[from Porter's Directory 1889]

PEEL.

THE ancient city of the west, often called Peel of the Golden Sunset, situated on the western shores of the island, is a compact town of great antiquity, and is supposed to have derived its name from the Saxon Peel, being the name given to the mound or fortification on the site of which the Castle was built. It is 10½ miles west from Douglas, 12 from Castletown, and 16 from Ramsey. The staple support of the town is derived at present from fishing, but enthusiastic endeavours are now being made to take advantage of the great natural beauties of the neighbourhood, the infinite variety of landscape, and the classic and historical associations of this part of the island, of which the city of Peel has for at least 1000 years played a prominent and distinguished part. With a view to meet the requirements of those in search of recreation, health and constant change of scene, two companies have lately been formed, and another is in course of formation, whose object is to render Peel one of the most attractive watering places in the kingdom, and so little.is required from art to assist nature in this direction that it seems astonishing the energy of the local merchants and landowners was not diverted into this channel long before ; but the indefatigable exertions of the gentlemen now interested and the success which has already met their efforts is convincing proof that much is being done and well done to make up for lost time. A splendid promenade is now fast approaching completion, on the margin of which have been built several lodging houses and an hotel, where comfortable apartments may be had at such a rate as would agreeably astonish frequenters of the Welsh coast or the South of England. A scheme has also been advanced for developing Peel Hill (immediately adjoining the town, and overlooking the Castle and Irish Sea), but a still more practical effort is now being made, not only to make Peel more accessible to visitors, but to establish an overland route between the north of England and Ireland, whereby the voyager may break his Journey on the way by spending a pleasant hour or two on the way in Mona’s Isle, and yet perform the journey quicker and at less expense than any other way now open to the public, viz., the institution of a daily service of boats to and from Belfast. Manxmen, by this. quiet and thoughtful endeavour, have rendered a signal service to England and Ireland, which it is hoped may be appreciated in the immediate future. The journey from Liverpool to may be, and is frequently, accomplished in three and a-quarter hours from thence to Peel in half-an-hour, and from Peel to Belfast in three hours, making the complete journey from land to Ireland, via Mona, in 6½ hours, or little more than time required to go from Liverpool direct to Belfast steamboat, or by rail to Holyhead, and steam to Greenore. As this may be the motive power in obtaining a new lease of for Peel, it may not be out of place to give a list of the this Company, which is named the Peel and North of Ireland Steamship Company :—Joseph Mylchreest (late sole proprietor South African Diamond Claims, now worked by the West Diamond Company), Peel, Chairman ; Robert Corrin, J.P. (late member of the House of Keys), Peel ; Thomas C.S. Moore. captain of the Parish of German (late member of the Keys), Peel ; John Joughin, member of the House of Keys and member of the Peel Town Commissioners, Peel ; Henry T. Graves J.P., Peel ; Edward Ewan Christian, Athol House, Peel, merchant, William Moore, Peel, merchant. To enumerate the special advantages Peel possesses over many much-favoured watering places would require more space than we can afford, but a few may be specially mentioned—the great facilities for boating, fishing and bathing ; the rich pastoral country adjoining the town ; the beautiful walks in the neighbonrhood ; the venerable ruins of St. German's Cathedral; the stately ruins of Peel Castle ; the magnificent panorama from Peel Hill, from which may be seen Burra Head and the Mull of Galloway, in Scotland ; the Mourne Mountains, and the whole coast line of the County Down ; Snowdon, in Carnarvonshire, and occasionally on clear days the Skiddaw, in Cumberland. Add to all all these the glorious golden sunsets during August and September, the salubrious atmosphere, the hygienic properties of the district, the air of seclusion and peace, which has drawn from such authorities as Doctor Haviland and the Dean of Manchester the spontaneous remark, " that the climatic influences around Peel will bear favourable comparison with the most noted health resorts in the kingdom." The New Church is a handsome building, recently erected and capable of accommodating 700 people; there is also a small Roman Catholic church in Patrick Street, served from Douglas. The Wesleyans have an imposing structure in Athol street, so also have the Primitive Methodists. The Grammar School, conductedby Mr Alfred Morris, affords a high class education. There are two public elementary and three private schools. There is one n ewspaper called the Peel City Guardian, published weekly. The town is governed by a Board of Commissioners. Population about 4500

Peel Local Intelligence.

PLACES OF WORSHIP.

Church of England—St. Peter’s (Parish Church of St. German)—.Vicar, Rev. James George Williams. Curate, Rev. Job Edwards.
The New Church, Athol Street—Vicar, Rev. J. G Williams ; Curate, Rev J. Edwards.
Roman Catholic, Patrick Street—Rev. Thomas O’Byrne, of Douglas.
Wesleyan—Rev. R. S. Maynard and the Rev. W. Keating.
Primitive Methodist—Rev. Robert William B. Whiteway.

SCHOOLS.

Grammar School—Mr. Alfred Morris, head master.
Christian’s Endowed School—Mr. Wm. Fargher, head master ; Miss Jackson, girls ; Mrs. Cowley, infants.
Wesleyan Schools—Mr. Arthur John Ridge, master.

PUBLIC OFFICERS.

High Baihf—Alfred N. Laughton, Esq.
Parochial Surveyor and Clerk to the Commissioners — George Cannell.
Gas Manager—Samuel Larkum.
Bellman—James Hall.
Railway Station Master—George Watterson.

TOWN COMMISSIONERS.

Thomas C. Kermode, chairman ; Thomas Kelly, John Joughin, Henry M. Graves, Edward K Christian.
Clerk—George Cannell.
Sanitary Inspector and Rate Collector—Thomas Halsall ; offices, Crown street.

HARBOUR OFFICE.

Harbour Master—James Morrison.
Assistant Harbour Master—William Cashin.
H.M. CUSTOMS.

Principal Coast Officer—.David Henry Frederick Carter.
Acting Examining Officer-.William Hilton Lowrey.

POLICE STATION.

Inspector—John Cain.
Constables—.John Callan, James Quirk sad John Thomas Quilliam

POSTAL INFORMATION.

OFFICE, DOUGLAS STREET.

Postmistress—Isabella Kinvig.
Letter Carrier—J. Fargher. Auxiliary.—J. Fayle. Rural Messengers From Peel to Glenmaye, Josiah Kelly ; St. John’s, W. J. Cain; Glenmaye, John Quayle ; Foxdale, H. J. Maley.
Pillar and Wall Letter Boxes—Peveril terrace, Shore road, Glanfaba road, Douglas road, Church street, and Kirk Patrick Church.Wall Boxes—Cronk-e-Voddy and Greeba bridge.