Bradda Head, Port Erin, and storm-wrecked Breakwater
The Port Erin Breakwater played an important part in 19th century Manx affairs; it was part of a series of improvements for which Tynwald borrowed money from Westminster against future revenues of the Island. Work started at Port Erin in 1864 and harbour dues were levied for the first time. In 1868, it was damaged by a storm, and, in the following year, Governor Loch persuaded an unwilling Tynwald Court into granting a sum of £13,000 to enable the necessary repairs to be done and the breakwater to be completed but by 1870, it had become evident that the dues would not even pay for the maintenance of the breakwater. Under these circumstances, Westminster, on the plea that it had been misled about the amount of dues likely to be received for the use of the harbour, demanded that the Island should be responsible for the whole loan. It admitted that it was legally liable for this amount, but declared that the Manx Legislature was morally liable. The argument raged throughout most of the 1870s, souring the relationship between the Island and Westminster, but was finally settled in 1879. However the breakwater was again damaged in 1882 and was finally destroyed in 1884, after having cost the island £45,600 (and damaged the bay until a later, smaller breakwater was constructed c.1910).
