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11 - INDUSTRIES
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MINING AND MANUFACTURING
Metalworking The existence of metal ores led to metalworking
on a modest scale owing to the lack of indigenous fuel
supplies. There is indicative evidence of this activity in
the Dark Ages. Smelting was apparently carried out on a
commercial scale from at least 1668 and possibly earlier.
The Derbyhaven smelthouse at SC285673 dates from c.1710.
These premises evidently housed a foundry and other
metal-working equipment as the owner, Mr John Murray,
produced the first Manx coins&emdash;later made legal tender
by an Act of Tynwald. Another foundry for coining was set up
later within Castle Rushen for the 1733 coin issue. From the
middle of the 19th century there were several commercial
foundries in Douglas, the most important being Gelling's
Foundry, formed in 1803 and whose premises on South Quay
produced a very wide range of builders', marine,
agricultural and ornamental brass and ironwork. This
included cast iron kitchen ranges and fireplaces, mining and
mill gears, name plates and street furniture, even firebars
for IoM Steam Packet (presumably before they set up their
own foundry) and the cast rim of the Laxey Wheel. Gelling's
Foundry finally closed in 1964. The firm's retail premises
in Victoria Street (complete with large Statue of Queen
Victoria) were acquired in 1928 and vacated, sold and
demolished in 1989. The only foundry still in production in
the Island is the IoM Steam Packet's Fort Street engineering
works, Douglas.
BRICKMAKING
The earliest
examples of fired claywork consists of galena-glazed tiles
from the Rushen Abbey site, evidently dating from the 16th
century. A new brickworks at Castletown was recorded in 1692
and a preserved example of its products is at Castle Rushen,
but the site of the brickworks itself is uncertain. In more
recent times a brickfield was listed at Red Gap near
Scarlett in 1826.
Whilst there were
several suitable deposits of glacial clay for brick making,
the shortage of local fuel and an excessive lime content
severely discouraged production of high quality bricks, but
by 1832 a kiln was in production at Mona Terrace, Douglas,
on a site later occupied by the "House of Industry" or Poor
Law Workhouse, and from 1865 a brickworks was in production
at Ballanard, Onchan. A further brickworks was built at
Ballacorey, Andreas (SC433988) and was in production in
1851. Work ceased at the site during World War I but resumed
after major re-equipment in 1925; for reasons unknown this
venture proved very short-lived and the works closed down
again in 1926. Significant remains can be found on the site.
Other brickfields existed at Regaby Veg, St Judes, West
Craig, St John's, Ballawyllin and Peel. The Glenfaba Brick
Co (1927) Ltd was responsible for brick production from the
formation of its predecessors in 1866 until 1965 when the
declining quality of the clayfield at the foot of Peel Hill
necessitated a changeover to a form of concrete brick or
building block. Similar products, together with a large
range of precast concrete goods are also manufactured by
Readimix (IoM) Ltd using some of the ex-RAF buildings at
Jurby (SC355985) and other important manufacturers in this
field include Rural Industries Ltd at Braddan,
SC362773.
LIME
Lime burning on a commercial scale was first recorded at
Ballahot in the early 19th century, with later kilns at
Derbyhaven and Billown. A large number of purely local kilns
was subsequently built and a number may still be seen in
varying stages of disuse. The Scarlett kilns date from 1808;
Port St Mary 1822, and Ballasalla 1829. Two kilns were in
use at South Quay, Douglas prior to 1833. Amongst those
surviving in recognisable form are: Monk's Bridge,
Ballasalla, Cornaa (SC474877) and Groudle
(SC421783).
OCHRE &
UMBER
The Ballasalla
flax mill (SC248708) was converted into an Ochre and Umber
works about 1853. The source of the ochre is not known.
Umber, however was found at several sites, including a pit
near Billown (SC268702) but this was superceded by another
outcrop at SC277712 by around 1848. This was superceded by
another outcrop at SC2777712 by around 1848. The material
was also mined at Maughold Head. The mill at Ballasalla
which also produced "Roman Cement" and polishing powders,
closed about 1898 and was converted into a private
dwelling.
SALT &
CHEMICALS
The Island's established fish processing industry consumed
very large quantities of salt, all of which had to be
imported at considerable cost, until substantial salt
deposits were discovered in the Triassic marls of the Ayres
plain by interests which were seeking coal
measures.
The salt deposits were
subsequently tapped, pumped and piped along a foreshore
pipeline to Ramsey. There, the Manx Salt & Alkali Co set
up a processing plant at the old Ramsey Shipyard about 1901.
