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The Editor
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© F.Coakley , 2026
[from A.M Harrision's Descriptive List of Insular Societies]
In 1814 'a society was founded in Douglas to solicit funds for bettering the position of the poor and an institution was established in Sand Street, now Strand Street, where twenty- five people were wholly supported,and, in addition to this, a number of others received partial relief. This good work failed, about 1820, from want of support, but it was renewed and carried on on a permanent basis by the establishment, in 1837, of the present House of Industry, which was founded by donation of £500 out of the funds belonging to the minister and wardens of St. Matthew's church, as trustees, who were also a committee of management; twelve of these trustees being the ministers and wardens of the Douglas churches, and twelve being elected from the subscribers to the funds of the institution'. Regrettably no records of this major agency in the struggle to look after the aged and infirm poor in the absence of any systematic attempt to give poor relief, have survived to document in depth its vital work in the growing town until a district poor rate was organised in 1888. The House of Industry became an asylum for the poor paid out general revenue, open to all, on payment by any district of the Island. It has now become the Ellan Vannin Home,a Department of Health and Industry's Old Peoples Home.'
M.N.H.L., Charities, Douglas House of Industry, Misc. Annual Reports; Newspaper indexes, House of Industry; Isle of Man newspapers;
Mrs. Katharine A. Forrest, Manx Recollections; Memorials of Eleanor Elliot, (London 1894)
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Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received
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