Foxdale's Proud Heritage

14 ISLE OF MAN EXAMINER www.iomtoday.co.im Tuesday, July 17, 2018 BUILDINGS AT RISK Foxdale’s proud heritage as a thriving mining village In this latest Buildings at Risk article, Patricia Newton, of the Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society, looks at the mining heritage of Foxdale. She explains how the settlement devel- oped during the 19th-century boom in the industry and how, following its decline during the 20th century, the intentions of the island authorities to preserve important surviving buildings have sometimes not been matched by the actions of the government. ouisa, Hodg- sons, Potts, Old Flappy, Maghies, Bawdens, Beck- withs and Bell Hole were familiar names Lto the 400 men and boys employed in the heyday of Foxdale mines producing 100 tonnes of lead ore per week following the sinking of the first shaft at Farraghers in 1831. Thanks to their develop- ment and that of a granite quarry the thriving village of ‘Foxall’ grew up at the foot of the lofty Barrule mountains . In the late 1840s and early 1850s Edward Moore Gawne of Kentraugh was persuaded to sell off parcels of land be- longing to Barroil and Ballam- ore estates in the parishes of Malew and Patrick to enable houses to be built, many to a set building line, along the Castletown to St John’s Road. Shops, including the miner’s Co-op, bakeries, later butch- ers served the miners; the Struan Barrule stream sup- plied Ballamenaugh Corn Mill. In the words of an 1862 reporter: ‘Under the foster- ing care of their esteemed Foxdale Chapel 1832 (Picture courtsey of the iMuseum) Captain(s),[Grose, Bawdens and Kittos], and the liberal- ture of the working men’ was a very few years. The chapel is Located at ‘Dingle Nook’ distinguished by their square Until electrified, its me- ity of the Mining Company, erected. to be built contiguous to the the original ‘Baltic’, so called format. The topography of chanics relied on the weekly useful institutions have aris- Church and Chapel – An mine and will, when complet- because the whitewashed this ‘mountainous’ area led to climb of its internal ladder en, and the neighbourhood is 1860s report stated: ‘A stran- ed seat 200 persons. beer house on a wintry night a pattern of homes strung out by Foxdale stalwart Paul Le- now noted for its zeal in every ger passing the road from Peel ‘There will be a lower room looked like an iceberg, must along the roadside with nu- maire. good work.’ to Castletown on Thursday for school and other purposes. have provided some mighty merous shafts, engine houses, But by 1911 production of Education – In April 1844 last, would have been struck About 4 o’clock the Mechan- bottles! powder houses, wheel cases cheaper lead elsewhere forced the following post was ad- with the unusual bustle and ics’ Institute which had been After the congregation and buddles occupying the the Isle of Man Mining Com- vertised: ‘A school master excitement. placed at the disposal of the had outgrown the ‘British valley sites in-between. pany out of business. CAPABLE of teaching the rudi- ‘From every hillside and trustees was opened for the School’, funds were raised In an auction lasting two ments of reading, writing, and valley crowds of persons in tea meeting, and for some for the building of a separate hen the Ramsey days, in October 1911 machin- arithmetic, is wanted for the holiday attire wended their hours was filled and refilled church, St Pauls; built of rub- railway link via ery including four Cornish FOXDALE MINES SCHOOL way to the busy and thriving until nearly 400 persons had ble stone and dressed granite St John’s, with pumping engines, two pairs – He will be provided with a village of Foxdale. partaken of the cup which in just seven months and seat- its own station horizontal direct action wind- house----’. Initially this house cheers.’ ing 250 persons its foundation building skirting ing engines, one horizontal was Lilybank. n enquirer would Built in six months, the stone was laid in May 1874. up the backs of the terraced winding engine, five beam By 1848, 170 pupils were ex- have been told chapel opened for service on As evidence in papers, in Thouses and crossing the road winding engines, five diagonal amined annually in public and that the corner October 5, 1862. another sealed bottle, the ar- to the mines on a viaduct, winding engines, three pairs ‘despite being in a mountain- stone of a NEW Two years a document chitect was James Cowle and was opened in August 1886; it horizontal capstan engines, ous district of the island’ the Wesleyan Chapel containing ‘the names of contractor John Callister of provided an alternative to the three horizontal condensing Lieut Governor, the Archdea- was about to be laid by the the trustees, and ministers Foxdale. nine-mile horse