Port Erin
Encyclopedia
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Port Erin is a village in the south of the Isle of Man
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and saw the first steam locomotive used on the island; a severe storm of 1884 later destroyed the breakwater and it was never rebuilt. Today, a marker buoy shows the extent of the breakwater and the land end is still clearly discernible. To the north-east by the A7 road are the earthwork remains of a motte and bailey castle known as Cronk Howe Mooar, possibly the site of a timber fortification built by Magnus Barelegs [Barefoot] c1100.
in the village forms the western terminus of the Isle of Man Railway
which sits in the centre of the village. The station has been described as "the most beautiful building in town" and is constructed of distinctive red Ruabon brick in an unusual design specifically to fir into its diagonal location between the platforms and the nearby road. The station is now a fraction of its original size, with the former bay platform and sidings now occupied by the storage yard for Bus Vannin, whilst an additional area once used for maintenance has been replaced by The Haven public house. More recent developments have seen the platform shortened and a carriage shed constructed in the yard, capable of storing eight carriages. Prior to this the rolling stock was stored in the open.
via Port St. Mary and Colby
and Castletown and Ballasalla
using route numbers 1, 2, 11 and 12; these run about every twenty minutes on weekdays and Saturdays with a less frequent service at weekends and after 6.00pm,. Some of these services (1c and 11b) use an alternative coastal route. The route is the island's busiest, partially attributed to it being on the route for the island's only commercial airport. A late evening service also operates on Friday and Saturday evenings, called the Hullaid Oie (Night Owl) which uses premium fare rates. There are also occasional buses to Peel (Service No. 8) via Foxdale; all these buses are within the island's transport network Bus Vannin, a government-run service which replaced the railway-operated Isle Of Man Road Services in 1976, itself a subsidiary of the railway.
, has a memorial tower called Milner's Tower. The promenade, which is somewhat higher than the seafront, primarily consists of hotels - mostly built in the Victorian era
, although due to changes in taste among tourists, many of these are being converted into flats and apartments. The town is famed for its views including spectacular sunsets over Port Erin Bay and Bradda Head as well as frequent glimpses of the Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland
in the distance.
who lived on the headland to the south of the bay.
(starring Ewan McGregor
) was filmed on Port Erin beach; the town has also been used by various production companies including the BBC
whose serialised drama The Ginger Tree
was filmed at the railway station in 1989, and the cinematic adaption of Five Children & It. An episode of the BBC documentary marking 20 years since the end of steam trains in the U.K. The Train Now Departing
filmed extensive scenes in and around the station, interviewing the station master in the process. The village has also featured in the holiday series Wish You Were Here...?
and Holiday '91 with Judith Chalmers
.
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Port Erin is a village in the south 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...
.
Demographics
- Population (2001 Census) 3,369
- Adjacent Village Port St. Mary
- Largest Southern Population
- Constituency: Rushen (Two Seats)
- Latitude 54.085
- Longitude -4.755
- Distance From Douglas: 12 Miles
- Manx Name: Purt Chiarn
- Sheading: Rushen
History
The name means either "iron port" or "lord's port". Popular myths among the locals state that it was named after Erin Viscito, a royal princess from the 1800's. The outer breakwater, visible at low tide only, was an abandoned project constructed in 1863 using the Port Erin Breakwater RailwayPort Erin Breakwater Railway
The Port Erin Breakwater Railway was a construction line built in Port Erin on the Isle of Man in 1863 and had the distinction of being the first steam railway on the island, as well as the only Broad Gauge line. The locomotive was named Henry Brougham Loch after the then lieutenant governor of...
and saw the first steam locomotive used on the island; a severe storm of 1884 later destroyed the breakwater and it was never rebuilt. Today, a marker buoy shows the extent of the breakwater and the land end is still clearly discernible. To the north-east by the A7 road are the earthwork remains of a motte and bailey castle known as Cronk Howe Mooar, possibly the site of a timber fortification built by Magnus Barelegs [Barefoot] c1100.
Transport
Railway
The railway stationPort Erin railway station
Port Erin Railway Station is the southern terminus of the Isle of Man Railway in the village of Port Erin on the Isle of Man; it is the sole remaining outer terminus of the railway but until 1968 there were termini at both Peel and Ramsey in the west and north of the island...
in the village forms the western terminus of 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...
which sits in the centre of the village. The station has been described as "the most beautiful building in town" and is constructed of distinctive red Ruabon brick in an unusual design specifically to fir into its diagonal location between the platforms and the nearby road. The station is now a fraction of its original size, with the former bay platform and sidings now occupied by the storage yard for Bus Vannin, whilst an additional area once used for maintenance has been replaced by The Haven public house. More recent developments have seen the platform shortened and a carriage shed constructed in the yard, capable of storing eight carriages. Prior to this the rolling stock was stored in the open.
