[From Home Office File HO 98/68]

Bath 7th Jany 1813

Dear Sir

In reply to your favour of the 5th Inst I will state such facts only as are consistent with my own recollection; At the period of the Revestment the present residence of the Lt. Governor on the ramparts of Castle Rushen was an armoury, a storeroom and rooms of public entertainment - it had as well as Peel Castle been the residence of the Derby family, when they visited the Island as its Lords; on the arrival of the Troops after the Revestment, it was cleared repaired & converted into quarters for the Officers, Barracks being at the same time built within the same ramparts for the Troops. Governor Wood the Duke of Atholl's Governor (and continued by the King) had resided and continued to reside in a house distinct from the Castle, the property of the Atholl family & usually denominated the Governor's house - on a temporary residence of Governor Wood with his family [ie off Island] , Capt Hope the officiating Governor & Comr of the troops did not occupy the house vacated by Governor Wood, but the Apartments in Castle Rushen hitherto occupied by the Officers.

His successor Lt Governor Dawson also occupied them & obtained permission to repair & improve them, it has since continued to be kept in repair at the public expence as the dwelling of the Resident Governor or Lt Governor, during the Governmt of General Smith, this house which had been furnished by Lt Govr Dawson, was in that state given up for the accomodation of Governor Smith during his short visits by an amicable arrangement, Lt Governor Dawson always availing himself of these opportunities to visit England.

I wish the above recital may be of any use to you -

Believe me my Dear Sir
Your's faithfully
John Taubman

Notes

The old Governor's house was after the death of Governor Wood converted into the original George Inn but by 1823 the inn was in poor state, the intended rebuilt hotel which became Crown property after the sale of the Duke of Atholl's manorial interests in 1826, was instead repurposed as the Barracks for the troops stationed at Castletown and a new George Hotel built at the other end of the plot.

John Taubman, 1746-1822, at the time was Speaker of the House of Keys and a significant opponent of the Duke of Atholl who had been appointed Governor-in-chief in 1793.