[from Pigot's Directory, 1837]

PEEL,

WITH THE PARISH OF GERMAN, AND THE VILLAGE OF ST. JOHN’S

PEEL is a small sea-port, in the parish of German, 16 miles from Ramsey, 12 N. of Castletown, 11 N.W. of Douglas, and seven from Kirk-Michael; situate nearly in the centre of the western coast of the island. Thi town, which is composed of five irregular streets and some lanes, is chiefly remarkable for the ruins of its castle and cathedral, which stand on a small islet of rock, about three hundred yards from the town: the walls are flanked with towers, and inclose an area of about two acres, now converted into a sheep-walk; it is supposed to be of higher antiquity than even Castle Rushen and in it some of the early kings of Scotland are said to have received their education; a strong stone wall connects the castle with the main land,

Before the purchase of the royalty of Man this fortress was garrisoned by troops in the pay of the proprietor of the island; and the natives have a tradition that a black dog, called in their language 'Moddey Doo' used to present himself every night before before the fire to the consternation of the guard; on this old tradition Sir Walter Scott has founded his allusion in the 'Lay of the last Minstrel,’ to the 'spectre hound of Man.’ (The appearance of the castle from the south shore, is faithfully displayed in the vignette, on the map of the island, which embeillishes this work). The cathedral of St. Germain was erected about the year 1245, and the remaining arches of the transept sufficiently sufficiently testify its former magnicence. This islet likewise contains the ruins of a church dedicated to to St Patrick, besides the fragments of other structures. The port has the convenience of a good quay, erected with a lighthouse at its extremity ; and a jetty of substantial masonry was constructed in 1830, by the commissioners of the harbour, as a protection from the heavy swell of the Irish sea. The herring fishery may be considered the staple business of Peel ;there however, several other branches of some consequence, as two breweries, a tanyard, boat-building yards, and a corn-mill ; the town also possesses an excellent well established inn,called the ‘Peel Castle.’

The places of worship are the parish church, and chapels for Wesleyan and primitive methodists : the church stands in the western part of the town, and is dedicated to St. Peter, was rebuilt in 1816 ; the living is a vicarage, in the gift of the bishop. The grammar-school of Peel was endowed so early as 1746, and the mathematical school was founded in 1763; there is also, another seminary, supported by funds bequeathed by Philip Christian, in 1654, for educational purposes. The neighbourhood of Peel is very pleasant, and contains many respectable family mansions, some surrounded by fine timber. Parties of pleasure to the mountain-torrent fall of Glenmoij , three miles to the south-west, are frequent, particularly on the arrival of visiters to this part of the Isle. The rocks along the southern shore are in some places hollowed into caves by the incessant operations of the sea; and on the northern strand agates and comnelians, fit for seals and brooches, are occasionally picked up, A weekly market is held on Saturday, and an annual fair for cattle on the 28th of March.

GERMAN parish is situate in the sheading of Glanfaba, on the western and southern coast of the island; it extends about four miles and a half from north to south, and three and a half from east to west; the surface is much diversified with hills and valleys, the latter very fertile and productive.

ST. JOHN’S is a small village, three miles east of Peel and seven west of Douglas, consisting of a few houses skirting the spacious green on which stands the Tynwald mount, whence every law is promulgated to the people: the form of the mount is circular; it is about eighteen feet high, and appears like three platforms of earth placed one above another, the uppermost being attained by a flight of Steps cut in the turf on the eastern side. The places of worship are St. John’s chapel, situate on the border of the green, and a Wesleyan chapel at its western end. Fairs are annually held here, for cattle, on the 17th of March, 1st of May, 5th of July, and 1st of November.

POST OFFICE, PEEL, Leonora Munn, Post Mistress.—Letters to and from DOUGLAS and all ports are despatched and arrive (by foot post) daily in summer; in winter they are despatched every Tuesday and Friday afternoon in time for the steam packet, and arrive the same morning at ten.

GENTRY AND CLERGY.

Adamson Mr. Law, Northop
Blake Mr.Jonathan, Laurel bank
Burman Mr. James, Norfolk place
Burn Lieut. Henry W. Strand
Carran Mr.Thos. C.P Customhouse st
Clucas Mrs.Catherine, Patrick st
Cowll Miss Margt. Marine cottage
Crause Mr. Charles, Banff place
Gell Elizabeth, Kennaa
Gelling Rev. James, Big st
Glew Major Joseph B. Peel cottage
Greaves Mrs.Sarah,Mount Morrison
Griffith Mrs. Ellen, Patrick St
Hancock Mr Sampson, Douglas st
Hinton Mr. Edward, Marine cottage
Hinton Mrs Eleanor,Marine cottage
Hodgson Mr. Isaac, Patrick st
Hutchinson Mr. Henry, Strand st
Kelly Mrs. Eleanor, Big st
Lee Capt David, Douglas st
Mackey Mr.William, Mount Grace
Moore Mr. John, Strand St
Moore Mr. Robert John, Michael st
Morrison Mr John, Mount Morrison
Qualtraugh Rev.Edward, Douglas St ,
Warren Mrs.Margaret, Strand st
Wimberley Miss Mary Ann,Strand st

ACADEMIES AND SCHOOLS.

