Manx Organisations, Publishers and Bookshops

These web pages give details of various Manx Publishers, both past and current, Manx Organisations which have interests in things antiquarian, and Island Bookshops

Organisations

• Manx Museum and National Trust
• Centre for Manx Studies
• Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society
• Fraueyn as Banglaneyn - Isle of Man Family History Society
• Manx Methodist Historical Society
• Isle of Man Victorian Society
• Yn Cheshaght Ghailckagh

Mann-based Publishers

Current

• Amulree Publications
• Chiollagh Books
• Manx Experience
• Manx Museum and National Trust
• Manx-Svenska Press
• Shearwater Publications
• Personal and Noncommercial Publishers

Historic

• Manx Society for the Publication of National Documents
• Yn Cheshaght Ghailckagh - Manx Language Society - later Manx Society

Bookshops - including Secondhand/Antiquarian

All unless indicated will provide a mail-order business; the main bookshops will also accept credit cards. The recommendations are based on personal experience - having dealt with, I think, all the main bookshops on the Island I can recommend them for friendly and efficient service.

• Garrett's Antiquarian Books
  Owner Mr & Mrs. John Hall; Specialist Antiquarian/secondhand; generally has a good selection of Manx Interest especially out-of-print books.
  Now mail order - webpage www.isleofmanbooks.com
  email garrettsbooks_iom@yahoo.co.uk
  Tel +44(0) 1624 844654.
• Lexicon Bookshop
  Long established General Bookseller. Has well stocked Manx Interest Section; see webpage www.LexiconBookshop.co.im
  63 Strand Street
  Douglas IM1 2RL
  tel +44(0) 1624 673004
• Mannin Collections Ltd. (Alan Kelly) Specialist dealers in Isle of Man items since 1972 with a large stock of antiquarian Manx books, paintings, maps, prints, china, coins and banknotes. Mainly mail order, open 10-4pm Saturdays, but will see callers by appointment at other times.
  5 Castle Street
  Peel IM5 1AN
  Tel +44(0) 1624 843897 Fax +(0) 1624 844219 Mobile +(0) 7624 492526 email <manncoll@advsys.co.uk>)
• Manx Museum Bookshop
  A well stocked selection of Manx Interest; generally issues a list of books stocked.
  Heritage Shop
  Manx Museum
  Douglas IM1 3LY
  tel +44(0)1624 675522 (ask for shop)
• St Pauls Bookshop Ramsey
  General Bookseller. Has well stocked Manx Interest section as well as a selection of antiquarian Manx interest books from OldManxBooks
  St Pauls Square
  Ramsey, IM8 1LA
  contact <oldmanxbooks@manx.net> for details re second hand Manx-interest books.
• Bridge Bookshop - Port Erin
  General Bookseller Has well stocked Manx Interest section.
  Bridge Bookshop
  Shore Road
  Pt Erin, IM9 6HL
  Tel:+(0)1624 833376
• Jurby Junk - Jurby Industrial Estate
  Not strictly a bookshop and provides no mail order service; however personal callers with the time to browse within its large bins of books will usually find something of interest.

Webpages

There are many thousands Manx related sites - try Manx Interest pages.

Two bulletin boards are:
Manx Forum and
Manx Genealogy Bulletin Board

The Manx Government has an excellent site at http://www.gov.im which acts as a portal to many other manx information sites..

Other websites with interests in the area covered by these web pages are:

• Phil Kelly's Manx Gaelic is the largest electronic collection of manx texts - including a 'teach yourself Manx'
• Manx Gaelic Studies - actually a somewhat broader set of pages constructed by Stephen Miller with much excellent discussion on the decline and possible resurrection of the Manx tongue. Also includes other topics of historical interest.
  One slight drawback is that you will need an Acrobat reader (.pdf files) and the various files are often optimised for 'house style' than for fast download!
• Manx Music Another excellent set of pages by Fenella Bazin (of Centre for Manx Studies) placing Manx Music in its historical context.
  • West gallery music gives a detailed look at some Manx Music Documents.
• Family Names Pages: These are references to specific family name pages with some Manx Connection - I have been loathe to include many of these as I have found the 'churn' in privately held pages to be high such that links often become unavailable.
  • Donna Douglas's site offers many Manx Family History Links

Organisations

Manx Museum and National Trust

The Manx equivalent of the British Museum, National Art Gallery and British Library all rolled into a single organisation! Founded in 1886.
Its main site in Douglas occupies what was Noble's Hospital, opened in 1886 and converted to house the Museum in 1922. The Library, which houses a priceless collection of documents, is housed in a 1960 extension to the building, giving five floors of Library Stacks.
The Manx National Trust was founded in 1951, modeled on the National Trust for England and Wales, with which it has reciprocal free entry for members. It took over from the Trustees for Ancient Monuments founded in 1905. Most of the Trust's sites are open areas: the main site being the Calf, others being Spanish Head, St Michael's Isle, Maughold Head and Eary Cushlin.
The two key Historical Sites of St Patrick's Isle and Castle Rushen also fall under its ambit. Other museum sites operated are Cregneash (the first 'Open Air' Folk Museum in Britain); the Nautical Museum, Castletown and the Grove Museum, Ramsey.
The House of Mannanan in Peel, opened July 1997, is the latest jewel in their crown - a modern 'Heritage Centre' on the site of the old Peel Railway Station and awarded British Museum of the Year for 1998.

