Victoria Tower

Taken from sheet XIII 4 of O/S Plan of 1868
Situated above today's MER terminus at Derby Castle

It would appear to have been a visitor attraction from at least 1874 as mentioned in a guide of that year - still going more than 25 years later as an article in the Isle of Man Times of 3rd August 1901 under the heading "Amusements in Douglas" contains:

Among the most popular attractions of Douglas is the Victoria Tower, situated in Strathallan-road, Summer Hill. One can spend many a pleasant hour there. The view over the bay is perfect. In addition, the camera obscura, heliograph, the magic mirror, X rays, and many other scientific marvels are at your disposal. Then there are swings for the children and roundabouts ; quoits for the elders, and lawn tennis for the young men and maidens. The gardens are bright with gay flowers - all calculated to give pleasure and recreation. Visitors from Douglas take the horse tram or omnibus to Summer Hill, which is equi-distant between the Metropole Hotel and the tram termini. Then, for your liver's sake, you walk up Burnt Mill Hill, which should take you five minutes; turn round by the Industrial Home, and there you are! - with a pleasant morning, or afternoon, or evening before you.

Brown's directory of 1881/2 carried an advertisement for it (in the usual chaotic mix of fonts)

TO VISITORS, &c.
PLEASURE AND AMUSEMENT FOR THE PEOPLE,
INTERESTING, INSTRUCTIVE, & INNOCENT.

VICTORIA TOWER
AND
RECREATION GROUND,
NEAR DOUGLAS,
The Best Place of Amusement on the Island,
Camera Obscura, Science Museum,
AND RECREATION GROUND.

ALL Lovers of Innocent, Amusing, and Highly Interesting Pleasures and Recreations should go to the Victoria Tower. The Tower is situated in a commanding position at the top and margin of the hill overlooking Douglas Bay, and is in the best position about Douglas for the purpose for which it was built and is used. The surrounding landscape and sea scenery is made to appear on the surface of the Camera table in a series of beautiful pictures, in all their natural, varied, and beautiful colours, and with all the life and motion that is in them at the time, forming a most agreeable sight to see different objects moving in a picture, all of which are quite natural.
Besides this, there are some very instructive and laughable experiments in Electricity and Galvanism, and many other amusing objects.
In the Recreation Ground there are Croquet Greens, Swings, See-Saws, and Quoits,
It is one of the most cheering and enlivening places on the Island both for old and young, while everything is perfectly innocent.

ADMISSION to all the above, 6d EACH. TO RECREATION
GROUND ONLY, 2d EACH.
CLOSED ON SUNDAYS.
REFRESHMENTS.

The Place is very easy to find. Take the Douglas Bay Tramway to the end ;then, KEEPING TO THE LEFT HAND, ascend THE HILL, and turn along the first road on the right hand side. Distance from the end of the Tramway­about five minutes' walk.
JOHN STOKES, Proprietor.