Large quantities were processed and as well as meeting local
requirements, a considerable export trade developed . The
firm owned and operated its own steamer "MANXONIA" for these
purposes. As large-scale production got under way elsewhere,
notably the Salt Union and Brunner Mond (later Imperial
Chemical Industries) in the Northwich area, the Ramsey plant
grew progressively less economic and closed down just prior
to World War II.
A number of plants and
mills in the Island processed inorganic chemicals for local
use, including the now ruinous Glen Auldyn chemical works at
SC432931. A substantial and suitably isolated explosives
plant was begun near Cornaa beach in 1890 for the
manufacture of Bellite; following local objections to the
activities of the Swedish concern work on the premises
abruptly ceased, leaving the half-finished remains at
SC471884. Bellite production was established elsewhere, and
for over fifty years was the most popular and commonly used
explosive in mines and quarries; its characteristic
slow-burning meant that the material was not smashed up by
the explosion but rent apart. Bellite was available as a
blasting powder in four variants.
FISH
PROCESSING
From as early as the 13th century herring fishing was a
vital Manx industry and the associated processes of salting,
packing or smoking the fish grew from origins in the 18th
century. By 1800 annual Manx production of "Red Herrings"
was running at about 150,000 barrels and by 1826 the Island
had a fleet of 250 trawlers. A major consumer of Manx Red
Herrings was America, where vast quantities were used to
feed plantation slaves.
About the middle of
the 19th century a split, smoked fish known as a "kipper"
was introduced and eventually replaced the red herring
almost completely. By 1883 perhaps a quarter of the Island's
population was engaged in fishing and fish processing. Since
World War II the Island's fishing industry has seriously
declined, but kippering still accounts for a significant
proportion of the insular fish trade. This now also includes
scallop dredging, queenies and freezing plants.
The first smoke houses
for red herrings were erected in 1769; others at Port St
Mary (1770) Douglas and Derbyhaven (1771) and elsewhere
followed. The latterday centre for fishing and kippering is
Peel.
POTATO
PROCESSING
The Island's extensive potato crops resulted in a
substantial surplus from the early years of the 19th
century, and this was normally exported. As time went on
additional uses for this surplus were found, usually
consisting of starch manufacture and potato
processing.
A former woollen mill
was converted and operated as the Sulby Glen Starch Works
(at SC381934) by a Manchester firm in 1846; this continued
to thrive until it was run down and closed at the turn of
the century. The mill produced the starch from local
potatoes, using up to 50 tons per day. In addition the firm
also manufactured cornflour from maize, with the residue
being sold as pig food. An additional or perhaps associated
starch manufacturer was listed in Lezayre in
1957.
Another use for
surplus potatoes was found and exploited by the Douglas
Patent Preserved Potato Co, in premises on South Quay,
Douglas. This product was primarily intended for shipboard
use on long voyages, but eventually attained a widespread
general sale. In 1846 the old Howe Brewery on South Quay was
converted into a plant manufacturing farina (a type of
semolina) from potatoes. Preserved potatoes were sold in
large quantities to the Royal Navy. The Douglas Patent
Preserved Potato works ceased to trade at about the time of
the First World War, and little today remains of this
precursor of the present-day "instant potato"
industry.
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TANNERIES
From early times local tanneries (often combined with
brewing, leather working or even boat-building) provided
local needs and requirements. Bark for tanning was
available, particularly from two bark mills, one at
Ballasalla and the other at Glen Tramman. Over twenty
tanneries were at work by the early 19th century; Thomas
Cain's Tannery with premises at Well Road Hill, Douglas from
at least 1843 until well into the present century. The old
buildings and the distinctive chimney were finally
obliterated by the new "Chester Street Redevelopment" of the
1970s and the industry is now extinct.
PAPERMAKING
This trade was apparently introduced from Ireland during the
18th century with the first paper mill as such being built
in Malew. Further commercial development was largely in the
hands of "comeovers" from Cumbria who set up new mills at
Ballabeg, Braddan and at Tromode. The Isle of Man Paper Mill
Co was evidently in business at Woolside Mill, Ballaoates in
1809; in 1816 a new paper mill was constructed by John
Gelling at Ballamillaghyn and known as the Baldwin Vale
Paper Mill. Papermaking was also an important industry in
Laxey (with its abundant water power) and the Laxey Paper
Mill, of substantial size, eventually became the power
station of the Manx Electric Railway, and can still be seen
in Glen Road, converted to other uses. The papermaking
industry in the Island was extinct by 1890.
FULLING
By the end of the 19th century the Island's handloom weavers
relied on mechanical fulling, for which a significant number
of water-powered mills existed, although a number of them
were operated as part of other milling
operations.
