I'm sorry to say I don't know anything of the history of Highton House. Indeed, I have yet to find out why James Highton went to the Isle of Man. His son, George, seems to have been a wealthy architect/surveyor in Liverpool, though I think nowadays he would be called a developer. It was George who bought Hampton Court on the Isle of Man and for some reason sent/persuaded his father James to go there James seems to have taken with him one of his daughters( Elizabeth - married to a Thomas Fyfe) and George's (illegitimate) son James Edward. George bought Hampton Court in about 1837 so in terms of the chronology it is possible there is some connection given George was a property developer who owned 50 or so houses in Liverpool and could have decided to build a house on the Isle of Man. But I have not a shred of evidence that there is any connection. Equally, as I said, I have yet to find a reason why George bought Hampton Court and why his father ended up living there until his death in 1852. There is no mention of any property in the Isle of Man in George's will when he died in 1881.

I'm afraid I've not been of any help. I hope to get to the Isle of Man sometime this year to do some more research into this and if I find anything helpful I'll certainly let you know.

Best wishes

David