NEWS

Following the success of last month’s Port St Mary Secret Gardens, Rushen Heritage Trust is opening 10 TOP SECRET Gardens during its Port Erin in World War II event, which takes place over the August bank holiday weekend.

Running from Friday, August 27th until Monday, August 30th, Port Erin in World War II will include attractions each day, including three wonderful exhibitions:

The Railway Station will host an exhibition on the unique Internment Camp in Port Erin recalling the time 4,000 foreign women arrived in 1940; the Trust’s new Rushen Heritage Centre in Bridson Street will host a World War II exhibition by the Manx Aviation & Military Museum; and the Legion Hall in Droghadfayle Road will be home to James Fenton’s amazing pictures of the Burma Campaign.

The TOP SECRET Gardens will be open on Saturday and Sunday, August 28th and 29th.

Rushen Heritage Trust fundraiser Pamela Crowe, Co-Chair of Friends of RHT, has pulled the weekend together.

She said: ‘We thought it was a shame that the popular Island at War event is not taking place this year, so Rushen Heritage Trust stepped in and there is now a full programme over the four days. We are working closely with Visit Port Erin and it will be a great opportunity to learn about the unique history of Port Erin and, for those who love a skeet, some lovely gardens to visit.’

The full schedule for the four days:

Exhibitions:

WWII IN THE BEAUTIFUL SOUTH - Rushen Heritage & Visitor Centre - curated by Ivor Ramsden from the Manx Aviation & Military Museum

RUSHEN INTERNMENT CAMP - Port Erin Railway Station – curated by Rushen Heritage Trust, telling the story of the Women’s and Children’s Internment Camp

WAR IN BURMA - Port Erin British Legion Hall - Paintings by Burma Star Veteran James Fenton

Friday 27th August: 10am – 4pm:

• INFORMATION - Rushen Heritage Trust      stand - each day at Port Erin Railway platform
• TOP SECRET GARDENS -      brochures/Information also at our Visitor Centre in Bridson Street
• RATION BOOK CHALLENGE – entry forms      from The Good Health Store and Visitor Centre
• VINTAGE MOTORCYCLES at the Visitor      Centre
• MANX RADIO will be roving throughout      the day
• 
  

Saturday 28th August: 10am – 4pm:

• TOP SECRET GARDENS - Gardens open      and your £5 brochure admits two people to all gardens
• RUMMAGE SALE - and refreshments      available (Black Forest gateau, tea, hot dogs) - St Catherine’s Church      Hall, Church Road
• THE SOUTHERN BELLES - 11am, 12.20pm      & 1.50pm - Orchard Road
• RATION BOOK CHALLENGE entry forms      Visitor Centre and The Good Health Store
• VINTAGE VEHICLES – around the village
• 
  

Sunday 29th August: 10am – 4pm:

• TOP SECRET GARDENS - Gardens open and      your £5 brochure admits two
• RUMMAGE SALE - and refreshments - St.      Catherine’s Church Hall, Church Road
• RATION BOOK CHALLENGE - return entry      forms to The Good Health Store
• SWING DANCING IN THE STREET - 11am –      2pm - Orchard Road - Swing in the Isle Dancers

Monday 30th August: 10am – 4pm:

• VETERANS' DAY – Port Erin welcomes our      Veterans – make your way to the British Legion Hall in Droghadfayle Road      after seeing the exhibitions
• RATION BOOK CHALLENGE - entry forms      should be returned to Good Health Store
• RUMMAGE SALE – the camp is closing –      everything must go!
• TRANSFORMATION – see what we turned an      old bus shelter into at No1 Bridson St
• 
  

Keep an eye out for 'Laurel and Hardy', who will be around during the weekend to entertain - and if you want to really join in with the atmosphere, why not dig out any 1940s-style gear you have and dress up!

Entry to the TOP SECRET Gardens is by brochure, which costs £5 and admits two people.

The brochures are available from:

·  Welcome Centre in Douglas

·  Bridge Bookshop and Marianne’s Flowers in Ramsey

·  Kirk Michael Stores

·  Elaine’s Flowers in Peel

·  Foxdale Stores

·  Charlotte Sadler Opticians in Castletown

·  Calvert Newsagent in Port St Mary

·  Bridge Bookshop, Port Erin Pets, Erin News and Rushen Heritage Centre in Port Erin

·  And all garden centres around the Island

We always welcome anyone who is interested in volunteering at our events – if you can help over the four-day weekend, please contact Pamela via email – pamrht@gmail.com or on 834614 or 473768.

12/08/21

An exciting new chapter dawns for Rushen Heritage Trust (RHT) this week with the opening of our new heritage centre in Bridson Street, Port Erin.

The project to redevelop the former bus shelter began two years ago and, despite delays caused by Covid-19 lockdowns, Rushen Heritage Centre (RHC) will open its doors to the public for the first time on Tuesday, June 29th.

The centre will open from 10.00am-4.00pm Tuesday to Saturday, from Easter until late October/early November each year, providing a multi-purpose base to support Rushen Heritage Trust’s activities.

Exhibitions will be central to RHC, with a new topic featured approximately every six weeks. The first exhibition is a collaboration with the Isle of Man Public Record Office, looking at the ‘Lives & Landmarks of Rushen’. This will feature photographs and plans showcasing the local landscape and its people from early to mid-20th century.

The Centre was officially opened at a private event on Saturday evening, June 26th.

Doreen Moule, Chair of RHT, explained: ‘Since the Trust was founded in 2014, we have enjoyed great success with a series of exhibitions, which have attracted more than 10,000 people to Rushen, and published four well-received books, alongside many other events. Two years ago, we identified a need to have a physical base, somewhere for the public to come and meet us, learn about the work we do, and hopefully get involved with our projects.

