Old Onchan - Picture Gallery 2

Locomotives

Taken sometime after May 1905 when 'Polar Bear' joined 'Sea Lion' the original locomotive of 1896 at Groudle Glen. Note the original station building which has been rebuilt of recent years by the volunteers who have also had the Sea Lion restored.

The photograph was taken by Mr Walton, photographer of Castle Hill, Victoria Road, Douglas.

Cowin's the Bakers

Cowin's the bakers had their shop and bakery in the centre of Onchan opposite what is now Elm Tree House. Years later it become C.A. Kermode's and following its closure lay empty until its demolition as part of a site for an hotel. From left to right: John Henry Cowin, John Caesar Cowin (with the beard), Mrs Cowin the second, James Edward Cowin (with folded arms), Edith Ann Cowin and William Cowin. Note the dirt road and pavement.

Village Hall

A view inside the Baillie Scott designed Village Hall at the top of Royal Avenue. This photograph was taken by A. Caley the baker on 19th November 1913 and shows the Onchan Wesleyan Chapel Bazaar. When the hall opened in 1898 it had oil lamps within the decorative brackets but here they have been replaced by a gaslight being set under the ring which once supported the oil lamp.

Woodland Towers

Just above the River Groudle on the opposite bank to Little Mill Road stands Woodlands Towers. It was built on land that once formed part of the Ballachrink Farm and which was purchased in 1810 by Thomas Clague who erected two small cottages on it.

When the property was sold in 1829 it was called Woodland Cottage and was advertised as having two parlours, three kitchens, three bedrooms, dressing closet and storeroom. There was also a three stall stable, cow house and beer house.

By the time of the 1869 Ordnance Survey there was tower on the left-hand side of the property. When Charles Percy Okell purchased the house in 1894 it was called Woodland Towers which would suggest that by that time it had a tower at both ends.

Woodland Towers Rear

A view from the rear of the property shows how it "just grew" with add on next to add on. The property was occupied in the 1860's by Thomas John Ouseley, Collectors of Customs and an amateur poet.

His father was Major General Sir Ralfe Ouseley. Perhaps the most famous occupier of the house was William Henry Quilliam who purchased it in 1903. He was a solicitor from Liverpool who had the title of Abdullah Quilliam, later he called himself Professor Leon and was very much a mystery man.

Lazy Corner Shop

This small shop was situated alongside Kelly the baker's at Lazy Corner and was located more or less at the top entrance into the car parking area in front of the present Summerhill Road shops. Here Mr Clarke the barber also sold cigarettes and herb beer. It is assumed Mr Clarke is the gentleman in his shirtsleeves standing in the shop doorway. Note the posters for Buxton's Amusement Resort on Central Promenade and also for the Grand Theatre and Picturedrome. In the 1950s the shop was a greengrocers but was demolished as part of a road widening scheme in the early 1960s.

Scouts at Strathallan Park

Taken at what is now the entrance to Strathallan Park the scouts are in front of what was then Strathallan Hall. It served as a children's home from 1883 until new premises were built in Glencrutchery Road and opened in 1910. After the premises were vacated they were purchased by Mr Joseph Cunningham who was the Island Commissioner for Scouts. By 1910 there were two scout troops in Onchan, 1st Onchan and 2nd Onchan but which one was this?

Onchan Head Fairground

This photograph shows the fairground at Onchan Head (later called White City) and is taken from a publication of 1927. The area was first used for entertainment in 1907 when a stage was erected for "The Torreadors" with bench seating on the steeply sloping ground. Next a pavilion was built to provide for wet weather performances. Later it was used for roller-skating. Soon small stalls for hoopla, magnetic fish etc were added. Then more permanent rides were added, some being the most advanced in the UK. Onchan Head became a draw for holidaymakers and even day trippers.

Morton Hall

Where the lads are on the fallen tree is the site of what is now the Onchan Pensioners Club building, Morton Hall in Elm Tree Road. The house in the centre of the picture was called Willow Cottage, which has given its name to Willow House, the block which houses the Onchan Library. To the left of Willow Cottage is a terrace of shops with living accommodation over. These were built for Mr Spittal who owned the Nursery Gardens upon which they were built. In the background is Wesley Terrace, the end house on the right was Onchan's first bank, later a butcher's shop and new Kenyon's Café Drop-in Centre.

Howstrake Holiday Camp

This view is taken at the Howstrake Holiday Camp which in 1897 became the first holiday camp in Britain. It was established by Joseph Cunningham who used to bring groups of underprivileged lads from Liverpool to Laxey on holiday.

Seeing a potential for cheap holidays he took the lease of Lagbirragh Park overlooking Groudle and set up his village of bell tents around a group of corrugated iron buildings housing kitchen and other facilities.

In 1903 a mid season storm saw no fewer than 65 tents being destroyed. The following year Mr Cunningham moved his camp to Little Switzerland in Douglas.

This photograph was taken by Canon Stenning of King Williams College and is presumably of the O.T.C. at camp.

The Majestic Hotel from the air

The Majestic Hotel from the air. The Baillie Scott designed house shows clearly on the left with the flight of steps leading down the garden to what was once lawn but became the site for the swimming pool which led to the name being changed to the Majestic Lido Hotel. The original house was extend in the 1920s and again in the 1930s and was the premier hotel of its day in the Isle of Man. Note the lack of development on the lower reaches of the golf course.

Hunting Party at Nursery Hotel

This picture shows a hunting party outside the Nursery Hotel sometime before the alterations of 1909. At this time the licensee was Mr Charles Tipper whose son is sitting in the bottom right hand corner of the photograph. Second from the right on the row behind him is Mr R.D. Pascall. Also in the picture but unidentified are Mr E. Coupe, tobacconist and Mr Ernie Boscombe.

THE ONCHAN PARISH WAR COMMITTEE

Back Row: Sgt Fred Faragher, Caesar Faragher (Ballacottier), Jack Shimmin (Lower Sulby), Johnny Clelland (Lanjaghan), Stanley Corlett (Glenville), Jim McCubbin (Ballakilmartin), Frank Clarke (Ballanard), Willie Moore (Begoade), Jackie Clelland (Lanjgahn), Rhodes Tate (Keppel Gate), Gordon Cooper (IOM Bank).

Front Row: Robert Taggart (Glencrutchery), J.T. Beale (Slegaby), Earl Granville, Countess Granville, Robert Shimmin (Lower Sulby), Eddie Coole (Bibaloe).