NoeFlandre/osm-polygon-wikidata-only huggingface dataset:
Laxey railway station

Laxey Railway Station (Manx: Stashoon Raad Yiarn Laksaa) is an interchange station in the village of Laxey on the east coast of the Isle of Man. It is the principal intermediate station on the Manx Electric Railway (3' 0" (914 mm) gauge) as well as being the lower terminus of the Snaefell Mountain Railway (3' 6" (1067 mm) gauge, to accommodate a central braking rail). It is thus the island's only dual-gauge station, albeit with completely separate tracks. Some MER services from/to Douglas terminate here. Facilities The tin-roofed station building dates from the early years of the line and features the station name in large lettering painted on its roof. This building houses a booking office and a café as well as the station toilets, and was extensively refurbished in 1994, marking the centenary of the tram service to the village, though not on this site. Re-siting The first terminal was located on the site of today's sub-station, whilst the viaduct (at the southern end of the station) was constructed to bridge the gap over the Glen Roy below. See also Manx Electric Railway stations References Mike Goodwyn (1993). Manx Electric. Platform Five. ISBN 978-1-872524-52-8. Keith Pearson (1992). 100 Years Of Manx Electric Railway. Leading Edge. ISBN 0-948135-38-7. Robert Hendry (1978). Manx Electric Album. Hillside Publishing. ISBN 0-9505933-0-3. Norman Jones (1994). Isle Of Man Tramways. Foxline Publishing. ISBN 1-870119-32-0. Sources Manx Electric Railway Stopping Places (2002) Manx Electric Railway Society Island Images: Manx Electric Railway Pages (2003) Jon Wornham Official Tourist Department Page (2009) Isle Of Man Heritage Railways
Leece Museum

The Leece Museum is a museum in Peel, Isle of Man established in 1984. It is dedicated to the local history of Peel. The museum is housed in the Old Courthouse, a building dating back to the early 1700s that originally served as the town's courthouse and jail until the late 19th century. Collections Established in 1984 by Eddie Leece, a retired headmaster, and Frank Quayle, a former town commissioner, the museum aims to preserve and showcase the rich history of Peel, particularly its maritime and social heritage. Quayle served as its curator for 15 years after its opening. The ground floor hosts a collection of motorcycles—including several that have competed in the Isle of Man TT and the Manx Grand Prix. This has been a permanent exhibition since 2015. These motorcycles are displayed in the “Black Hole,” a former prison cell where inmates were held throughout the 19th century, including during the Potato Riots of the 1820s. The museum features also a variety of exhibits that highlight Peel's significance in maritime history, with the first floor of the museum exploring Peel's long-standing fishing industry. Exhibits include records of local fishing boats and their crews, showcasing rare documents such as crew lists, catch records, and other artefacts from Peel's seafaring past. The museum also delves into boatbuilding and wartime internment camps, offering a broader understanding of the local history, including its role during World War II. In addition to its exhibitions, the Leece Museum provides a small research facility where visitors can access historical archives and records to further explore Peel's history. The museum is run by volunteers and relies on donations to fund its operations. External links Leece Museum References
Little Isabella

The Groudle Glen Water Wheel unofficially known by the sobriquet of Little Isabella is a rustic water wheel, situated in Groudle Glen on the Isle of Man, that was originally built in 1893 with the arrival of the Manx Electric Railway to the glen. In its time the wheel has been used for various purposes, including pumping water to the Groudle Hotel (designed by Baillie Scott) and providing power for the fairy lights that ran through the glen from the entrance to Lhen Coan, the terminus of the Groudle Glen Railway. Latterly its function has become entirely aesthetic. The wheel house was rebuilt in 1954 when the glen was enjoying something of a renaissance as a tourist attraction, and rumours abounded at this time that the wheel house was haunted. The wheel was featured, in a disguised form with a fictional name of Little Isabella, in a 1986 episode titled "Friends, Romans and Enemies" of the BBC series Lovejoy, in a story that led to buried treasure being discovered in one of the paddles. In 1994, the wheel was refurbished by Laxey Towing Co. Ltd. and re-opened to the fanfare music of Onchan Silver Band. The Groudle Glen Water Wheel has operated sporadically in conjunction with train services on the nearby railway, but, following storms in October 2002, it was damaged and has subsequently been a purely static exhibit. In 2020, the wheel house was demolished and rebuilt and reopened in October 2020. Sources
Peel Marina

