A Tour of Onchan
Straight down the middle.

Methodist Church and Hall

Any social events that took place in connection with the Main Road Methodist Church used to be held in the Sunday school room behind the chapel. For large fund raising events then the Village Hall was rented. Such an occasion was in 1913 when a two-day bazaar was held and this appears to have been used to part finance the schoolroom.

As time went by thought was given from time to time to having a larger hall of their own. When the Avenue Cinema closed thought was given to its purchase which would have provided a massive building but of course it had a sloping floor inside.

In 1953 two plots of land on the opposite side of Main road were purchased and fund raising began for the erection of a hall with Sunday School beneath. Eventually an architect was engaged, Mr T.H. Kennaugh of Douglas and the first sod was cut on 7th April 1959. Shortly afterwards the foundation stone was laid by Mr H.K. Corlett, Speaker of the House of Keys.

Two thirds of the cost was provided by the Rank Trust,Douglas Town and Seamen’s Mission, Well Road Hill Church Trust and Summerhill Road Church Trust.

The hall, which was built by A.M. Grimshaw Ltd of Onchan was officially opened by His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor Sir Ronald Garvey on 10th March 1960.

The building design utilised the slope to provide a large hall and stage with adjoining kitchen and toilets at entrance level and then underneath there were Sunday School and storage rooms together with further toilets and a kitchen.

It was always intended in the original scheme that a chapel should be built alongside the hall. It was some years however before this was to happen.

73 Main Road

Set back alongside the former Methodist Chapel this house has stood in this location for many years. It appears on the 1869 Ordnance Survey but was built quite some time before. For a number of years it belonged to Mr Spittall as part of the Nursery Gardens land as did the adjoining smithy.

In the early part of the twentieth century the house had the name of “Grove View” but later this name changed to White Cottage and was the home of Dr. Buckley. The smithy had a water trough alongside which was used by the public and when this was closed as a public supply and mains water was installed the cottage was exempted from paying water rates.

Doctor’s Surgery

The modern appearance of this building much belies the fact that it is old and has been altered many times during its existence. It was in fact another of the smithies in Onchan; the last smith to work here was Mr J. Corrin who lived in a corrugated iron bungalow out behind where the commissioners’ workshops now stand.

In 1934 the smithy was altered to become an Odd Fellows Hall and in 1940 it was purchased by the commissioners as it adjoined their various properties around Hawthorn Villa. It was let to the British Legion and used during the Second World War as a canteen for servicemen. In 1954 the Christian Brethren took on a tenancy and the property was known as Elim Hall, it was also known at some point in its history as Hebron Hall.

In August 1967 it was decided to move the public library out of Hawthorn Villa as the space was required for additional offices. Plans were prepared by Kay and Gill, architects of Douglas. A new library building could be built for £4,500 whereas Hebron Hall could be converted and extended for £2,950. The scheme was given Tynwald consent on 9th April 1968 and the new library opened its doors in April 1969.

This was home to the library until its successor opened in April 1982. Since then the building has been occupied as a doctor’s surgery but still belongs to the commissioners

On to Hawthorn Villa