfries and Galloway, with which the Isle of Whithorn is frequently incorrectly amalgamated or...
, giving thanks from the families and friends of those lost their lives in the Solway HarvesterSolway HarvesterThe Solway Harvester is a scallop dredger from Kirkcudbright, Scotland which sank off the coast of Ramsey, Isle of Man in heavy storms on 11 January 2000. Following salvage, the damaged ship was taken to Douglas, Isle of Man, where she remains as of August 2011.-Career and sinking:The Solway...
whose bodies were recovered by the Manx Government contrary to previous maritine tradition
Trivia
- During the Second World War Douglas Head was the location of a major RADARRadarRadar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
station - Extensive radar research, development and training of systems and operators took place here
- Manx RadioManx RadioManx Radio is the national commercial radio station for the Isle of Man.The station began broadcasting on 29 June 1964, almost ten years before commercial radio was licensed in the United Kingdom. The Isle of Man, having its own government and laws, was not subject to the rules prohibiting...
, broadcasting from the head, was the first licenced independent station in the British Isles - Marine Drive was a toll road, and the impressive arched gateway was the toll gate
- Evidence of the tramway exists in the landside arch where the overhead cable was attached to the stonework
- The road runs the full length of Marine Drive however is closed to through traffic due to rock instability
- Sections of the 1999 film Waking NedWaking NedWaking Ned is a 1998 comedy film by English writer and director Kirk Jones. It stars Ian Bannen, David Kelly and Fionnula Flanagan. Kelly was nominated for a Screen Actors' Guild award for his role as Michael O'Sullivan. The film is set in Ireland but was filmed on location in the Isle of Man...
were filmed on Marine Drive