Peel, Isle of Man
Peel
| Isle of Man | |
---|---|---|
Post town | ISLE OF MAN | |
Postcode district | IM5 | |
Police | Isle of Man | |
Fire | Isle of Man | |
Ambulance | Isle of Man | |
House of Keys | Glenfaba & Peel | |
Website | Peel Online | |
Peel (Manx: Purt ny h-Inshey 'port of the island') is a seaside town[2] and small fishing port in the Isle of Man, in the historic parish of German but administered separately. Peel is the third largest town in the island after Douglas and Ramsey but the fourth largest settlement, as Onchan has the second largest population but is classified as a village.
Until 2016 (when it was merged with Glenfaba) Peel was also a
Peel has a ruined castle on St Patrick's Isle, and a cathedral, seat of the Diocese of Sodor and Man (the diocese was founded when Mann was ruled by the Norse).
Geography
Peel is on the west coast of the Isle of Man, on the east side of the mouth of the
The older part of Peel is built of reddish Peel Sandstone,[3] mostly the original homes and businesses of fishermen and merchants with narrow winding lanes by the quayside. Before 1765, the town had a busy import-export trade importing goods from ports such as Amsterdam; in the mid to late 19th century the town was a busy fishing port.[4]
Demographics
The Isle of Man census 2016 lists the population as 5,374, an increase from 5,093 in 2011.[1]
Governance
The local authority is Peel Town Commissioners who are based at the Town Hall on Derby Road.[5] There are nine commissioners. The day-to-day activities of the authority are run by the clerk.[6]
Town history
Peel was the
Peel is the island's main fishing port and Peel Cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of Sodor and Man.
Peel is sometimes referred to as the "rose red city", due to the red sandstone used to build the castle and other important buildings.
There is evidence of local settlers in the Mesolithic Age on both St Patrick's Isle and the nearby Peel Hill, and Neolithic farmers are believed to have settled in the area.
About 550, a Celtic monastery was founded on St Patrick's Isle. [10] Excavations in the 1980s found a large early Christian burial ground, many of the burials dating from around 550. Some later graves had Norse burial goods: e.g. the 'Pagan Lady'.[10] The ruins of the original Peel Cathedral (c.1250) can be seen within the walls of Peel Castle on St Patrick's Isle. This replaced an earlier church.[10]
The town of Peel developed on the east bank of the river and the settlement was known as Holmtown until the 17th century. Later development, apart from the late 19th century
After the railway arrived in Peel in 1873, Peel started to develop as a tourist resort, with guest houses and hotels built along the shoreline and headlands, and then the promenade was added. Tourism gradually grew in the town. During
Peel is the birthplace of Peel microcars, made by the Peel Engineering Company in the 1960s, the only Manx cars ever built.
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Peel from St Patrick's Isle
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Peel Castle and beach
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Buildings in Peel from the Castle
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One of the two kipper smokehouses
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Castle Street, Peel
Amenities
Peel has a campsite, swimming pool, tennis courts, BMX track, football ground, golf club, bowling green and various other amenities.
House of Manannan Museum
The
Manx Transportation Museum
The Manx Transportation Museum, which opened in 2002, is housed in the former Brickworks building near the harbour.[15]
Leece Museum
The Leece Museum was established in 1984 and relocated to the Old Courthouse building in East Quay in 2000. The museum is devoted to objects, photographs and documents specifically relating to the town. The museum now has a large display of TT and Manx Grand Prix racing bikes, on and off-road and vintage bikes along with memorabilia from the TT races.[16]
Peel Castle
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Peel Castle from Peel Hill
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The ruins of St Germans Cathedral, St Patricks Isle
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Fenella beach
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Odin's Raven longboat in the House of Manannan Museum
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Peel P50 at Manx Transport Museum, Peel
Events
Regular events from spring to autumn based in Peel include: the Isle of Man Art Festival (WOSAT) in May; Peel Day during TT fortnight (May/June); Peel Secret Gardens (usually July); Yn Chruinnaght Inter-Celtic Festival (July); Peel Viking Longboat Races (July), and Peel Carnival.
