Isle of Man Post
Encyclopedia
The Isle of Man Post Office , which formerly used the trading name Isle of Man Post, operates postal collection, ancillary mail services, philatelic goods and delivery services and post office counter services on the Isle of Man
.
's General Post Office
, with a daily postal connection with the UK since 1879. In 1966 the UK Government commenced planning to convert the General Post Office
into a public corporation, and as part of this process offered each of the Crown Dependencies the opportunity to assume control of the operations of the GPO on their territories. On the 18 October 1968, Tynwald
decided that they did not wish to take up the offer, but provision was made in the Post Office Act 1969 nonetheless.
In the Channel Islands, the authorities did accept the offer, and postal and telecommunications activities of the GPO were transferred in October 1969 to form Jersey Post
and Guernsey Post
(telecoms activities were transferred to Jersey Telecom
and Guernsey Telecoms respectively).
In 1972, following negotiations by Tynwald to have the telephone system excluded from the transfer, it was agreed that the Isle of Man would, after all, take over control of the insular postal administration. As a result, the Isle of Man Post Office Authority was formed and took over the postal assets and functions of the Post Office on 5 July 1973. The monies paid for the assets of the Post Office, £148,624, were recouped within the first year from the surpluses generated by the Authority. It was reconstituted as a Statutory Board and renamed the 'Isle of Man Post Office' by the Post Office Act 1993.
, which was initially a wholly owned subsidiary of BT, but became a subsidiary of O2.
' design, and since 1973 they have been the only valid stamps on the island, and also not valid for postage in the UK or elsewhere. Isle of Man stamps have since become popular with philatelists throughout the world.
Mail sent from the Island to the UK is flown across the Irish Sea, and enters the first-class stream of the Royal Mail for next-day delivery.
The Isle of Man Post Office is a member of the Small European Postal Administration Cooperation
.
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...
.
History
The Isle of Man's postal service was originally operated by the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's General Post Office
General Post Office
General Post Office is the name of the British postal system from 1660 until 1969.General Post Office may also refer to:* General Post Office, Perth* General Post Office, Sydney* General Post Office, Melbourne* General Post Office, Brisbane...
, with a daily postal connection with the UK since 1879. In 1966 the UK Government commenced planning to convert the General Post Office
General Post Office
General Post Office is the name of the British postal system from 1660 until 1969.General Post Office may also refer to:* General Post Office, Perth* General Post Office, Sydney* General Post Office, Melbourne* General Post Office, Brisbane...
into a public corporation, and as part of this process offered each of the Crown Dependencies the opportunity to assume control of the operations of the GPO on their territories. On the 18 October 1968, Tynwald
Tynwald
The Tynwald , or more formally, the High Court of Tynwald is the legislature of the Isle of Man. It is claimed to be the oldest continuous parliamentary body in the world, consisting of the directly elected House of Keys and the indirectly chosen Legislative Council.The Houses sit jointly, for...
decided that they did not wish to take up the offer, but provision was made in the Post Office Act 1969 nonetheless.
In the Channel Islands, the authorities did accept the offer, and postal and telecommunications activities of the GPO were transferred in October 1969 to form Jersey Post
Jersey Post
Jersey Post is the licensed universal service provider of mail service for the bailiwick of Jersey.- History :Jersey Post was established by the Post Office Law 1969, in 1969 as a result of an Order in Council which enabled the Crown dependencies to establish independent postal services...
and Guernsey Post
Guernsey Post
Guernsey Post is the postal service for the island of Guernsey, Channel Islands. It includes a Philatelic Bureau, and regularly issues both definitive and commemorative stamps...
(telecoms activities were transferred to Jersey Telecom
Jersey Telecom
JT Global is the former monopoly incumbent operator in the Bailiwick of Jersey. Jersey is incorporated into the UK National Telephone Numbering Plan area codes of +44 1534 for landlines and +44 7797 for Jersey Telecom mobiles, +44 7700 for Cable and Wireless mobiles and +44 7829 for Jersey Airtel...
and Guernsey Telecoms respectively).
In 1972, following negotiations by Tynwald to have the telephone system excluded from the transfer, it was agreed that the Isle of Man would, after all, take over control of the insular postal administration. As a result, the Isle of Man Post Office Authority was formed and took over the postal assets and functions of the Post Office on 5 July 1973. The monies paid for the assets of the Post Office, £148,624, were recouped within the first year from the surpluses generated by the Authority. It was reconstituted as a Statutory Board and renamed the 'Isle of Man Post Office' by the Post Office Act 1993.
Telecommunications
Telecommunications remained the responsibility of the British Post Office until 1981, when British Telecom was created. In 1987, telecommunications were transferred to the local company Manx TelecomManx Telecom
Manx Telecom is the primary provider of broadband and telecommunications on the Isle of Man. It was acquired by Telefónica in , but was sold to two private equity groups in 2010.- History :...
, which was initially a wholly owned subsidiary of BT, but became a subsidiary of O2.