GRAMMAR SCHOOL, Quay—Rev. James Gelling, master
Kneale Margaret, Patrick st
MATHEMATICAL SCHOOL, Michael street - Joseph Dodd, master
PAROCHIAL SCHOOL, St. John’s—. Hugh Cannell, master
Quine Thomas, Strand

ADVOCATES.

Frissell Edward Henry, Duck st
Gelling John Dominic, Big st
Kinley William (& notary) Duck St
Llewellyn John (and high bailiff)Patrick st

BAKERS.

Callister David, Duck st ,
Cowlay John, Market st
Clucas Hugh, Douglas st
Holmes Samuel, Big st.

BLACKSMITHS.

Christian Aeneas Glenbrough Ah
Cowlay John, Michael St
Kelly Henry, Patrick St
Quayle Robert, Largydhoo
Shimmin Thomas, Douglas St

BOAT BUILDERS.

Archibald Caesar, Strand
Cannell William, Strand
Cottier William, Strand
Faraker Charles, Strand
Graves Thomas J. Douglas st
Quiggin William & John, Quay
White William, Douglas st

BOOT & SHOE MAKERS.

Clucas Henry, Bridge st
Clucas Hugh, Glynmoar
Dawson William, Douglas st
Farraker Robert, Strand
Killey William, Strand
Quine Thomas, Lambfell
Wade Robert, Douglas st

BREWERS.

Clark Philip, Customhouse st
Oates Michael, Quay

BUTCHERS.

Caig Thomas, Douglas st
Cottier John, Michael st

COOPERS.

Calvin Stephen, Quay
Cottier William, Strand
Garrett William, Michael st
Greggor George, Strand

DYERS.

Garratt Thomas, Michael st
Killey Ann & Co. (and woollen millers) Ballakilley
Quayle William (& woollen miller) Cragwilleysell

FARMERS.

Cain Caesar, Ballagew
Cain Daniel, Ballanea
Cain Thomas, Largyhoo
Cain Thomas, Ballavinch
Cain William, Bark
Cannell John, Ballakinahanmoar
Cannell John, Ballakinahanbeg
Cannell Margaret, Kerooglass
Clark John, Ballaillin
Cowin James, Ballakilmoyr
Cowlay Richard, Cronkbuddon
Cowlay Thomas, Ballaleece
Crellin Caesar, Knockbreck
Crellin John, Brackabroom
Crellin John, Mona
Crellin John, Knockbreck
Crellin William, Beary
Crellin William. Starvey
Falder John R. Kew
Fargher Philip, Largydoo
Garrett Philip, Kew
Gellan Thomas, Marygerr
Grant Robert, Kerrownyglough
Hampton Robert, Kerooglass
Kaighin John, Ballakaighin
Kelly John, Ballacnriy
Kermode John, White Strand
Killey William, Lambfell
Killip James, Cronkavaddy
Kilsey Charles, Marygerr
Kneale John, Kew
Moore John Stevens, Largydhoo
Mylchreest Thomas, Ballagaraghyn
Quay Charles, Glynmoar
Quine Thomas, Lambfell
Quine William, Kennaa
Sayle Charles, Ballaquine
Sayle Henry, Cronkakilly
Sayle John, Naryvegg
Shimnin John, Ballabuigh
Shimnin John, Ballacross
Trainer William, Ballanayre
Wattleworth Cnsar, Ballaquayle
Woods William, Knockshary

FISH CURERS.

Corris John, Douglas St
Cottier William, Strand
Graves Thomas J. Douglas St
Higgins Robert, Big st

GROCERS AND SPIRIT DEALERS.

(See also Shopkeepers, &c)
Blackley David, Douglas st
Crellin John, Strand
Farrant Isabella, Market place
Garratt Margaret, Market st
Higgins Robert, Big st
King John, Big st
Munn Jane, Strand
Oates Michael (and ironmonger) Douglas st
Pickels Nathan (and ironmonger) Michael St
Thompson Robert, Big st
Wattleworth John, Strand

HOTEL,

Peel Castle, Margaret Thomas (and livery stable keeper and bathing house proprietor) Market place

JOINERS.