and cart trail steam engines, and 14 water con, the principal of King Wil- Aworthy captain of the mines. of Ramsey circuit and Peel The Archdeacon com- for hauling lead to Douglas . wheels, and buddles was sold liam’s College and four parish ‘The Wesleyans at Foxdale branch, the doctrines of the mented that it was nearly Designed with eight but- off. vicars were present. number so large a proportion Primitive Methodists, the sta- 30 years since he had seen tresses by John Nicholls, en- One wheel has a happy Later the company sub- for the mining population that tistics of the Connexion taken Foxdale when the school was gineer of the mine, built of ending – it now powers the scribed generously towards a second place of worship was last Conference, a plan of the built and now there were rows local stone and sited so that water-powered roundabout the expense of opening absolutely required, and the land, and of the circuit and of neat cottages where before can be seen from practically at Silverdale Glen. Foxdale ‘British School’ with corner stone was to be truly branch, the last number of the there was scarce a dwelling, all points of the village, in 1903 A special train was run a Church of England founda- laid on this occasion. Mona’s Herald and Manx Sun but now they were in the cen- the Victoria Clock Tower was from St John’s to get people tion and services were held in ‘The change in the ap- together with some coins of tre of a large and flourishing a gift of the directors of the to the sale, but in May 1943 the school. pearance of the men at pre- this reign were put in a bottle Foxdale mines. Isle of Man Mining Company the station closed, albeit the In August 1858 the Foxdale sent, and the recollections and deposited in a cavity in the Dominating all with views to the inhabitants of Foxdale line survived for goods traf- Working Men’s Institute, ‘a of Foxdale up to within a very foundation stone of the new over the mines were the Mine and the first public monu- fic until 1960. The Baltic also beautiful edifice 40ft long and recent period, prove the great Gothic style Primitive Meth- Captain’s houses, Foxdale ment erected to the memory closed but its spirit carried on 20 ft wide for the mental cul- good that has been effected in odist Chapel.’ House and later Brookfield, of Queen Victoria. in the renamed Foxdale Inn. Tuesday, July 17, 2018 www.iomtoday.co.im ISLE OF MAN EXAMINER 15 BUILDINGS AT RISK A branch line train at Foxdale station, ready to return to the junction with the Peel and Ramsey lines at St John’s. The viaduct and clock tower are in the background (Picture courtesy of the iMuseum) Foxdale working men’s institute and clock tower Foxdale mines by B. Stowell, 1858 The Moore family in front of Foxdale House But what has happened to the Department of Local Govern- Powder House.’ The former ‘British School’ the island disappeared under sion of the time. complex of mining chimneys, ment and the Environment Despite appointing a con- was saved privately and con- motorcycle scrambling and What reference was made shafts, and buildings that should prepare a report iden- sultant to undertake the re- verted to a residence. subsequent redevelopment; to the recommendations of comprised this landscape? tifying and investigating those search work, the department Likewise the Wesleyan happily Louisa’s or Hodgson’s the Foxdale Local Plan? In Unlike Laxey, there were buildings which have played didn’t make allowances for de- Methodist chapel which cele- wheel case survives and hope- most cases, nothing. no real showcase/tourist at- an important role in Foxdale’s velopers including the high- brated being the first building fully private investment may Did planning officer’s even traction mining structures. mining history. ways department let alone to get electricity in the village reinstate a wheel – but its not read it or attempt to under- Instead, in the 1960s the ‘The report should include their own intransigence. in 1932. protected. stand what they were giving Local Government Board all those buildings identified Village House, 1854, with St Paul’s future is partly permission to destroy? took the attitude that the ‘eye- in paragraphs 8.2.and 8.3 as its attached former shop set in the hands of a community he striking The moral of the tale seems sores’ had to be got rid off; an well as the lines and features back in a dominant position based enterprise to open up nine-metre long to be do not rely on planners engine house was reduced to of the former shafts and ex- above Mines Road and Main use of the building but is still stepped Pott’s sticking to the policies in their a stump and ‘buried’ amongst isting mining structures and Street junction, was regis- at risk and unprotected.

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