Template:FP-Castletown, Isle of Man

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Castle Rushen in Castletown on the Isle of Man

Castletown, Isle of Man

Castletown is the former capital town of the Isle of Man. It stands at the south of the island within the Malew parish. It lost its position as capital to Douglas in 1869.

The town is dominated by Castle Rushen, from which Castletown takes its name. The Castle is a well-preserved fortress - amongst the best examples of medieval castles on the British Isles - and it is still in use as a court house, museum and educational centre. It towers over Castletown's Market Square and the harbour.

Castletown and can trace its roots back to 1090. The town has narrow streets and small fishing cottages. Fishing boats still continue to go out to fish from the harbour. Commercial traffic to the port ended in the 1970s, although there has been an ongoing expansion of finance and industrial businesses in the area. (Read more)