Buses
Bus services operate directly through a depot in Bridson Street in the village to the island's capital 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...
via Port St. Mary and Colby
Colby
- People :As a surname:* Anita Colby , actress* Anthony Colby , Governor of New Hampshire* Bainbridge Colby * Barbara Colby , actress* C.B...
and Castletown and Ballasalla
Ballasalla
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.-Governance:The local...
using route numbers 1, 2, 11 and 12; these run about every twenty minutes on weekdays and Saturdays with a less frequent service at weekends and after 6.00pm,. Some of these services (1c and 11b) use an alternative coastal route. The route is the island's busiest, partially attributed to it being on the route for the island's only commercial airport. A late evening service also operates on Friday and Saturday evenings, called the Hullaid Oie (Night Owl) which uses premium fare rates. There are also occasional buses to Peel (Service No. 8) via Foxdale; all these buses are within the island's transport network Bus Vannin, a government-run service which replaced the railway-operated Isle Of Man Road Services in 1976, itself a subsidiary of the railway.
Other
There is a coach storage car park to the rear of the railway station, formerly occupied by Tours (Isle Of Man) Limited though more often used by visiting coaches in recent times. There are a number of private taxi services the operate from the village into the later hours, though other Douglas-based hackneys will serve the south on demand.Geography
The beach is sandy and is bounded by two headlands which funnel the prevailing westerly wind towards the village. One, Bradda HeadBradda Head
Bradda Head is a rugged headland in the south-west of the Isle of Man, in the British Isles, rising to a height of . It shelters Port Erin Bay from the north....
, has a memorial tower called Milner's Tower. The promenade, which is somewhat higher than the seafront, primarily consists of hotels - mostly built in the Victorian era
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...
, although due to changes in taste among tourists, many of these are being converted into flats and apartments. The town is famed for its views including spectacular sunsets over Port Erin Bay and Bradda Head as well as frequent glimpses of the Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
in the distance.
Religion
Church Of England
The largest church in the village is dedicated to St. Catherine and located on Church Road on its junction with the upper promenade and lies within its own grounds; in addition to regular community services the church is also well-known for its summer concert series that runs on a Wednesday evening throughout the summer months from May to September featuring local talent.Methodist
This is located at the junction of Droghadfayle Road with the main road entering the village and has a mid-sized, modern built community hall annexed to it which hosts the Over Sixties club regularly in addition to services. To the rear of the church lies the village's branch of the Royal British Legion in the same cluster of buildings.Grace Baptist
Constructed in 1982 at the same time and in a similar architectural style to a surrounding housing estate, this church began life in neighbouring Castletown before relocating and expanding its current headquarters in 1985; since this time the building has also been modified and expanded subject to demand.Catholic
Found on the outskirts of the village on the main road to Port St. Mary, another modern build small church with its own parking area; it can be found at the same site as the community gospel church. It is dedicated to St. Columba and was established as late as 1989 when the building was constructed in simple format.Gospel
Located on the main approach road to the village from the Port St. Mary direction this is a further modern-build small church with a dedicated parking area to the side; it can be found at the same site as the catholic church and was founded in 1991 according to the growing demands for varying types of worship on the island.Landmarks
- Fish HatcheryFish hatcheryA fish hatchery is a "place for artificial breeding, hatching and rearing through the early life stages of animals, finfish and shellfish in particular". Hatcheries produce larval and juvenile fish primarily to support the aquaculture industry where they are transferred to on-growing systems...
a building in the outer harbour close to the wrecked breakwater, this was home to a University of LiverpoolUniversity of LiverpoolThe University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
Marine Biology department which was closed in 2006 and the building's future is as yet undecided
- Milner's TowerBradda HeadBradda Head is a rugged headland in the south-west of the Isle of Man, in the British Isles, rising to a height of . It shelters Port Erin Bay from the north....
the distinctive keyhole-shaped building that stands ontop of Bradda Head, a memorial to a local locksmith only reachable by foot; it features on the crest and coat of arms for the village
- Railway MuseumPort Erin railway museumThe Port Erin Railway Museum in the village of Port Erin in the Isle of Man is a small display that shows the history of the Isle of Man Railway through exhibits and visual displays which chart the history of the railway from its opening in 1873 until the present day, covering the now-closed lines...
in the centre of the village and housed in the former omnibus garage of Isle of Man Road Services; open seasonally whenever the railway is in operation and accessible via the main road
- Museum BuildingCinemaCinema may refer to:* Film, motion pictures or movies* Filmmaking, the process of making a film* Movie theater, a building in which films are shown* Cinema or Bommalattam, a Tamil film...
located within the building originally constructed as a cinema but more latterly used as office space and retail accommodation
- Erin Arts CentreLionel Tertis International Viola CompetitionThe Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition is an international music competition for viola players established in 1980 to honor the memory of the English viola virtuoso Lionel Tertis. This triennial event is held at the Erin Arts Centre, Port Erin, Isle of Man...
located in a converted church on Victoria Square the building is host to annual musical competitions and elitist events on a regular basis, one of several small centres for the arts on the island
- Railway StationPort Erin railway stationPort Erin Railway Station is the southern terminus of the Isle of Man Railway in the village of Port Erin on the Isle of Man; it is the sole remaining outer terminus of the railway but until 1968 there were termini at both Peel and Ramsey in the west and north of the island...
