Industrial Archaeology

The Island has no coal, timber was noted as markedly absent by 12th century but has a number of small rivers whose flow could be harnessed for several operations including milling of grain, tuck mills for cleansing of wool and also in the preparation of linen, cotton spinning and later paper. The Island was also relatively rich in workable lead with some associated silver, some copper and a lttle iron - the use of water power to drain the mines and in the processing of the ore was extensive. Drilling in search of coal struck a workable salt deposit that briefly was exploited in early 20th century.

The need for boats to exploit the inshore fishing, especially for herring, gave rise to a briefly flourishing boat building industry which in the early 19th century could also exploit diffential tax rates between the Island and the UK on imported timber - the surplus produce of the herring fishery was initially salted but the popularity of smoked herring (kippers, bloaters etc) saw the development of red herring houses. The manufacture of nets and linen sails also flourished on Island during the late 19th Century but could not compete with the much larger industries in the UK.

Barley was readily grown on the Island which gave rise to a brewing industry, though mostly for local consumption some was exported.

A key industry from mid 19th through to mid 20th Century was the 'visiting' trade by which the Island exploited its lack of industrial grime etc to encourage visitors from the industrial north west of England - initially small numbers of middle class but by 1870s onwards very large nunbers of working class who escaped to the Island during their works wakes week - this gave rise to much specialised buildings eg the Manx boarding house, large dance halls and the explotation of natural features especially the short glens as tourist attractions augmented by miniature railways etc.

Various topics considered under this heading are:

• Brewing
• Milling
  • Water driven mills
    • International Molinological Index
• Mining
  • Lady Isabella Wheel
• Later short lived industries
  • Cotton Spinning