Douglas Head: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 54°08′35″N 4°28′00″W / 54.14306°N 4.46667°W / 54.14306; -4.46667
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
No edit summary
m Typo fixing, typos fixed: reminent → remnant using AWB
Line 5: Line 5:


==General==
==General==
Until 1870, the headland was originally owned by [[The Nunnery, Douglas|The Nunnery]] Estate when Sir John Goldie-Taubman gave part of it to 'the people of Douglas' by donating it to [[Douglas Town Council]]. The headland was a popular area during the Victorian [[tourism]] period with access available via South Quay or by using the 3 steam ferries of [http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/maritime/harbors/dhferry.htm/ Douglas Harbour Ferry]Service.
Until 1870, the headland was originally owned by [[The Nunnery, Douglas|The Nunnery]] Estate when Sir John Goldie-Taubman gave part of it to 'the people of Douglas' by donating it to [[Douglas Town Council]]. The headland was a popular area during the Victorian [[tourism]] period with access available via South Quay or by using the 3 steam ferries of [http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/maritime/harbors/dhferry.htm/ Douglas Harbour Ferry] Service.


==Current Facilities==
==Current Facilities==
Line 13: Line 13:
==Historic Facilities==
==Historic Facilities==
[[Image:Douglas Amphitheatre.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The amphitheatre remains in situ but has been unused for many years]]
[[Image:Douglas Amphitheatre.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The amphitheatre remains in situ but has been unused for many years]]
[[Image:Funicular Douglas Head.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Lower reminent of the funicular railway which ran alongside the stairs to near the Camera Obscura (upper left)]]
[[Image:Funicular Douglas Head.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Lower remnant of the funicular railway which ran alongside the stairs to near the Camera Obscura (upper left)]]
[[Image:Marine Drive.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Marine Drive connects Douglas Head with Port Soderick]]
[[Image:Marine Drive.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Marine Drive connects Douglas Head with Port Soderick]]
* [[Douglas Head Amphitheatre]]
* [[Douglas Head Amphitheatre]]
Line 43: Line 43:
*[http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/ Manx Notebook]
*[http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/ Manx Notebook]
{{coord|54|08|35|N|4|28|00|W|display=title|region:IM_type:landmark}}
{{coord|54|08|35|N|4|28|00|W|display=title|region:IM_type:landmark}}

[[Category:Isle of Man geographical coordinates]]
[[Category:Isle of Man geographical coordinates]]
[[Category:Landforms of the Isle of Man]]
[[Category:Landforms of the Isle of Man]]

Revision as of 14:58, 16 February 2010

The second (and current) Douglas Head lighthouse looking in a southerly direction

Douglas Head is a rocky point on the Isle of Man overlooking Douglas Bay and harbour. Views extend to include Snaefell Mountain and Laxey

General

Until 1870, the headland was originally owned by The Nunnery Estate when Sir John Goldie-Taubman gave part of it to 'the people of Douglas' by donating it to Douglas Town Council. The headland was a popular area during the Victorian tourism period with access available via South Quay or by using the 3 steam ferries of Douglas Harbour Ferry Service.

Current Facilities

Historic Facilities

The amphitheatre remains in situ but has been unused for many years
Lower remnant of the funicular railway which ran alongside the stairs to near the Camera Obscura (upper left)
Marine Drive connects Douglas Head with Port Soderick

Memorials

Douglas Head is home to three memorials:

  • A statue of RNLI founder and Isle of Man resident Sir William Hillary who was the man behind the building of the Tower of Refuge on Conister Rock
  • A large stone anchor is dedicated to the contribution and sacrifice made by Manx people during the Battle of Trafalgar and was placed on the headland marking the bi-centenary of that event
  • A Granite bollard and plinth from the harbourside in the Isle of Whithorn, giving thanks from the families and friends of those lost their lives in the Solway Harvester whose bodies were recovered by the Manx Government contrary to previous maritine tradition

Trivia

  • During the Second World War Douglas Head was the location of a major RADAR station
  • Extensive radar research, development and training of systems and operators took place here
  • Manx Radio, broadcasting from the head, was the first licenced independent station in the British Isles
  • Marine Drive was a toll road, and the impressive arched gateway was the toll gate
  • Evidence of the tramway exists in the landside arch where the overhead cable was attached to the stonework
  • The road runs the full length of Marine Drive however is closed to through traffic due to rock instability
  • Sections of the 1999 film Waking Ned were filmed on Marine Drive

External links

54°08′35″N 4°28′00″W / 54.14306°N 4.46667°W / 54.14306; -4.46667