Peel Marina is a marina at Peel Harbour in the town of Peel, Isle of Man. It was constructed in 2009 as an expansion of Peel Harbour. Since construction, the site has had continuous issues with silt buildup and toxic materials contamination. History Peel Harbour is a port in the Isle of Man. In 2005 it underwent renovations with a new water retention scheme. Despite this, the harbour was seen as too small for its purpose as it had a waiting list of 118 requests for mooring berths. Peel Marina was proposed as the resolution by the Manx Department of Transport at a cost of £3.1 million. The proposal was voted for by the Tynwald. The proposal was approved and viewed as a regeneration of the harbour area. Shortly after construction, the marina started to become bogged down with buildup of silt in 2011. The dredging of the marina to fix the issue did not take place until 2015, when 18,000 tonnes (18,000 long tons; 20,000 short tons) of silt were removed from the site to Poortown Quarry in German Parish, despite local residents objecting on the grounds that the silt was "potentially hazardous waste". The works were justified by the Department of Infrastructure on the grounds that the silt was blocking berths, and because the Isle of Man government could not afford to close the marina, which earned them £30,000 per annum. In 2018, a new bridge was constructed over the marina to replace the main bridge used to access Peel Castle. After concerns were raised by residents over the resulting spillage, a public meeting was called by German Parish Commissioners hoping to engender a viable solution. In 2020, the marina again became bogged with silt, this time contaminated with toxic cadmium. 44,000 tonnes (43,000 long tons; 49,000 short tons) of silt were due to be removed to a temporary silt lagoon set up by the Isle of Man government. The dredging works will be split between 2020 and 2021 to ensure continued access to the berths in the marina. References External links Peel Marina website
Quarterbridge Crossing

Quarterbridge Crossing (Manx: Crossag Droghad y Cherroo) was the first major crossing point of the Isle of Man Railway's first line from Douglas to Peel. It opened in 1873, but was advertised station until 1929 , then used occasionally until closed in 1968, with the rest of the line. History A gated railway crossing and keeper's lodge was built at the Quarterbridge near the confluence of the Rivers Dhoo and Glass in the town of Douglas, Isle of Man, for the opening of the first passenger narrow-gauge (3 ft) railway in 1873. The approach to the Quarterbridge, a mile from Douglas Terminus, was by an 86 ft lattice girder bridge across the River Glass which replaced an earlier structure in 1902. The Douglas to Peel railway line crossed the A5 New Castletown Road at the Quarterbridge and followed the River Dhoo and a gradient of 1/105 for a short distance. The line at this point ran parallel to the A1 Douglas to Peel road which is part of the Snaefell Mountain Course used for the Isle of Man TT and Manx Grand Prix races. The requests for the Isle of Man Railway Company to construct a small halt at the Quarterbridge to be called Spring Valley, never came to fulfillment. A small halt and cattle bank existed from 1928 until 1929 and was used for agricultural shows held at the nearby Kirby House Estate. A small siding was built on the eastern-side of the Quarterbridge crossing in the 1930s for the development of the King Edward Park and this Belle Vue siding existed from 1935–1941. The Douglas to Peel railway closed in 1968, and the rail tracks were lifted between 1975 and 1976. During the 1980s, the course of the railway line between the Quarterbridge and Braddan Bridge was surfaced with tarmac, which became an access-road used during the Isle of Man TT races. Railway route Sources External links Isle of Man Railway stations Quarter Bridge Halt on Subterrenea Britannica's disused stations website
Queen Elizabeth II High School

