A Tour of Onchan
Straight down the middle.

Victoria Avenue

This was laid out on what had been part of the Ballachurry Farm but the land had long formed an extension to the Howstrake Farm. The first plots on “the new street” were sold in November 1896.

9 – 11 Main Road

This pair of houses rejoice in the name Fern Bank. The plot for both houses were sold to Robert Kelly in May 1892 with a condition that either two houses or shops were to be built on the site by 12th May 1893.

Permission was also granted for the erection of a joiners’ workshop in the rear garden which took the form of a corrugated iron shed and this survived for around eighty years.

13 Main Road

This unusual property is called Primrose Bank and is one of very few Victorian bungalows on the island. The plot was sold in May 1891 to James Taylor an hotel proprietor of Onchan with a condition that not more that three houses were to be erected on the site.

When Mr Taylor’s will was proved in March 1893 he was listed as owning the Albert Hotel, Chapel Row, Douglas, 93,95 and 97 Castle Mona Avenue, Douglas and Primrose Bank in Onchan Village. In 1896 his widow Hannah sold the property to Frederick George Harrison of Forrest View, Union Mills, a mineral water manufacturer for £350. Unfortunately the name of the architect or builder of this house is not known.

15 – 17 – 19 Main Road

Number 15 has been called Seko Villa since it was built on a double plot sold to Sarah Cowin of The Clypse, Onchan in 1893. The adjoining house No 17 was built much closer to the road by Edward Russell the site purchaser who used the 15 foot building line to end up with a larger back garden.

This house was, in fact, used as a butchers shop by Alex Nivison before he built his own premises at the top of Royal Avenue (see Royal Buildings). The final house in this group appears to be the first built as although the deed of conveyance of the plot to Isabella Kermeen was registered in August 1892 it contained a condition requiring the house to be built by 12th November 1892 which would not be possible if work had not already started. This house was for many years occupied by Thomas Henry Corkill the founder of Corkills Garage and was called Sunny Bank.

21 & 23 Main Road

These tall houses were built by Mr W.H. Okell following his purchase at auction of the Manx Arms with its stables, cowhouses etc on 17th October 1892. He pulled down some of the outbuildings purchased additional land from the Howstrake Estate and this pair of houses, known as South View, were built and let as boarding houses.

They now belong to Onchan Commissioners, one is let as a house and the other is in two flats, the upper being entered from the higher level at the rear. They had long gardens at the rear but these now form part of the car park behind the Manx Arms Hotel.

On to Public Conveniences/Legion Club