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A Little Bit About Laxey
Laxey is a small port on the east coast of the Isle of Man and is situated half way between Douglas and Ramsey. Named from the Norse word for Salmon river 'laxa', due to the tales of great catches. The harbour was built in the mid 1800s to service the lucrative mining industry but is now used by a small number of leisure craft and inshore fishing vessels.
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| Laxey Harbour |
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The Wheel
Laxey is home to the famous Laxey Wheel. Built in 1854 to pump water from the Laxey mines, the Laxey Wheel is the world's greatest industrial water wheel. Known as 'Lady Isabella', a climb to the top of the Wheel is rewarded with breathtaking views across the valley, The lead mines closed in the 1920’s and the wheel later became the property of the Isle of Man Government. She is now one of the Islands main tourist attractions. Visitors
to the wheel can climb the 95 steps to the viewing platform at the top where the rewards for those who do not suffer from vertigo are the magnificent views over Laxey bay, Laxey village and up the valley to Snaefell.while the 'Mines Trail' displays the remains of a once thriving industrial complex and offers a pleasant walk through Glen Mooar
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| Lady Isabella |
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King Orry's Grave
King Orry was King Godred of Crovan a well known Manx legend. He took control of the Isle of Man and many of the islands between it and Norway, in 1079. To honour him, many monuments were named after him, King Orry's Grave, as it is commonly known, tells something of the residents who lived on the Isle of Man during the Neolithic times over 4000 years ago. The site was built by farmers as a memorial to their ancestors. Ceremonies held on the site left traces of hearth and flint, but there is no connection between this historical figure and these prehistoric remains.
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| King Orry's Grave |
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The Electric Trams
Messrs. Bruce and Saunderson were behind the construction of the 3 feet track gauge railway, which first opened in 1893. The original line ran from Douglas to Laxey and in 1899 the line was extended to include Ramsey. The Manx Electric Railway holds to being the longest narrow gauge vintage railway in the British Isles. Over seventeen miles of line run along the coastline between Douglas and Ramsey. All the operational trams are original, with the newest dating back as far as 1906. Trams 1 and 2 are the oldest dating back to 1893 earning them a place in the record books as the oldest regularly operated tram cars in the world.
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| A Tram at Laxey Station |
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The Glen Gardens
The history of this glen dates back to 1800 when the Reverend William Fitzsimmons started a planting program, which lasted around 50 years. Some of the larger trees from this time are still visible in the glen. The pleasure grounds were the concept of Mr R Williamson, who saw the potential of tourists who visited the area. Between 1919 and 1939 the glen gardens saw their peak in popularity with facilities for croquet, bowling, tennis, boating, dancing, walking and eating. At this time there were 7 men employed full time to maintain the gardens. After the war the gardens saw a decline in popularity and they were soon sold to the government and left to develop naturally.
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| Laxey Glen |
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