Queen Elizabeth II High School (commonly referred to as simply QE2) is a mixed comprehensive school in Peel, Isle of Man. The school teaches the years 7–11 as well as a sixth form for years 12–13. Queen Elizabeth II High School follows the Manx National Curriculum. Schools are not subject to Ofsted and Examination results are not published. The school population has grown to about 800 students and about 50 staff. GCSE Manx is offered from the age of 12. One of the feeder schools is Bunscoill Ghaelgagh, a Manx language primary school in St John's. Manx medium instruction is offered to a small number of students for a limited number of Key Stage 3 subjects. Site The school was opened on 5 July 1979 by Queen Elizabeth II, during her visit to the island to celebrate the millennium of Tynwald. During the time the school has been opened it has gone under extensive changes and has dramatically increased in size and with this, one new building was opened in 2000, the Forster building, which is home to the sixth form. In 2008 the Deans building was added, with an expansion proposed in 2014. This is home to the English Department on the upper floor, and the Music and performance area on the ground floor. This extension also provided the school with a much needed second dining room. Notable people Yasmin Ingham (born 1997), equestrian David Mullarkey (born 2000), runner References External links Official website
RAF Jurby Head

RAF Jurby Head is a former Royal Air Force air weapons range, on the north west coast of the Isle of Man. The range operated between 1939 and 1993. History As part of the RAF Expansion Scheme the Manx Government was approached by the Air Ministry in 1937 with a view to establishing an Aircraft Armament Training Camp for air crew in the sparsely populated Parish of Jurby. This opened as RAF Jurby in September, 1939. World War II As operations at RAF Jurby commenced, the station was re-designated as the No. 5 Bombing and Gunnery School and saw the arrival of various aircraft to undertake the training sorties such as the Bristol Blenheims and Armstrong Whitworth Whitleys which would undertake their practice missions on the ranges operated by RAF Jurby Head. Post World War II Following the end of the Second World War the RAF began its post-war period of contraction, and on 17 September 1946, No. 5 Air Navigation School moved out from RAF Jurby and transferred to RAF Topcliffe in Yorkshire. This was followed by the transfer of No. 11 Air Gunnery School following which most of the bombing and gunnery ranges were closed. In the late 1940s RAF Jurby Head oversaw the use of a new air weapons range, which stretched along the shoreline 8 miles (13 km) from Bluepoint to Ballabane and 6 miles (9.7 km) out to sea. Bombing practices were carried out at sea with the use of dummy bombs, including inert nuclear weapons. From 1956 - 1965 the range was operated by personnel from 1243 Signals Unit, Royal Air Force. Many weapon types were used at Jurby Head ranging in weight up to 1,000 lbs. The range was used during 1982 by Vulcan bombers of the RAF Waddington Wing, comprising aircraft from Nos 44, 50 and 101 Squadrons, as part of their practice bombing sorties for Operation Black Buck. The main user of the range was the United States Air Force (USAF), but the RAF and other NATO air forces used the range regularly. In addition the range was also used in the 1950s by personnel of 515 (Isle of Man) L.A.A. Royal Artillery (T.A.) for training exercises with 40mm Bofors guns. Closure With the ending of the Cold War and the subsequent reduction of USAF operations in Europe the requirement for RAF Jurby Head reduced significantly and the station closed on 6 July 1993. At the time it was the smallest RAF station in the British Isles, staffed by eight military and two civilian personnel. During the latter lifetime of its operation RAF Jurby Head became the focus of protest from the Isle of Man Branch of the Celtic League. Today the area of the bombing range is still a source of concern regarding environmental issues. Ordnance periodically continues to be washed ashore onto adjacent beaches or brought up in fishing nets. See also RAF Jurby, a nearby RAF station RAF Andreas References External links A photo of a USAF F111 over Jurby Range in the 1980s
Sarah's Cottage, Isle of Man

