[From CRES 6/150.480]

Lease to James Aiken 6th May 1831

Office of Woods and Forests to Treasury

Extract of Plan given in 1831 as part of James Aiken's application

extract fron 1868 6" map of same area which shows the planned site of Victoria Pier - it is possible that the O/S mis-labelled Bath Place The plan predates the construction of Victoria street, the Sea Termina and today's Lord Street

My Lords

We beg leave to bring under the attention of your Lordships an application we received about two years since from Mr James Aiken of the Isle of Man ship builder for a lease of a small portion of the sea beach adjoining certain premises occupied by him in the town of Douglas, (a sketch of which is annexed hereto) for the purpose of enlarging the premises, and thus enabling him to extend his business as a Ship Builder.

On referring the application to Mr McCrone, our Receiver for the Island, he reported to us that he thought it would be advisable with the view of encouraging the Trade of the Island to grant him a lease of the ground in question for a term of 21 years at a small rent of £2 or £2.2.0 @ ann, it being stipulated that he should embank the same from the sea in a proper and substantial manner at his own expence, to which he agreed, and as he has since then laid out above £100 in embanking the same we now beg leave to recommend that your Lordships Warrant may be issued for authorising us to grant a lease of the ground in question to the said James Aiken, his heirs, admors and assigns : to hold for a term of 21 years to be computed from the 12th of November 1829 reserving to his Majesty his heirs and successors during the said term the yearly rent or sum of two pounds two shillings sterling; the same to be paid free and clear of and from any taxes or charges whatever, or any deductions on account of the expense of passing the lease, which we have stipulated shall be paid by the [lessee] without any allowance being made to [him] on account thereof. In which lease we beg leave to recommend that a special clause may be inserted for obliging the Lessees to keep the said embankment in proper and effectual repair and condition during the said term and to leave the whole of the premises in proper repair at the end thereof.

signed Henry Dawkins

Notes

James Aiken [Aitken in some references] was a Liverpool based Merchant and Ship Builder - the Douglas shipyard, placed towards at the end of today's Walpole Avenue, was Winram's yard - one important ship they built was the King Orry I, for the IoMSPCo in 1841 In various directories between 1836 and 1860 J Aiken is noted as ship builder, sail maker and roper.

Hugh Stowell Brown, born 1823 writing of the area around 1830 has

"A family named Geneste, with whom we were intimate, had laid out by the shore a pretty little garden, with hot and cold water-baths. Close by the baths was a shipyard, the property of James Aiken of Liverpool, who died a very old man in the winter of 1879. The baths, the shipyard, the shore, were our playgrounds; "