The original name was Lorn House - the use of Lorne is a modern
change.
The original name was Lorn House - the use of Lorne is a modern
change.
The land was sold by John Taubman of nearby Bowling Green House,
to Captain Fitzgerald in 1727; his widow resold it to the Taubman
family in 1757. It is possible that it is built on the site of a
keeill, though no
visible remains have been noted. The 1863 O/S shows 'Site of Chapel'
however the Manx Archaelogical Report (6th Report) comes to no
definite conclusion noting that lintel graves have been discovered in
the neighbourhood but possibly too far away to be linked.
Christian Taubman and her new husband Colonel Cunninghame came to live there early in the 19th century and his widow extended the house c.1827 after his death in 1825. The architect for these alterations was almost certainly Thomas Brine - much of the work bears a strong resemblence to his other work in Castletown. However in 1834 the house was empty following the deaths of his widow (1832) and son, and available for rent to the new Lt Governor Colonel John Ready. The Lt Governor's previous lodging in Castle Rushen had been needed for extensions to the Courthouse. The political situation had also changed in that with the final sale by the Duke of Atholl there was no longer a Governor and presumeably the Lt Governor felt that better housing was appropriate to the change in status. It was the non-continuation of the lease to Governor Piggott in 1860 that started the move to Douglas.
From 1931 it was used as a Christian Endeavour holiday home.
Since 1972 it has been used as the offices for an investment company
who also altered the frontage. They have also restored several of the
outbuildings - an annual 'open day' event allows a limited public
access.
P.J.Hulme, Goverment Houses in the Isle of Man
[1990] Douglas:The Manx Experience
J.R.Bruce, Manx Archaelogical Survey 6th Report
1966 1968 Douglas:Manx Museum and National Trust
Ronald Buchanan and Leighton Stowell, Notes on Lorne House,
Castletown 2nd Ed 1995 Castletown: Lorne House Trust Ltd
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Any comments, errors or omissions
gratefully received The
Editor |
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