The Manx Museum and National Trust
Douglas
Isle of Man IM1 3LY
Tel +(0)1624 648000; Fax 648001

Publishes an extensive list of guides.
Until 1980 published Journal of Manx Museum

Centre for Manx Studies

Part of Liverpool University which has had a long standing relationship with the Island via its Port Erin Marine Biology station, with links to the Department of Education and the Manx National Heritage.
Originally intended to provide an Island base for Manx Studies it now has taken over some of the academic work previously performed under the auspices of the Museum.
Organises lectures and study weekends on the Island,.

Recently started to publish a series of Monographs under the Liverpool University Press imprint.

Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society

Fraueyn as Banglaneyn -- Isle of Man Family History Society

Founded 1979. Publishes quarterly Journal - see Index and copies of journal held on this website.
Has extensive list of publications of Memorial Inscriptions, Burial Registers and indexed 1851 and 1881 census records.
See Webpage for addresses etc. of current membership secretaries.

Isle of Man Victorian Society

Founded 1979 to encourage interest in Victorian and Edwardian Aspects of Island Life.
Publishes quarterly Newsletter;

Hon Secretary
Mrs. R. Kelly
52 Alberta Drive
Onchan

Manx Methodist Historical Society

The Manx Methodist Historical Society, founded 1971, issues a newsletter approximately twice per year, though publication dates are rather erratic. See Index and copies of journal held on this website. Also publishes a series of small booklets.

Yn Cheshaght Ghailckagh - Manx Gaelic Society

Yn Cheshaght Ghailckagh aims to:-

• encourage the study of Manx
• inform public opinion about Manx
• encourage Manx speakers to use the language habitually and to teach it to their children including facilities for teaching Manx in schools
• publish books, etc., in and on Manx
• encourage Manx music and songs in Manx

See Webpage - publications available through Amulree

Publishers - Current

Amulree Publications

Run by Bill Snelling. Concentrates on Motorcycle related topics though has produced a growing number of 'heritage' books relating to Peel. Will supply Manx interest books etc. from other publishers. See webpage
Amulree Publications
Lossan y Twoaie,
Glen Road,
Laxey, IM4 7AN
Telephone: +(0)1624 862238; Fax: 862298

Chiollagh Books

Owned and run by Stephen Miller
Specialises in folklore and folk-songs - so far publications have been reprinted collections.
Some titles are 'publish on request'.

Manx Experience

Currently the major publisher on the Island with about 5 new titles/year and an extensive backlist. Mainly 'heritage' subjects published in soft cover. Issues a catalogue. at . e-mail mail@manxexperience.co.uk .

Tel +(0)1624 627727, Fax 01624 663627,

Manx-Svenska Publishing Company Ltd.

Founded and run by the late G.V.C. ('Barney') Young in mid 1980's.
Published around 30 books, generally soft back, with emphasis on Norse Period and Historical Biographies.
Most authored by Mr Young.
No longer active but some titles still available via bookshops.

Shearwater Press

The second such press with this name. The original, based in Douglas, published on a wider range of topics, and also published Manx Life. However overextension led to the closure of the press and its sale.
The new owners published a smaller number of Manx topics - however it has not produced produced any new book sin the last few years and the name has now been transferred to The Manx Experience

Manx Heritage Foundation

The Manx being somewhat independent, continue to show this trait in publishing! Many books are privately published by the author - obviously the ease of distribution within the small island makes this easier than in the UK.
Some financial assistance, as well as editorial checking, is provided by the Manx Heritage Foundation.

Personal and/or Noncommercial Presses

A short list of those that have published more than the single book is:

• Cashtal Books 3, Perveril Road, Peel; Imprint of Leslie Quilliam
• Friends of Port St Mary, Mrs. Kate Rodgers, Cronk Airh, The Promenade, Port St Mary IM9 5DE; published a number of books (some cookbooks) mostly dealing with Heritage in Rushen.
• Hospice Care, Dorothy Pantin House, Kensington Road, Douglas; published a few books (all excellent) by Dr Guy Pantin on various Medical/Historic topics
• Manx Academic Press, 13 Rheast Mooar Close, Ramsey IM8 3LT; David Speers (published on Manx Traditional Music and Dance).
• Manx Associated Publications 9 Seaview Road, Onchan; Robert Kelly (Postal services)
• Moods of Mann - Manx Art: web site <www.moods.co.uk>

Publishers - Historic

Manx Society

Founded in 1858. Set up for the sole function of funding the editing and publication of various historic documents.
Published some 33 volumes - see List

Yn Cheshaght Ghailckagh - Manx Language Society

Formed 1899. See report of the Origin of the Society. Changed its name to Manx Society in 1913.
Published many books, in English as well as Manx, concerned with Manx Language and Manx folklore. Possibly its best publication was Mannin

In the 1920's published J.J.Kneen's Place Names of the Isle of Man. Seemed to become moribund afterwards, though a newly revived society still publishes.