in the centre of the village and constructed of distinctive red Ruabon brick, the station is open seasonally; winner of an Ian Allen Heritage Award in 1991
- Herdman HousePublic libraryA public library is a library that is accessible by the public and is generally funded from public sources and operated by civil servants. There are five fundamental characteristics shared by public libraries...
now a private residence but built as the village's public library and gaming room, it at one time included a billiard hall and extensive library section before conversion to its present use
- Collinson's CafeRotunda (architecture)A rotunda is any building with a circular ground plan, sometimes covered by a dome. It can also refer to a round room within a building . The Pantheon in Rome is a famous rotunda. A Band Rotunda is a circular bandstand, usually with a dome...
an unusual building which is currently empty with several unique architectural features including a rotunda and large sprung dancefloor from its time as a dancehall; it can be found above the promenade on the road leading to the golf course
- Lifeboat StationLifeboat (rescue)A rescue lifeboat is a boat rescue craft which is used to attend a vessel in distress, or its survivors, to rescue crewmen and passengers. It can be hand pulled, sail powered or powered by an engine...
this can be found beyond the harbour on the road from the promenade; extended in recent years it retains its slipway and deco architectural style and is open to the public when manned.
- Police StationPolice stationA police station or station house is a building which serves to accommodate police officers and other members of staff. These buildings often contain offices and accommodation for personnel and vehicles, along with locker rooms, temporary holding cells and interview/interrogation rooms.- Facilities...
the small manned police station lies on the northeastern edge of the village and replaced the original version in 2002 when construction was completed; a public desk is located here.
Residents
One of the more famous residents in recent years was racing driver Nigel MansellNigel Mansell
Nigel Ernest James Mansell OBE is a British racing driver who won both the Formula One World Championship and the CART Indy Car World Series...
who lived on the headland to the south of the bay.
Films
The 2006 film StormbreakerStormbreaker (film)
Stormbreaker is a 2006 British spy film based on Anthony Horowitz's novel of the same name, the first novel in the Alex Rider series. It stars newcomer Alex Pettyfer as the teenage spy alongside actors Mickey Rourke and Bill Nighy...
(starring Ewan McGregor
Ewan McGregor
Ewan Gordon McGregor is a Scottish actor. He has had success in mainstream, indie, and art house films. McGregor is perhaps best known for his roles as heroin addict Mark Renton in the drama Trainspotting , young Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequel trilogy , and poet Christian in the...
) was filmed on Port Erin beach; the town has also been used by various production companies including the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
whose serialised drama The Ginger Tree
Oswald Wynd
Oswald Wynd was a Scottish writer, born in Tokyo of parents who had left their native Perth to run a mission in Japan.He attended schools in Japan where he grew up speaking both English and Japanese. In 1932 he returned with his parents to Scotland, and studied at the University of Edinburgh and...
was filmed at the railway station in 1989, and the cinematic adaption of Five Children & It. An episode of the BBC documentary marking 20 years since the end of steam trains in the U.K. The Train Now Departing
Ivo Peters
Ivo Peters BEM was an English railway photographer. Peters spent his life in Bath, Somerset and is best known for his amateur photographs and cine films of steam railways in the British Isles, particularly of the Somerset and Dorset Railway.-Early life:Ivo Peters took his first railway photograph...
filmed extensive scenes in and around the station, interviewing the station master in the process. The village has also featured in the holiday series Wish You Were Here...?
Wish You Were Here...?
Wish You Were Here...? is a British television show that was first broadcast on 7th January 1974 on ITV. It was a series of 30 minute shows about travel and holidays. The show was broadcast during peak viewing hours and had gained a significant viewing audience in the UK...
and Holiday '91 with Judith Chalmers
Judith Chalmers
Judith Chalmers OBE is an English television presenter who is best known for presenting the travel programme Wish You Were Here...? in the 1970s and 1980s, where she often appeared in a bikini.-Early life and career:...
.
Also
- Fish HatcheryFish hatcheryA fish hatchery is a "place for artificial breeding, hatching and rearing through the early life stages of animals, finfish and shellfish in particular". Hatcheries produce larval and juvenile fish primarily to support the aquaculture industry where they are transferred to on-growing systems...
- Bradda HeadBradda HeadBradda Head is a rugged headland in the south-west of the Isle of Man, in the British Isles, rising to a height of . It shelters Port Erin Bay from the north....
- Railway StationPort Erin railway stationPort Erin Railway Station is the southern terminus of the Isle of Man Railway in the village of Port Erin on the Isle of Man; it is the sole remaining outer terminus of the railway but until 1968 there were termini at both Peel and Ramsey in the west and north of the island...
- Railway StationPort Erin railway museumThe Port Erin Railway Museum in the village of Port Erin in the Isle of Man is a small display that shows the history of the Isle of Man Railway through exhibits and visual displays which chart the history of the railway from its opening in 1873 until the present day, covering the now-closed lines...