WOOLLEN
MILLS
A number of mills combined all the operations involved
within one mill or mill complex. Wool from hill sheep was an
industry producing a significant surplus from an early date
and the Island's woollen mills, which dated from the end of
the 17th century, produced flannel and tweed, drugget and
blankets, rugs and stockings from about that time. William
Kelly's "Union Mills" at SC354778 were erected before 1807;
Southward's Sulby Woollen Mills (which later became the
starch works referred to above) at SC381934 were built about
1830; the same family operated another woollen mill which
was in use until much later.
The St George's Mills
at Laxey (SC434844) and the Tynwald Mills at St John's
(SC283824) are noteworthy and are still in production. The
premises at Laxey were specifically built in accordance with
the economic and social philosophies of John Ruskin and
William Morris, by Egbert Rydings. The Tynwald Mills consist
of a group formerly under diverse but co-operative
ownership; the present mill building dates from
1920.
COTTON
A cotton printing mill was in existence at Port-e-Chee,
Douglas before 1772; production ceased about 1780 and no
trace now remains. Another early cotton mill, with
water-powered spinning frames, was built at Ballasalla
(SC275696) by 1780. Production ceased about 1818.
FLAX AND
LINEN
Flax and linen mills quickly developed significant
production: by 1767 over 100,000 yards were being exported
from the Island annually. Spinning and weaving became
concentrated at Moore's Tromode Works, which produced a wide
range of finished goods, from high quality sailcloth to
household items, for very many years. This particular
concern was unique in the Island in providing an industrial
housing estate at Cronkbourne (SC372778) which has survived
almost unchanged, at least superficially. The mill complex,
powered by an overshot waterwheel and a 16" x 36" single
cylinder stand-by steam engine was the earliest user of
electric power, using a Crompton dynamo installed in 1882
and which partly superceded the firm's own gasworks. Moore's
Tromode Works ceased production of linen in 1905. Part of
this site later became Clucas's Laundry and a tannery; more
recently it has acquired the style of a small industrial
estate, with premises accommodating motor vehicle repairers,
a major haulage firm and others.
GRAIN AND FEED
MILLING
Apart from the very early Norse-type horizontal mills, some
of which survived into relatively recent times, the Island's
mills fell into two groups. The first consists of the
smaller 'upland' mills, built and used primarily to serve
the needs of the locality, and of which the Cornaa Mill
(SC465898) was an early, important and excellent example
until it was turned into a dwelling house about 1951. The
second group comprised the "Town Mills" which were
responsible for production on a much larger scale, and the
earliest of which is probably the Meadow Mill Castletown.
Dating from the 15th century and fed by twin water wheels
(which were eventually superceded by 35hp electric motors in
the 1930s) and restoration of what later became known as the
"Golden Meadow Mill" was carried out by Tony O'Sullivan in
the 1980s. There is a large range of these mills that have
survived, although no longer used in their original role.
The only mill in full current production is the large and
impressive Laxey Glen Mills, built by Richard Rowe whose
crest it still bears, and which was taken over by the IoM
Government at the end of Corlett's ownership in order to
maintain a milling facility in the Island.
BREWING &
MINERAL WATERS
Commercial brewing of alcoholic beverages began with
individual ale houses, each of which was individually
licensed and controlled under Statute of 1576. By 1793 there
were 18 breweries, and 23 by 1837. Clinch's Lake Brewery at
the top of Douglas Harbour was opened in 1779; it ultimately
passed into the hands of Ind Coope in 1948 and was later
redeveloped into an office and shopping complex.
After the turn of the
century the numbers of individual breweries sharply declined
and by 1914 only five were in production, although each of
these was involved on a fairly large scale. The Castle
Rushen or Castletown Brewery, built in 1830 was taken over
by Boddingtons in 1904; Okell's Falcon Brewery in Douglas,
built in 1857 by William Okell was acquired by Heron &
Brierley, formed in 1898, in 1945. Heron & Brierley was
partly owned by Bass-Charrington, and all the breweries and
bottling stores were closed down and replaced by a new plant
operated by Isle of Man Breweries at White Hoe, near Douglas
in the 1980s. One new brewery, "Bushy's" was opened
independently in recent times.
The brewing of
non-alcoholic ginger beer, soda and other mineral water
production began on a commercial scale about 1850 with a
substantial number of individual manufacturers, many of them
being purely local in character and supply. By 1972 only
four were still in business, namely Downward's, Irvings
(Peel)' Kelly's and Qualtrough's. Of these Downward was
merged with Qualtrough as part of the SmithKline
Beecham-Glaxo group and is now the only survivor of the
industry.
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