User:Manninagh1958/sandbox

The Growth of the Suburbs
For a long period the outward expansion of the urban area of Douglas was inhibited by the presence of various estates, most becoming associated with large houses in the course of the eighteenth century. The land south of the harbour belonged to The Nunnery. Development only began after 1757, when the first harbour bridge was built at the urging of Thomas Heywood. At first buildings went up on the harbor, and later on Head Road, which ascended the headland in line with the south end of the bridge. Very limited development has occurred in this direction, initially a narrow ribbon of houses overlooking the harbour and bay, leading to a cluster of higher-status properties including Harold Tower and Fort Anne. Expansion west of the town centre was contained by the Hills Estate, which (with its meadows) ran from the vicinity of Nelson Street to Pulrose bridge. This area was developed on a stop-go basis, mostly during the Nineteenth Century. Athol Street remains the most impressive part of the estate, long since devoted to business use. Northwards, the town's development was, again, initially bound up with the activities of one individual, here John Murray, 4th Duke of Atholl. The Duke (still, as it were, the "Lord of the Manor" for the whole Island) had obtained the appointment as Governor in Chief in 1793. He acquired a large swathe of land which included (in modern terms) Port e Chee Meadow, the Garden City, Murrays Road and the main block where he built his new seaside palace, Castle Mona. The immediate grounds included everything between the present day Central Promenade, Ballaquayle Road and Duke's Road. Public access to the town from Onchan had to be made via what is now St. Ninian's Crossroads. Manninagh1958 (talk) 18:01, 8 August 2014 (UTC)Manninagh1958 (talk) 01:53, 21 October 2015 (UTC)

Classical Music in the Isle of Man
There is a well established tradition of performing and listening to Classical music in the Isle of Man. The longest-established sector is probably non-conformist choral and congregational singing, which found its highest expression in the hymns of Charles Wesley, and the performances of oratorios at the larger Douglas chapels. Chapel choirs from all over the Island were among the early participants in the Manx Competive Music Speech and Dance Festival (popularly The Guild),founded in 1892 by Miss M.L.Wood while non-conformist choirs have mostly disappeared. The Guild is a competitive festival (established 1892) and the second-oldest festival affiliated to the British Federation. Instrumental music-making in the Isle of Man is supported by the Isle of Man Government Music Service, which runs the Manx Youth Orchestras.

The Anglican musical tradition on the Island, previously sustained by King William's College has recently seen a number of innovations, particularly at |Saint German's Cathedral, Peel with the appointment of a professional organist and music director, and now (2015) an Organ Scholar.

The six brass bands on the Isle of Man provide a training for young members who go on to enjoy a life-time of amateur music making. Other young people have entered British Forces as musicians, or graduated to music academies in the U.K.

One of the benefactions of the eccentric Pierre Henri Joseph Baume was a music scholarship to the Royal College of Music, established by the Baume Trustees in 1897. Recipients of the Baume included the late Miss Mavis Kelly and other successful music teachers and choir conductors. A number of families have produced several classical musicians, including the Pickards, Minays, Quirks, Quanes and the inter-related Curphey/Gelling/Clague cousinhood. Alan Pickard founded the Manx Girls Choir and the [ttp://www.erinartscentre.com/events/mananan_festival.html Mannannan International Festival], now administered by Erin the Erin Arts Centre.

Manninagh1958 (talk) 22:29, 22 August 2014 (UTC)02:13, 21 October 2015 (UTC)Manninagh1958 (talk)