Kipper production
Peel Centenary Centre
Peel Centenary Centre (Manx: Ynnyd Keead-Blein) is an arts and community centre based at the Centenary Hall. It runs a programme of films, live concerts (local, British, and international acts), and other community events.
Douglas to Peel railway line
Peel Harbour and Marina
Peel Harbour is the most active fishing port in the Isle of Man and is also used to import fuel oils. There is a fish and shellfish processing industry as well as the traditional art of kipper curing. The breakwater has deep-water berths with a lighthouse situated at the end. Fishing boats are usually berthed on the breakwater.[25]
The castle overlooks the entrance to the inner harbour, which is tidal. However a water retention scheme was built in July 2005 with a jetty from East Quay toward West Quay with an automatically operated gate-flap and a pedestrian swing bridge above it. The gate-flap enables a half tide dock, similar to one at Douglas, and Padstow. As a result, in Peel, inner harbour boats remain afloat even at low water, whereas before boats would settle upon the hard or exposed seabed.
Yachts may be moored in Peel Marina, which was constructed in the inner harbour[26] at a cost of £3.1 million. 124 new berths have been installed by reclaiming part of the top end of the harbour for a boat park, with construction of a new harbour office.[27]
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Peel town and harbour from the headland
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Evening at Peel harbour
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Peel harbour and headland
Sport and recreation
Peel A.F.C., who compete in the Isle of Man Football League, are based in Peel. They play their home games at the Peel FC Football Ground, Douglas Road. Formed in 1888, they are the most successful club on the island with 29 league titles and 32 victories in the Manx FA Cup. They were the first winners of the Isle of Man Football League in 1897. Peel Cricket Club are also based in the town, they are members of the Isle of Man Cricket Association.[28]
Valkyrs Hockey Club play their home matches at the Queen Elizabeth II High School astro turf pitch.[29] Peel Golf Club is an 18-hole golf course, totalling over 5870 yds off competitions tees, located on Rheast Lane which was established in 1895.[30] The clubhouse was opened in 1977 by Peter Alliss.[31] Western Athletics club is based at Queen Elizabeth II School. Western Swimming Pool is located on Derby Road.
The Headlands Field has a BMX track, football pitch, park and coastal pathway. There is also a telescope on the headlands which overlooks Peel promenade. The coastal path starts on the Headlands and leads all the way to Kirk Michael beach. Also on the Headlands is the park which has swings, climbing frames and exercise machines installed into it.
The Raad ny Foillan long distance coastal footpath opened in 1986 runs along the coast through Peel.
Astronomy
Peel Castle/St Patrick's Isle is a Dark Skies astronomy site,[32] meaning that there are low levels of light pollution, so that fainter night sky features such as the Milky Way may be seen on a clear night. Peel Head has been used as a vantage point for viewing the Northern Lights when conditions are favourable, as it has a clear and elevated view to the Northern horizon. Peel is well known for sunsets over the sea (hence its moniker "Sunset City"): sometimes these outline the Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland, directly to the west of Peel.
Wildlife
The seas by Peel are home to basking sharks in early summer.[33] These sharks are seen occasionally from the land and more often from boats. Seals are often to be found around the breakwater by the castle. A variety of seabirds live and feed around the harbour, castle and headland.