Carran Thomas, Strand
Clark Thomas, Duck st
Cowley Joseph, Big st
Garrett John, Michael st
Keown John, Strand
Wattleworth Thomas, Quay

LINEN AND WOLLEN DRAPERS.

Christian Mary, Market place & at Ramsey–Chs. Christian,manager
Wilson Thomas & John, Big st

LODGING HOUSES.

Pickels Nathan, Michael st
Taubman Thomas, Customhouse St

MASONS.

Gill John, Michael St
Leece William, Michael St
Quale Charles, Douglas st

MILLERS.

Clucas Hugh, Peel mill
Gelling John, Cragwilleysell

 SHOPKEEPERS & DEALERS IN SUNDRIES.

Cowin Ann, Bridge st
Cowin Margaret, Michael st
Cowle Henry, Big st
Keighan Eleanor, Michael St
Kelly Margaret, Bridge St
Looney Patience, Market st
Roney Henry, Michael st

SURGEONS.

Christian Nicholas S. Market St
Moses Joseph William (and agent for the clerical and medical life office) Peel
Sale Thomas, Douglas st

TAILORS.

Archibald William, Market place
Farraker William, Strand

TANNERS AND CURRIERS.

Corris John and Caesar (& leather cutters) Douglas street

TAVERNS & PUBLIC HOUSES.

Cain Thomas,
Cain William, Big St
Clucas Catherine, Market place
Clucas Catherine, Patrick St
Clucas Hugh, Glynmoar
Clucas Mary, Market st
Corken Thomas, Quay
Corlet Thomas, Strand
Cottier John, Michael st
Cottier John, Market st
Cowley Thomas, Big st
Crellin Hugh, Quay
Crellin Thomas, Douglas St
Cubbon Thomas (& keeper of horses and gigs for hire) Big street
Garratt Thomas, Market place
Greggor George, Strand
Hampton Matthias, Cragwilleysell
Hastie Wm. (Royal Mail) St.Johns
Holmes John, Big st
Keig Thomas, Michael st
Kermode Paul, Big St
Kewin Ann, Big st
Killip James, Knocksharry
Morrison John, Strand
Mylrae Basil, Bridge st
Oates Ann, Douglas St
Potter Charles, St. John's
Quilliam Jane, Michael st
Shimmin Daniel, Strand
Watson Samuel (Temperance) St.John's

TIMBER MERCHANTS.

Quiggin William and Co. (and ship chandlers) Quay – Robert Cottier, manager

WATCH & CLOCK MAKERS.

Cottier John, Market St
Higgin John, Big st

Miscellaneous.

Clarke Rbt. road surveyor,Customhouse st
Clucas Ann and Harriet, dress and straw hat makers, Bridge st
Clucas Hugh, coroner of Glenfarba, Big st
Clucas Philip parish clerk, Michael st
Cool James, chief constable, Michael st
Corkin Thomas, sail maker, Big st
Cottier Robert, manager to William Quiggin and Co, Quay
Cowle William, constable, Patrick st
Cubbon Thomas, constable, Big st
Garratt John, saddler, Douglas st
Graves Thos.Joshua, sail maker, Douglas st
Jones Richard, fire office agent, Michael st
Moore William.hairdresser, Market place
Morrison John, druggist, Douglas st
Morrison Thomas, hat maker, Big st
Quayle Wm. woollen miller, Cregwilleywell
Smyth Michael, tinsmith, Patrick st

CUSTOM HOUSE

Collector and Landing Suveyor - Patrick Carran
Comptroller, Landing Waiter &c, Thos Cubbon
Tide Waiters & Boatmen - Thos Hewison and John Kermod

PLACES OF WORSHIP

ST. PETER'S CHURCH, Market place. Rev. James Gelling
ST. JOHN'S CHAPEL Rev. John Gell and Rev Isaac De Blois Winslow
PRIMITIVE METHODIST Michael St
WESLEYAN METHODIST Stand
WESLEYAN METHODIST Greeba
WESLEYAN METHODIST St John's
WESLEYAN METHODIST WhiteStrand

CARRIERS

To DOUGLAS, William Murray & Torry Fitzpatrick, every Monday, Wednesday & Friday–John Casement; every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday - & Thos Craig,every Wednesday and Saturday

CONVEYANCE BY WATER

To WHITEHAVEN, the Patrick, the George Scott, & the Brothers, occasionally


 

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Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received The Editor
HTML Transcription © F.Coakley , 2001