Sarah's Cottage (Manx: Ballavaish [baləˈveːʃ], 'farm of the steep sided hill') is situated between the 11th milestone and 12th milestones on Creg Willey’s Hill on the primary A3 Castletown to Ramsey Road in the parish of Kirk German in the Isle of Man. Description A small stone cottage on Creg Willey's Hill was occupied by Sarah Corlett of Cronk Dhoo in the 1890's. As part of 'The Long Round,' the journey from Castletown to Ramsey using the primary A3 road made by horse-drawn carriers and later by Charabanc many residents on the route provided food and by the roadside to travellers and the stop at Creg Willey's Hill by Sarah Corlett's cottage was a popular one for refreshments. The many hill-farms in the area also provided passing trade as school children attending the last school on the Isle of Man to still teach Manx Gaelic at the old Cronk-y-Voddy School and they referred to Sarah Corlett in Manx Gaelic as Sarah Vilyn ('Sarah of the Sweets'). Motor-sport heritage The Glen Helen section of the A3 Castletown to Ramsey road including Sarah’s Cottage was part of the St John's Short Course used for the Isle of Man TT races between 1907 and 1910. The Glen Helen section of A3 Castletown to Ramsey including Sarah’s Cottage was part of the 37.50 Mile Four Inch Course for the RAC Tourist Trophy automobile races held in the Isle of Man between 1908 and 1922. In 1911, the Four Inch Course for automobiles was first used by the Auto-Cycling Union for the Isle of Man TT motorcycle races. This included the Glen Helen section of Laurel Bank, Black Dub, Sarah’s Cottage and Creg Willeys Hill and the course later became known as the 37.73 mile Isle of Man TT Mountain Course which has been used since 1911 for the Isle of Man TT Races and from 1923 for the Manx Grand Prix races. 1965 Senior TT During the 1965 Isle of Man TT, heavy rain and strong cross-winds on the A18 Mountain Road section of the course dominated the Senior TT races. The notoriously difficult uphill section of the Mountain Course at Sarah's Cottage and the heavy rain and slippery conditions caused Giacomo Agostini to slide-off on lap two. This was followed on lap three when his MV Agusta teammate, Mike Hailwood, crashed at the same spot at Sarah's Cottage. Hailwood bump started his damaged machine, pointing in the wrong direction along the course downhill, turned around and went on to win the race. Gallery References External links
Snaefell Wheel

The Snaefell Wheel (also known as Lady Evelyn) is a waterwheel in Laxey, Isle of Man. The wheel stands in the washing floors in Laxey Glen Gardens, approximately 700 metres south of the larger Laxey Wheel. The wheel was unveiled with the name Lady Evelyn to mark the extensive work of Evelyn Jones in her support of the Laxey Mines Research Team. History The wheel was purchased by the Snaefell Mining Company in 1865. Built by Messrs Leigh and Gilbert Howell of the Hawarden iron works in Flintshire, north Wales, it was one of two identical 50 ft (15.24 m) diameter wheels to be produced. Mine Disaster In 1897 20 Miners died from Carbon Monoxide poisoning when they were in the mine. By 1910, the wheel had come to the end of its working life at the Snaefell Mining Company and was disassembled to be sent to Bodmin, Cornwall. By the 1950s the wheel had fallen into disuse, and in 1971 the Cornish Wheel Preservation Society had acquired the wheel and dismantled it for preservation. The society later merged with the Trevithick Society, who are the current owners of the wheel. In 1976, the Llywernog Silver Lead Mine in Wales took the wheel on loan from the society though never reconstructed it. In 2003, an effort was started to restore the wheel to its home in Laxey and on 20 August 2006, the wheel had its official reopening ceremony and began turning for the first time in decades. To mark the occasion of the official opening, and in similarity to its big sister, a piece of music "Snaefell Wheel March" was specially written by Paul Dunderdale for the occasion and performed for the first time by Onchan Silver Band at the opening ceremony, with suitable fanfare. See also Laxey Wheel Great Snaefell Mine References External links The Snaefell Wheel Project Evelyn Jones
St Adamnan's Church, Lonan