Religion
The ruins of the original Peel Cathedral (c. 1250) can be seen within the walls of Peel Castle on St Patrick's Isle. This replaced an earlier church.[36]
Before Peel Castle was built on St Patrick's Isle, there was an early Celtic Christian religious community. Excavations in the 1980s found a large early Christian burial ground, many of the burials dating from around 550. Some later graves had Norse burial goods: e.g. the Pagan Lady.[36]
Peel Elim Community Church holds meetings at the Philip Christian Centre.[37]
Grace
Peel
There is also another
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Peel Cathedral
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Reproductions of medieval Manx crosses at Peel Cathedral
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Peel Methodist Church
Education
The local
Peel Clothworkers' School is a primary school on Derby Road, which was founded in the 17th century after Philip Christian, a successful expatriate Peel businessman, bequeathed a sum of money in his will to provide for the education of the children in Peel. After changing sites in the town a number of times, as it grew and developed, it finally moved to Derby Road after World War II and officially opened there in 1953.[41] It is the third largest primary school in the Isle of Man. On 23 April 2008 new £3.3m facilities at the school were officially opened. New dining/assembly hall, kitchen, reception/office complex, meeting room, library, special needs unit, ICT suite had all opened in June 2007, while a refurbished sports hall, staff facilities, two more classrooms and a permanent nursery were added in 2008.[42]
Christian's Endowed National School was built in 1860. It was closed for some time in the mid-20th century before it was refurbished and became the Philip Christian Centre, and a registered building.[12]
House of Keys Elections
This list is incomplete.
Year | Election | Turnout | Candidates |
---|---|---|---|
1900 |
By-Election |
? |
|
By-election due to the resignation of Thomas Clague | |||
1903 |
General Election |
? |
|
1908 |
General Election |
| |
1913 |
General Election |
? |
|
1919 |
General Election |
? |
|
1924 |
General Election |
? | |
1929 |
General Election |
? | |
1933 |
By-Election |
? |
|
By-election following the death of Christopher R. Shimmin, husband of Marion Shimmin | |||
1934 | General Election |
| |
1978 | By-Election |
? |
|
1981 | General Election | ? |
|
1986 | General Election | 79.5% |
|
1991 |
General Election |
76.5% |
|
1996 |
General Election |
70.7% |
|
2001 |
General Election |
61.8% |
|
2006 |
General Election |
63.4% |
|
2011 |
General Election |
62.8% |
|
2015 |
By-Election |
55.9% |
|
The Peel constituency was amalgamated with Glenfaba for the 22 September 2016 general election to form the constituency of Glenfaba & Peel.
Notable people
- Betty Hanson (1918 in Peel – 2008 in Douglas) was a Manx politician and teacher.
- First Deemster and Clerk of the Rollsin the Isle of Man.
- Sophia Morrison (1859 in Peel – 1917 in Peel) was a Manx cultural activist, folklore collector and author.
- Bernard Moffatt (born in Peel 1946) Founder member of Mec Vannin, the Manx Nationalist Party and Trade Union official.
- Millie Robinson (1924 – 1994) Irish-born Manx racing cyclist lived in Peel
- James Teare (1872 in Peel – 1909) was a Manx merchant navy officer who served on numerous Isle of Man Steam Packet Company vessels. Capt. Teare is best known as the Master of the RMS Ellan Vannin on her ill-fated voyage from Ramsey, Isle of Man to Liverpool on 3 December 1909.
- James Kewley Ward (1819 in Peel – 1910 in Westmount, Quebec) was a Canadian lumber merchant and politician, educated at May's Academy in Douglas, Isle of Man, he emigrated to the United States in 1842.
In popular culture
Govags or gobbags, among other spellings, was a word used by Peel people to describe others,[43] but nowadays more often used by others to refer to people from Peel (see Manx English#Manx loanwords and Lesson 2 - Where do you live? | Learn Manx)
References
- ^ a b "2016 Isle of Man Census Report" (PDF). Gov.im. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
- ^ "Residents give mixed response to Manx capital's new city status". BBC News. 21 May 2022.
- ^ "Peel sandstone". Manxgeology.com. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
- ^ "Peel Heritage Trust: History of Peel". 2014. Archived from the original on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- ^ "Peel Town Commissioners". Peel Town Commissioners. Archived from the original on 21 December 2003. Retrieved 3 November 2008.
- ^ "Who are the Commissioners?". Peel Town Commissioners. Archived from the original on 2 February 2004. Retrieved 3 November 2008.