Stamps
Stamps with unique Isle of Man designs were first issued in 1971 as a variant of the 'MachinMachin series
The Machin series of postage stamps is the main definitive stamp series in the United Kingdom, used since 5 June 1967. It is the second series to figure the image of Elizabeth II, replacing the Wilding series....
' design, and since 1973 they have been the only valid stamps on the island, and also not valid for postage in the UK or elsewhere. Isle of Man stamps have since become popular with philatelists throughout the world.
Postal rates
When sending mail to the Island from elsewhere, the Isle of Man is treated as though it were part of the United Kingdom, and mail from the UK continues to be charged at Royal Mail's UK inland rates. However, postcodes were not introduced in the Isle of Man until 1993, when the Island was postcoded as the IM postcode area as an extension of the United Kingdom postcode system.Mail sent from the Island to the UK is flown across the Irish Sea, and enters the first-class stream of the Royal Mail for next-day delivery.
The Isle of Man Post Office is a member of the Small European Postal Administration Cooperation
Small European Postal Administration Cooperation
The Small European Postal Administration Cooperation is an association of 13 European postal authorities. They are Åland, the Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, Guernsey, Iceland, the Isle of Man, Jersey, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City. SEPAC is smaller...
.
Post Offices
- Crown Post Offices
- DouglasDouglas, Isle of Manright|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...
- RamseyRamsey, Isle of ManRamsey 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...
- Douglas
- Sub Post Offices
- Douglas
- Crosby Terrace
- Windsor Road
- Pulrose
- Willaston
- Governor's Hill
- Royal Avenue
- Anagh Coar
- Saddlestone
- Onchan
- Peel
- Castletown
- Port Erin
- Ballasalla
- Ballaugh
- Crosby
- Foxdale
- Jurby
- Kirk Michael
- Andreas
- Bride
- Laxey
- Port St. Mary
- St. John's
- Sulby
- Union Mills
- Douglas
Chairmen
- Charles Faragher, 1984–86
- Bernie MayBernie MayBernard "Bernie" May MHK is a British politician and entrepreneur, who was a Member of the House of Keys in the Isle of Man and Government Minister.-Early life and career:...
, 1986–88 - Norman ButlerNorman ButlerNorman Butler was an English cricketer. He was a left-handed batsman who played for Buckinghamshire. He was born in Chippenham and died in Slough.Butler, the opening order, scored 5 runs in his only List A appearance....
, 1988–91 - David CretneyDavid CretneyThe Honourable David Clifford Cretney MHK is a Manx politician and entrepreneur, who is the current Minister of the Department of Community, Culture and Leisure, he is a former Tourism and Leisure Minister of the Isle of Man Government. He has been a Member of the House of Keys from 1985 for...
, 1992–96 - Alex DownieAlex DownieAlexander Frank Downie FIMarEST MCMI FFB MLC, is currently a member of the Legislative Council of the Isle of Man and a former Trade and Industry Minister of the Government. He was a Member of the House of Keys from 1991 until his election to the Legislative Council in 2005...
, 1997–99 - John ShimminJohn ShimminJohn Shimmin BEd MHK is currently the Minister of Economic Development of the Isle of Man Government.John Shimmin was born in Douglas in 1960 and educated at St Ninian's High School and the Worcester College of Higher Education. He was then a teacher from 1982 until entering politics in 1996...
, 1999–2003 - Edgar QuineEdgar QuineRichard Edgar Quine is a Manx politician. After serving in the Royal Hong Kong Police Force, he was elected to the House of Keys in 1986, where he represented Ayre until 2004....
, 2003–04 - Pamela CrowePamela CrowePamela Mavis Crowe is a former Member of the Legislative Council of the Isle of Man. Prior to entering politics she was a director of Crowes Ltd and an author of several books...
MLCLegislative Council of the Isle of ManThe Legislative Council is the upper chamber of Tynwald, the legislature of the Isle of Man.It consists of eleven Members —*eight elected members, known as Members of the Legislative Council or MLCs*three ex officio members:...
, 2004–08 - Alan CroweAlan CroweEdward "Alan" Crowe MLC, FCIS, ACIB is a Manx politician and former teacher, who was a member of the Legislative Council in the Isle of Man.-Early life and career:...
MLC, 2008–11 - Geoff CorkishGeoff CorkishCharles Geoffrey "Geoff" Corkish MBE MHK is a Manx politician, who is currently a Member of the House of Keys for Douglas West...
MHKMember of the House of KeysMember of the House of Keys, or MHK is the title given to a person who has been elected into the House of Keys, the lower house of Tynwald, the parliament of the Isle of Man. There are twenty-four Members of the House of Keys. Elections are held every five years; the last election took place in...
, 2011–present
See also
- Communications on the Isle of ManCommunications on the Isle of ManThe Isle of Man benefits from an extremely modern and extensive communications infrastructure, which underpins the main sectors of the Island's economy.-Telegraph:...
- Country definitivesCountry definitivesCountry definitives, formerly known as regional postage stamps of Great Britain are the postage stamps issued for regions of the United Kingdom, reflecting the regional identity of the various countries and islands of the British isles....
- List of postal codes in the Isle of Man
- Postage stamps and postal history of the Isle of Man