mollag Posted January 31, 2006 Author Share Posted January 31, 2006 I think the Douglas was once the home of the Duke of Athol, it was also the first Custom House on the Island and probanly where William Bligh met his wife to be. It really is an historic building. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirdick Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 I havn't heard anything about them knocking the Douglas down? I've not been down to the quay in a while, I didn't realised they'd done all that work! Looks really nice, and definately more appealing to sitting out in the summer. I suppose for some it's hard to imagine what that would be like down here in the depths of the cold, harsh winter but every year people sit outside the Bridge with a pint in their hands. Stick a few more chairs on that pavement and it'll be perfect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manxchatterbox Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 but where is the provision for the horse tram tracks.... so as to bring them round from the prom to connect with the Steam Railway.... as was originally included in the concept... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheesemonster2005 Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 extending the tram tracks would be a neat idea. That is, if they then replaced the horsetrams with nice, new electric trams so we can finally stop being cruel to these horses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gladys Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 Have to disagree with you Cheese, the horse trams are not cruel. The animals are limited in the number of traverses of the prom they do and are well looked after all year round. For a couple of years, I used to live across the road from the nursery fields on Summerhill and watched the foals being born. We would go and talk to the staff who would recite the history of the mother and father of the foal with real pride, giving their view of the foal that had just been born. That does not hint at cruelty, rather that they knew their animals and cared for them. They are big, strong animals (bred to be so as draught horses) that need to use their musculature and it is only breaking the initial inertia that is heavy-going. The rest is easy as the momentum takes over. The horse trams are wonderful pieces of engineering and there were once competitions of men drawing the trams along the prom. Not as valiant as you would think, as once they moved they would glide! I think it would be a great idea to have the trams going down onto the quay, a great draw (forgive the pun) and something quite unique. The only difficulty would be negotiating the corner from the end of the prom back on yourself to the quay. But if it kept the horse trams going, then I would be in favour of it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 I'd like to see the horse trams moved off the middle of the road and onto the side, as it's an accident waiting to happen with them right in the middle of a busy road. Have to agree it's not cruel though, they work for their living, just like us. they only do one trip a day don't they? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tugger Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 I think they should reintroduce the contests with men pulling them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manxchatterbox Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 horse trams along the quay would bring more people round to the steam trains and maybe some punters for the Railway Hotel..there is never anyone in there...I keep looking at MR webcam there and its always just about empty..I can see the brewery closing it down.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molly Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 I dont think the police station roundabout needs horse trams passing through it as well. Nice idea but not practical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amadeus Posted March 10, 2006 Share Posted March 10, 2006 Let there be light! Noticed them for the first time yesterday - think they look really good, and it somehow explains why the railings looked a bit off-level at first... And the rest is coming along as well: Before / After: Still think the whole north-quay re-development is gonna be good - just wait until the summer... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirdick Posted March 10, 2006 Share Posted March 10, 2006 Not sure if those blue lights go too well with the orange glow of the streetlights though Just had a look at that last pic, that area looks massive! What's the plan for that area, does anyone know? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manxman8180 Posted March 10, 2006 Share Posted March 10, 2006 My money is on there being cars parked on it!! Tragic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirdick Posted March 10, 2006 Share Posted March 10, 2006 Hope not! That would make an ace seating area or something. Get pints in plastic cups from the pubs across the road and go sit in the sun. In the summer obviously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liberalis Posted March 10, 2006 Share Posted March 10, 2006 I thought it was going to be used for keeping boats, an area where they can crane them out of the water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teapot Posted March 10, 2006 Share Posted March 10, 2006 horse trams along the quay would bring more people round to the steam trains and maybe some punters for the Railway Hotel..there is never anyone in there...I keep looking at MR webcam there and its always just about empty..I can see the brewery closing it down.... Talking of which, and perhaps this should be a new topic, has anyone heard that the George and the Union in Castletown are going to be closed/sold? Overheard conversation in the bank in Castletown today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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