St Ninian's Crossroads
Encyclopedia
St Ninian's Crossroads is situated between the TT Grandstand
and the 1st Milestone road-side marker on the Snaefell Mountain Course
on the primary A2 Douglas
to Ramsey
road in the town of Douglas
in the Isle of Man
.
The St. Ninian's Crossroads is a major road junction of the A2 Glencrutchery Road with the A2 Bray Hill
, the A22 Ballanard Road and Ballaquayle Road in Douglas. The area is dominated by St. Ninian's Church (dedicated to Ninian of Whithorn
) designed by W.D.Caroe and is a major landmark of the skyline of the town of Douglas. The land to build the church in 1913 was a result of a behest of the will and trustees of the estate of Henry Bloom Noble. In 1924, the Douglas High School for Boys was constructed on a nearby site by the Isle of Man Education Board and is now the coeducational St Ninian's High School (Schoill Ard Noo Ninian).
The crossroads at St. Ninian's was part of the Highland Course and Four Inch Course
used for the Gordon Bennett Trial and Tourist Trophy
automobile car races held in the Isle of Man between 1904 and 1922. The St. Ninian's Crossroads road is part of the Snaefell Mountain Course used since 1911 for the Isle of Man TT
Races and the Manx Grand Prix
since 1923. The St Ninian's Crossroads as Parkfield Corner was part of the Clypse Course
between 1954 and 1959 for the Isle of Man TT Races and used for the Manx Classic Races as part of the Willaston Circuit between 1988 and 2000. During the 1914 Isle of Man TT
Races, Frank Walker
while competing during the Junior TT
, his view of the finish-line on the A23 Ballanard Road was obscured by spectators who had spilled onto the road to watch the competitors cross the finish-line. Passing the Judges-Box at the finish-line, Frank Walker continued at full racing speed through St. Ninians Crossroads and collided with a wooden barrier in Ballaquayle Road and thrown from his motor-cycle and taken to Nobles Hospital where he later died of his injuries.
The St.Ninian's crossroads in 1971 was the first permanent site of traffic light
signals in the Isle of Man. Part of the road junction with Ballaquayle Road and St Ninian's church was widened and re-profiled in 2007 by the Isle of Man Department of Transport.
TT Grandstand
TT Grandstand including the startline, pit lane, depot and scoreboard for the Isle of Man TT and Manx Grand Prix Races is situated on the A2 Douglas to Ramsey road in the town of Douglas in the Isle of Man....
and the 1st Milestone road-side marker on the Snaefell Mountain Course
Snaefell mountain course
Snaefell Mountain Course or Mountain Course is a road-racing circuit used for the Isle of Man TT and Manx Grand Prix Races held in the Isle of Man from 1911 and 1923 respectively. The racing is held on public roads closed for racing by an Act of Tynwald...
on the primary A2 Douglas
Douglas, 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...
to 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...
road in the town of Douglas
Douglas, 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...
in 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...
.
The St. Ninian's Crossroads is a major road junction of the A2 Glencrutchery Road with the A2 Bray Hill
Bray Hill
Bray Hill formerly a country lane known as the Great Hill during the time of the ownership of the Duke of Atholl. Previously known as Siberia a former triangle shaped parcel of land in the Murray Estate...
, the A22 Ballanard Road and Ballaquayle Road in Douglas. The area is dominated by St. Ninian's Church (dedicated to Ninian of Whithorn
Saint Ninian
Saint Ninian is a Christian saint first mentioned in the 8th century as being an early missionary among the Pictish peoples of what is now Scotland...
) designed by W.D.Caroe and is a major landmark of the skyline of the town of Douglas. The land to build the church in 1913 was a result of a behest of the will and trustees of the estate of Henry Bloom Noble. In 1924, the Douglas High School for Boys was constructed on a nearby site by the Isle of Man Education Board and is now the coeducational St Ninian's High School (Schoill Ard Noo Ninian).
The crossroads at St. Ninian's was part of the Highland Course and Four Inch Course
Four Inch Course
Four-Inch Course is a road-racing circuit first used for the 1908 Tourist Trophy Race for racing automobiles. The races were held on public roads closed for racing by an Act of Tynwald...
used for the Gordon Bennett Trial and Tourist Trophy
RAC Tourist Trophy
The International Tourist Trophy is an award given by the Royal Automobile Club and awarded semi-annually to the winners of a selected motor racing event each year in the United Kingdom. It was first awarded in 1905 and continues to be awarded to this day, making it the longest lasting trophy in...
automobile car races held in the Isle of Man between 1904 and 1922. The St. Ninian's Crossroads road is part of the Snaefell Mountain Course used since 1911 for the Isle of Man TT
Isle of Man TT
The International Isle of Man TT Race is a motorcycle racing event held on the Isle of Man and was for many years the most prestigious motorcycle race in the world...
Races and the Manx Grand Prix
Manx Grand Prix
The Manx Grand Prix motorcycle races are held on the Isle of Man TT Course every year for a two-week period usually spanning the end of August and early September. The 'MGP' or 'Manx' is considered to be the amateur riders' alternative to the Isle of Man TT Races held in May and June...
since 1923. The St Ninian's Crossroads as Parkfield Corner was part of the Clypse Course
Clypse Course
The Clypse Course describes a motor-cycle racing course used for the Isle of Man TT Races between 1954 and 1959.The course is 10.92 miles long and is in the parish of Onchan in the Isle of Man. The course uses two short sections of the Snaefell Mountain Course which includes the primary A18 road...
between 1954 and 1959 for the Isle of Man TT Races and used for the Manx Classic Races as part of the Willaston Circuit between 1988 and 2000. During the 1914 Isle of Man TT
1914 Isle of Man TT
The 1914 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy was the last held before the outbreak of the First World War.Bad weather overshadowed the Junior race on Tuesday, 19 May, but Eric and Cyril Williams gained first and second place for AJS having passed Irish newcomer who had been leading on the second lap but...
Races, Frank Walker
Frederick James Walker
Frederick James Walker Kingstown, Co Dublin, Ireland an Irish motorcycle racer who competed at the Isle of Man TT Races.A hat manufacturer by trade, Frank Walker competed at the 1914 Isle of Man TT races and riding a Royal Enfield motorcycle in the Junior TT Race. After leading on the first lap,...
while competing during the Junior TT
Junior TT
The Junior TT is a motorcycle road race that takes place during the Isle of Man TT festival; an annual event at the end of May and beginning of June...
, his view of the finish-line on the A23 Ballanard Road was obscured by spectators who had spilled onto the road to watch the competitors cross the finish-line. Passing the Judges-Box at the finish-line, Frank Walker continued at full racing speed through St. Ninians Crossroads and collided with a wooden barrier in Ballaquayle Road and thrown from his motor-cycle and taken to Nobles Hospital where he later died of his injuries.
The St.Ninian's crossroads in 1971 was the first permanent site of traffic light
Traffic light
Traffic lights, which may also be known as stoplights, traffic lamps, traffic signals, signal lights, robots or semaphore, are signalling devices positioned at road intersections, pedestrian crossings and other locations to control competing flows of traffic...
signals in the Isle of Man. Part of the road junction with Ballaquayle Road and St Ninian's church was widened and re-profiled in 2007 by the Isle of Man Department of Transport.