- ^ Goodwins, S. (2015) A Young Manx History, Loaghtyn Books (p.25)
- ^ Anderson, Alan Orr, ed. (1922), Early sources of Scottish history: A.D. 500 to 1286, 2, Oliver and Boyd, p. 653
- ^ "Peel - Jenkinson's Practical Guide, 1874". Isle-of-man.com. pp. 164–181. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
- ^ a b c "Peel Heritage Trust website". Archived from the original on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- ^ "Tynwald - Parliament of the Isle of Man - Welcome". Tynwald.org.im. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d Quilliam, Leslie (15 April 2003). "A Short History of Peel". Peel Heritage Trust. Retrieved 3 November 2008.
- ^ ""The Voyage of Odin's Raven" (North American Manx Association)". Namanx.blogspot.com. Archived from the original on 29 June 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
- ^ "House of Manannan". Isle of Man Guide. Retrieved 3 November 2008.
- ^ "Manx Transportation Museum". Isle of Man Guide. Retrieved 3 November 2008.
- ^ "The Leece Museum". Peel Online. Archived from the original on 7 February 2009. Retrieved 3 November 2008.
- ^ Goodwins, S. (2015) A Young Manx History, Loaghtyn Books
- ^ "Peel Castle". Isle of Man Guide. Retrieved 3 November 2008.
- ^ a b Barbara Holgate (1987). "The Pagan Lady of Peel" (PDF). Culturevannin.im. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
- ^ "Moore's". Manxkippers.com. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
- ^ "Devereau's". Isleofmankippers.com. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
- ^ "Douglas to Peel - Railway Lines Mountain Bike Trail". Isle of Man Government. 2008. Archived from the original on 12 October 2008. Retrieved 4 November 2008.
- ^ "Douglas to Peel - Heritage Trail". Isle of Man Guide. Retrieved 4 November 2008.
- ^ Wright, Paul (5 June 2007). "Disused stations site record, station name: Peel". disused-stations.org.uk. Retrieved 4 November 2008.
- ^ "Peel - Isle of Man Harbours". Isle of Man Government. Archived from the original on 19 April 2005. Retrieved 4 November 2008.
- ^ "Peel Marina". Peel Town Commissioners. Archived from the original on 5 July 2008. Retrieved 4 November 2008.
- ^ "£3.1m Peel harbour improvements planned". Isle of Man Newspapers. 20 January 2008. Archived from the original on 12 February 2009. Retrieved 4 November 2008.
- ^ "IOMCA Member clubs". Isle of Man Cricket Association. Archived from the original on 11 February 2009. Retrieved 3 November 2008.
- ^ "About Us - A Brief History". Valkyrs Hockey Club. Archived from the original on 5 July 2008. Retrieved 3 November 2008.
- ^ "About Peel Golf Club". Peel Golf Club. Archived from the original on 5 September 2008. Retrieved 3 November 2008.
- ^ "The Clubhouse". Peel Golf Club. Archived from the original on 5 September 2008. Retrieved 3 November 2008.
- ^ "Visit Isle of Man: Dark Sky Sites". 2015. Archived from the original on 11 September 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- ^ "Basking shark | Manx Wildlife Trust". Mwt.im. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
- ^ a b "About Us". Grace Baptist Church. Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 4 November 2008.
- ^ "A page-turning moment in history". News.bbc.co.uk. 5 February 2010. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
- ^ a b "History of peel". Archived from the original on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- ^ "Peel Elim Community Church - Welcome". Elim Community Church. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
- ^ "The church building and its origins". Grace Baptist Church. Archived from the original on 21 November 2008. Retrieved 4 November 2008.
- ^ "Peel Methodist Chapels". Manx Notebook. Retrieved 14 October 2008.
- ^ "About the school". Queen Elizabeth II High School. Archived from the original on 31 May 2008. Retrieved 3 November 2008.
- ^ "History". Peel Clothworkers' School. Archived from the original on 11 February 2009. Retrieved 3 November 2008.
- ^ "School facilities opened by proud Department member". Peel Clothworkers' School. 23 April 2008. Retrieved 3 November 2008.
- ^ "Gaal-Gyub Vocabulary of the Anglo-Manx Dialect, 1924". Isle-of-man.com.
Other sources
- Ingram, Michael (1983) Voyage of Odin's Raven (Clearwater) ISBN 978-0-946363-00-1