Laxey Glen Gardens
Laxey Glen Gardens are a tourist attraction at Laxey on the Isle of Man. The first gardens in the valley planted out around 1800 by the Reverend William Fitzsimmons who conceived a relatively formal plan with clipped yew and holly, and which he carried out over a period of around fifty years.
The garden was bought later by Captain Richard Rowe of the Laxey Mines.
Contents
History
Robert Williamson
It was Robert Williamson who created the gardens as we seen them today. He was local man, born in Laxey but of Scottish parents who ran a small business in the village, and he saw he the potential for the valley as the island had begun to attract holidaymakers. He obtained a lease from Captain of the Mines, Richard Rowe and started developing the Glen.
Williamson and his family moved into the house at the entrance to the glen in 1866, and he bought valley from Captain Rowe in 1868. In 1868, Williamson opened the Laxey Glen Gardens as a public pleasure ground.
Such was the success of the pleasure grounds that in 1888 Williamson built a new family house at the entrance, adjoining his original home. This had 12 bedrooms for paying guests and had been designed by Mr Rennison who had been responsible for many of the hotels on Douglas Promenade. This building is now a residential home for the elderly having previously been a public house.
The cost of admission was 3d and for this, visitors could indulge themselves in 'the most romantic and thickly-wooded portion of the celebrated Laxey Glen', according to Brown's 1881 directory.
Attractions, the directory lists, included 'secluded walks, bowers, rustic seats, swings, quoits, hobby horses, croquet, lawn tennis, bowling green' and even 'an American Bowling Saloon'.
In 1894 the opening of the Douglas to Laxey Electric Railway brought mass visitors to Laxey and ensured the success of the Gardens.
So extensive were the grounds and plantings that at one time it was said 7 gardeners were employed to look after them.
There were three bandstands: one beautifully-ornate stand above the boating lake, one by the dance floor and the third within the gardens, at the site of the current children's playground. Open air concerts drew large crowds of visitors and local residents. Catering was provided within the glen and included 'dinners, teas, confectionery and fruits.
At night, visitors made use of the outdoor, oval-shaped, maple dance floor which was illuminated by gas lamps. The Victorian gas lamps are still in plec, looking down on the mossy tarmac of a former tennis court.
Within the gardens
The amenities have varied considerably over the years, from the provision of strawberry teas to sherry and cake in the building which preceded the Riverside Restaurant. However this predecessor fell victim to a terrible fire in August 1913 and was replaced by the present building.
Robert Williamson brought over to his successful pleasure grounds such famous personalities as the tightrope walker Blondin and the midget Tom Thumb.
Each successive sports craze was catered for including croquet, bicycle riding, roller skating, dancing, boating etc.
The glen boasted a fine roundabout with decorated wooden horses and two bandstands, one of which overlooked the lake that could be drained and floored for dancing on. Water, which once fed a wheel to power the flourmill, was used in the creation of a boating lake.
After Williamson
The Manx Electric Railway Company then bought the grounds in 1908.
The Forestry, Mines and Lands Board purchased Laxey Glen Gardens in 1956 from the receivers of the Laxey Glen Hotel and Gardens Ltd Company for the sum of £4,750. The inventory included a ballroom, café, outside ballroom, gardeners hut, amusement park building, fortune teller's hut, wrestling bar, big top (wrestling arena), outside cafe, dodgem workshop and adjoining café.
In 1960 the paddling pool was created and a small area was added to the glen on the North bank. This was purchased for £50 from Philip Douglas Haughtan Jones.
In 1982 the Laxey Glen Gardens Restaurant & Pavilion were badly damaged in an arson attack. The restaurant section was completely destroyed but restoration work started the following year.
The gardens today
The heyday of Laxey Glen has long since passed and fashions have changed. The pleasure gardens are almost abandoned and none of the leisure facilities or gardens remain, but for a small playground area.[1]
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Laxey Glen Gardens) |
- Laxey Glen and Pavilion – Visit the Isle of Man
References
- ↑ Laxey Glen Gardens – Feature - BBC Isle of Man
- Laxey Glen: Isle of Man Places to Visit
