Fairy Bridge, 1868

Extracted from Sheet XIII.11of O/S 25" to mile plans SC 353742

Fairy Bridge near Douglas

This photo, in the 1st edition of Sovenir of Manxland published by Boots c. 1900 has no associated comment as it appears surrounded by an advertisement for Boots, but its appearance in a guide is interesting. The bridge is situated on an old packhorse track which has largely disappeared thus the bridge appears to have no function as can be seen from the 1868 plan it leads nowhere. The track leading to it from the north-east comes off the Old Castletown Road passing Middle Farm on the east

W. H Gill in his 2nd Scrapbook notes it as "The Fairy Bridge, near Oakhill, Braddan. This name used to be applied occasionally to Ballalonna Bridge, Malew, also, for sufficient reasons. There is another somewhere in Rushen."

Jenkinson's Guide of 1874 mentions the Ballalona Bridge - "...presently the road runs over the railway, and crosses the river Santon Burn at the Ballalona, or Fairy Bridge, a spot which tradition has rendered sacred to the revels of the fairy elves, those tiny mischievous people who play so important a part in the domestic life of the Manxman. There are still living hundreds of persons on the island who firmly believe that they have seen the " good people," but this superstition is fast dying out and succumbing to the ridicule and scepticism of the rising generation. Now that railways are being made, and the land is being overrun every summer by tourists, the last haunts of the fairies will be invaded, and those interesting little folks will have to betake themselves to some more congenial sphere".

Neither spot was either convenient or in later years with significant vehicular traffic, safe, to encourage visitors to stop, the IoM Tourist Board moved a "Fairy Bridge" sign further back towards Douglas.

Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received The Editor © F.Coakley , 2025