T 1/489/60 - Report on Harbours 1771-1772

An Account of the State & Condition of His Majestys Harbours in the [Isle of] Man Exhibited to the Commissioners thereof the 10th October 1772.

As the State of the Harbours of this Isle wch was Exhibited on the 10th Oct 1771 [contained] a Compleat Description of the Several Works belonging to each Harbour and of the Condition in wch they then stood. Nothing more is necessary at present than to mention such Alterations as have happened or such improvements as have been made since then.

In the Harbour of Douglas the Bulwark or Buttress recommended in the Accounts referred to hath been constructed, and tho' an Expense is a very sufficient Work, and in all probability effectually secure the East end of the Pier & the Lighthouse built up[on] it, wch before were in a Dangerous Condition.

Other Repairs have also been made in this Harbour from time to time by Renewing the Decayed Timbers and rebuilding Accidental Breaches so that (except a part [of] the Old Work opposite to the ... Herring Hose lately erected when the former Wall of the Pier is very much bulged & will require to be built on a better foundation) This Harbour is in good Condition and my probably be supported for some years at a Moderate Expence.

In the Harbour of Ramsey no new Works have been Erected but the Old ones having [from] time to time been duly Repaired And the the Same hath been done with Respect to the Harbours of Castletown & Derbyhaven Only at this last place Certain Dilapidations of the Mo[le] mentioned in the Desription of that Harbour in last years accounts, have not been Rebuilt Because it is very dubious whether the unfinished part of the Work ought to be completed, or the whole now become ruinous, ought to be rebuilt in a more secure and perhaps a different form when the Harbour Funds can afford money sufficient for such an Undertaking.

At Peel the inner Quays of the Harbour adjoining to the Town have been properly Repaied and the Breaches which happened in the Mole betwixt the Castle & Hill of Peel in the Course of last WEionter were dult Rebuilt. But other more consisiderable Breaches have been made in that Work by the Violent storms in Spring last, So as to End any the whole, on wch the Safety & Harbour Depends, it hath been judged necessary not only to repair these Breaches in a sufficient manner, but to cover the whole side of the Mole Exposed to the Sea with a frame of Timber. As this Work is not yet Finished I cannot judge either of the Effect or Expence of it.

Annexed to this Stat is an Account of the Expence of the Improvements & Repairs herementioned and of lighting the Harbours of Douglas & Ramsey, and on the Debit side of the said Acct the Commissioners will find the particulars of the Net Harbour Monies aris[ing?] during that Period, on which a Ballance is stated persuant to the Directions of the Act for Repairing Amending & Supporting the Harbours of this Island.

Custom House Douglas 10th October 1772 Chas Lutwidge

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