St Adamnan's Church (also known as "Lonan Old Church" and originally known in Manx as Keeill ny-Traie, or "the chapel by the shore") is the former parish church of Lonan in the Isle of Man. The church is situated in an isolated position, surrounded by open farmland on the eastern coast of the island, between Groudle Glen and Baldrine. The eastern (and oldest) part of the church has been restored, but it is otherwise in a ruinous, though well-tended, condition. Adomnán was the Abbot of Iona Abbey between 679 and 704. Early history The site on which the church stands is of ancient religious significance. The church yard contains Celtic crosses, the oldest of which dates backs to the 5th century AD - evidence of an early keeill. In about 1190, King Reginald of the Isle of Man gave a grant of the land of Escadala, in the Isle of Man to St Bees Priory, in Cumbria. It is likely that the site of the church was included in the grant, to which fact its subsequent reconstruction and selection as the parish church (despite its remoteness) are attributable. Supersession On 25 June 1733, an Act of Tynwald was passed for the building of a new parish church at Boilley Veen, in a more convenient part of the parish, but the new church was not in fact completed until a hundred years later. This 19th-century church closed in October 2014 owing to lack of funds for maintenance, leaving Lonan without a parish church. Later history St Adamnan's fell into disrepair, but was restored by the Reverend John Quine, who became vicar of Lonan in 1895. The Friends of St Adamnan's were formed in 1968 to keep the old church in good repair and ensure it remained as a working church and historical site. It is one of Registered Buildings of the Isle of Man. References
St Ninian's High School, Douglas

St Ninian's High School (Manx: Schoill Ard Noo Ninian) is a secondary school located in Douglas and Onchan, on the Isle of Man. The School is set over two different sites, catering for different year groups. History The modern institution originated as a 1985 union of previously independent upper and lower schools. The lower dates to 1894, originally based at Park Road in central Douglas. The upper school, Douglas High School for Boys was founded in 1927 at Ballaquayle. Alumni of the high school formed the football club Douglas High School Old Boys A.F.C. A review of secondary education in Douglas in 1985 formed St. Ninians, establishing a new name and uniting the two parts. In 1998, staff member Alex Townsend developed the Manx Telecomputer Bus program, which saw the development of a mobile IT classroom. While primarily aimed at supporting primary schools, the computer bus facilitated a trip to London for St. Ninian's students in 1999. A new location was established for the lower school in 2012- relocating to Bemahague, in Onchan. This was because the Park Road site was falling into disrepair and space for further expansion was limited. The upper school had also become crowded by this time, relying on several mobile classrooms. This necessitated the construction of a new school which could take Park Road's former students as well as one year group from the upper school. Facilities The Upper School campus has received many renovations over its period of existence. It is now much larger than the original construction of the 1920s. Most recently a new Sixth form Centre was built in 2000. Named the Barbra Cottier Centre, it formed a purpose built centre for Sixth Form studies. In 2006 a new dining area and Special Needs centre was built on the site of a central courtyard. The new lower school in Onchan has several tennis courts, playing fields, modern football pitches and a large gymnasium. Notable alumni Samantha Barks – Actress Martin Bridson – Whitehead Professor of Pure Mathematics, University of Oxford Harold Briley – BBC journalist and OBE Christine Collister – Award winning folk, blues and jazz singer-songwriter Peter Craine - Member of the House of Keys Adam Fogerty - Actor, former boxer and rugby league footballer. Oscar Garden - Trailblazing aviator who became known as the ‘Sundowner of the Skies’; being the fourth person to fly solo from England to Australia. Peter Kennaugh – Cyclist and Olympic gold medalist. Frank Kermode – literary critic and professor of English literature Charles Kerruish – First President of Tynwald Nigel Kneale – Best known for the creation of the character Professor Bernard Quatermass Paul Quine - Member of the House of Keys and Commercial Airline Pilot who was in command of the final Manx Airlines flight References External links School website