Groudle Glen
Encyclopedia
Groudle, a glen
on the outskirts of Onchan
on the Isle of Man
, is formed in a valley leading to the sea at the small port of the same name. It was a remote hamlet boasting only a handful of small cottages until linked to the Manx Electric Railway
in 1893, at which time it was developed as a tourist attraction. Originally billed as "The Fern Land Of Mona!", the glen was further improved in the late 19th century by the planting of many different types of tree. Whereas most glens are formed naturally, it was a conscious effort by the owners to provide part of the attraction to the Victorian
visitor by being able to inspect a wide variety of trees, something which is still evident today. At the beach there were bowling and croquet greens, a mill, crofters' cottages and a bridge accessing the Howstrake Holiday Camp which was on the adjacent headland. At the point where the pack-horse road (now a footpath) crosses the railway line there is an old lime kiln from which the intermediate railway station also takes its name.
About 60 yards below the "Little Isabella" wheel, still visible, is the ruin of the base of the refreshment kiosk, just across the stream by the old bandstand,(rebuilt on the site,but much smaller). In the 1920's this kiosk was run by Mona May Cannell(nee Grose, in those days), of Laxey old village; she travelled to and from Laxey via the tram from South Cape each day.
At the outer reaches of the glen a small cove was dammed off and a zoo built featuring sea lions and polar bears in 1893 and the remains of this remarkable construction remain insitu today as a testament to the incredible feat of engineering. To serve the zoo, in 1896 the Groudle Glen Railway
was constructed over a three-quarter mile length from the depths of the glen onto the headland. This resulted in the outer station being named "Sea Lion Rocks" a name it still carries today. Described since as the "Alton Towers
of its day", the glen featured many attractions for the discerning Victorian visitor, from a dancefloor and bandstand
, to fortune tellers, many stalls, a playground
, water wheel (known as the "Little Isabella", a reference to the world-famous Laxey Wheel
which is a short distance away) and, of course, the narrow gauge railway. As trends changed, so did the fortunes of the glen and it never really recovered after World War II
, with the railway being the sole surviving attraction. The line closed in 1962 and the glen returned to a tranquil footpath for the next twenty years, at which point the railway was restored by volunteers.
The glen itself runs from the Whitebridge
in Onchan to the sea at Port Groudle and is still open to the public today, although the majority of the attractions, save for the restored railway, have all but disappeared. The water wheel is extant and the old dance floor was replaced in 1993 with a new bandstand structure. The glen can boast the only natural canyon
on the island, the "Lhen Coan" which is Manx
Gaelic for "Lonely Valley" (sometimes rendered inaccurately as "Lovely Glen", "Lonely Glen", Lovely Valley" etc). In the lower (seaward) section of the glen which is now in private ownership, were lily ponds that the accessed by the public by a series of winding boarded walkways. Having fallen into disrepair for many years the ponds were substantially refurbished by the Manx Heritage Trust in 1986 which was deemed to be "Heritage Year" on the island, but sadly, since this time the maintenance has not been kept up and the ponds are not easily accessible. Happily though, the railway still operates in the summer months and now boasts a visitors centre nearby to the old zoo with tea rooms.
Glen
A glen is a valley, typically one that is long, deep, and often glacially U-shaped; or one with a watercourse running through such a valley. Whittow defines it as a "Scottish term for a deep valley in the Highlands" that is "narrower than a strath."...
on the outskirts of Onchan
Onchan
Onchan , is a village in the parish of Onchan on the Isle of Man. It is at the north end of Douglas Bay. Although administratively a village, it has the second largest population on the island, after Douglas, with which it forms a conurbation....
on 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...
, is formed in a valley leading to the sea at the small port of the same name. It was a remote hamlet boasting only a handful of small cottages until linked to the Manx Electric Railway
Manx Electric Railway
The Manx Electric Railway is an electric inter-urban tramway connecting Douglas, Laxey and Ramsey in the Isle of Man. It connects with the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway at its southern terminus at Derby Castle at the northern end of the promenade in Douglas, and with the Snaefell Mountain Railway at...
in 1893, at which time it was developed as a tourist attraction. Originally billed as "The Fern Land Of Mona!", the glen was further improved in the late 19th century by the planting of many different types of tree. Whereas most glens are formed naturally, it was a conscious effort by the owners to provide part of the attraction to the Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
visitor by being able to inspect a wide variety of trees, something which is still evident today. At the beach there were bowling and croquet greens, a mill, crofters' cottages and a bridge accessing the Howstrake Holiday Camp which was on the adjacent headland. At the point where the pack-horse road (now a footpath) crosses the railway line there is an old lime kiln from which the intermediate railway station also takes its name.
At the outer reaches of the glen a small cove was dammed off and a zoo built featuring sea lions and polar bears in 1893 and the remains of this remarkable construction remain insitu today as a testament to the incredible feat of engineering. To serve the zoo, in 1896 the Groudle Glen Railway
Groudle Glen Railway
The Groudle Glen Railway is a narrow gauge railway north of Douglas in the Isle of Man which is owned and operated by members of the Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters' Association and operates on summer Sundays; May to September and Wednesday evenings in July and August along with a number of...
was constructed over a three-quarter mile length from the depths of the glen onto the headland. This resulted in the outer station being named "Sea Lion Rocks" a name it still carries today. Described since as the "Alton Towers
Alton Towers
Alton Towers is a theme park and resort located in Staffordshire, England. It attracts around 2.7 million visitors per year making it the most visited theme park in the United Kingdom. Alton Towers is also the 9th most visited theme park in Europe...
of its day", the glen featured many attractions for the discerning Victorian visitor, from a dancefloor and bandstand
Bandstand
A bandstand is a circular or semicircular structure set in a park, garden, pier, or indoor space, designed to accommodate musical bands performing concerts...
, to fortune tellers, many stalls, a playground
Playground
A playground or play area is a place with a specific design for children be able to play there. It may be indoors but is typically outdoors...
, water wheel (known as the "Little Isabella", a reference to the world-famous Laxey Wheel
Laxey Wheel
The Laxey Wheel is a large waterwheel built in the village of Laxey in the Isle of Man. Designed by Robert Casement, it has a diameter, is wide and revolves at approximately three revolutions per minute.-History:...
which is a short distance away) and, of course, the narrow gauge railway. As trends changed, so did the fortunes of the glen and it never really recovered after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, with the railway being the sole surviving attraction. The line closed in 1962 and the glen returned to a tranquil footpath for the next twenty years, at which point the railway was restored by volunteers.
Whitebridge
Whitebridge is the name of various places:* Whitebridge, New South Wales, a suburb of the city of Lake Macquarie* Whitebridge, Scotland, a small village in the Highlands of Scotland, near Loch Ness....
in Onchan to the sea at Port Groudle and is still open to the public today, although the majority of the attractions, save for the restored railway, have all but disappeared. The water wheel is extant and the old dance floor was replaced in 1993 with a new bandstand structure. The glen can boast the only natural canyon
Canyon
A canyon or gorge is a deep ravine between cliffs often carved from the landscape by a river. Rivers have a natural tendency to reach a baseline elevation, which is the same elevation as the body of water it will eventually drain into. This forms a canyon. Most canyons were formed by a process of...
on the island, the "Lhen Coan" which is Manx
Manx language
Manx , also known as Manx Gaelic, and as the Manks language, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, historically spoken by the Manx people. Only a small minority of the Island's population is fluent in the language, but a larger minority has some knowledge of it...
Gaelic for "Lonely Valley" (sometimes rendered inaccurately as "Lovely Glen", "Lonely Glen", Lovely Valley" etc). In the lower (seaward) section of the glen which is now in private ownership, were lily ponds that the accessed by the public by a series of winding boarded walkways. Having fallen into disrepair for many years the ponds were substantially refurbished by the Manx Heritage Trust in 1986 which was deemed to be "Heritage Year" on the island, but sadly, since this time the maintenance has not been kept up and the ponds are not easily accessible. Happily though, the railway still operates in the summer months and now boasts a visitors centre nearby to the old zoo with tea rooms.
See also
- Groudle Glen RailwayGroudle Glen RailwayThe Groudle Glen Railway is a narrow gauge railway north of Douglas in the Isle of Man which is owned and operated by members of the Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters' Association and operates on summer Sundays; May to September and Wednesday evenings in July and August along with a number of...
- Manx Electric Railway StationsManx Electric Railway stationsThere are many local stopping places on the Manx Electric Railway and, as such, trams may stop wherever it is convenient to do so; listed to the right are all the acknowledged stopping places. The primary stopping places that have station areas built around them are as follows, and are those...
- Manx National GlensManx National GlensManx National Glens is a collective term for a series of glens in the Isle of Man. The island country is renowned for its natural beauty and its "pocket sized" scenic natural glens....