‘In addition to exhibitions, the centre will stock our books, host regular meetings, and serve as a visitor centre for the Rushen area, providing information on both heritage and tourism.’

The idea of transforming the bus shelter into a heritage centre came from Staffan Overgaard, one of the Trust’s directors.

The building project was skilfully managed by quantity surveyor Robert Graham and Ali Graham, of Robert Graham & Co, who carried out the work pro bono. They developed the plans for RHC, submitted the planning application and put the project out to tender, with the building work undertaken by J&J Building Contractors, who were excellent.

Ali, who is the RHT Treasurer, said: ‘We have received wonderful financial support towards RHC from several organisations and private individuals, including Manx Lottery Trust, Gough Ritchie Charitable Trust, Elizabeth Clucas Charitable Trust, Lord Cockfield Memorial Trust, Celton Manx, Visit Isle of Man, Isle of Man Government’s Town & Village Regeneration Scheme, and a significant donation from RHT co-founders Hugh and Sandra Davidson. In addition, several of our suppliers gave us generous discounts or provided items free of charge, which was wonderful.

‘The Friends of RHT has held several superb fundraising events – the next will be Port St Mary Secret Gardens & Hidden Treasures, which will take place over Tynwald weekend July 3rd-5th – and our sincere thanks to all volunteers who have helped with those events.

‘Our thanks also to Port Erin Commissioners, with whom we agreed a 99-year lease at £1 a year – and we have already paid up our 99 years’ rent in advance!’

Pamela Crowe leads the RHC Operations Team.

She said: ‘This is an exciting time for RHT and the culmination of a lot of hard work by a wonderful team of people. We have more than 40 volunteers who have kindly offered their time to “staff” the centre and we are indebted to those volunteers, because without their commitment the vision for the project would not have been possible. It has been a real team effort to see this project through to fruition and we cannot wait to open the centre and welcome visitors.’

In recognition of their excellent work on RHC, Saturday night’s official opening will see Doreen present the Trust’s highest honour, the Silver Medal for Outstanding Performance, to Pamela, Ali and Robert. Only five Silver Medals have been awarded in our seven-year history.

If you would like to know more about Rushen Heritage Centre, or if you would like to volunteer at the centre, please contact RHT Coordinator John Quirk at rushenht@gmail.com or call 464634.

28/06/21

 We are sorry to announce that we are cancelling our planned talks at the Erin Arts Centre on May 13 (Pamela Crowe) and June 7 (Allison Fox).

This season of talks got off to such a wonderful start in December, with Charles Guard's superb talk about his career filming around the Island. But lockdowns and concerns over Covid led to us to call off the next four talks, which created some confusion for our supporters, and to those outlets that sell our tickets, who have been very patient with us.

There was another problem last week that saw us have to rearrange the date for Pamela's talk.

Having discussed the situation further, the Trust decided that, in order to avoid any further disruption in the coming weeks, it would be best to cancel the forthcoming talks and start afresh with a new season of talks in the autumn. At a time when things remain uncertain, with occasional Covid cases appearing, we felt this was the most sensible course of action. We hope you understand.

If you have purchased tickets to any of our cancelled talks this year, and have not yet had a refund, please email our coordinator John at rushenht@gmail.com or call/text on 464634.

In brighter news - there will be other events taking place during the summer and our new Rushen Heritage Centre in Bridson Street, Port Erin, will be opening its doors soon.

With the Island going into lockdown as of tomorrow (Thursday, January 7th), we have to postpone the next of our series of talks - Around the South in 30 objects, with Manx National Heritage's Allison Fox - which was scheduled to take place on Monday, January 11th at the Erin Arts Centre.

We are hoping to rearrange this to another date, and will update supporters about subsequent talks in due course (along with information about refunds, should they be required).

The Pudding Clubs planned for January 14th and 21st at St Catherine's Church Hall have been cancelled - we will update regarding future dates as and when we have more information.

Our new season of talks gets underway on Monday, December 7th, with Charles Guard speaking about his career 'Filming the Isle of Man'.

 Over the last 40 years, Charles has made many videos about the history and culture of the Isle of Man. In this illustrated talk, Charles recalls some of the more amusing events that have occurred and gives an insight into the problems and pitfalls of the filming process.

The talk starts at 7.30pm (doors 7pm) at the Erin Arts Centre. Tickets cost £5 - or £4 for Friends of RHT - and are available from Erin News, Bridge Bookshop, and Erin Arts Centre (all Port Erin) and Calvert Newsagents in Port St Mary.

This season's other talks:

Monday, January 11th
Allison Fox, Curator of Archaeology at MNH – Around the South in 30 Objects

Monday, February 8th
To be confirmed

Monday, March 8th
Alison Jones, Trustee and Lead Researcher at Knockaloe Centre for WW1 Internment  – Life at Knockaloe told through five Artefacts

Monday, April 12th
Peter Kelly, Historian – A Postcard Tour of the Isle of Man

Monday, May 10th
Pamela Crowe, RHT Internment Team – Mistaken Identities

We are offering a discount to anyone who would like to book tickets to all six talks - £25, or £20 to Friends of RHT. If you would like to take advantage of this discount, please email John at rushenht@gmail.com before Charles Guard's talk on December 7th.

Unfortunately, we have just learned that the speaker we had lined up for February has had to withdraw, but we should have details of the new speaker soon. 

Work is underway on the creation of the new Tree Archyn Rushen Heritage Centre in Port Erin.

Tree Archyn, which is Manx for ‘three arches’, will serve as a multi-purpose base to support Rushen Heritage Trust’s activities.

Work on converting the former bus shelter site in Bridson Street was delayed because of Covid-19, but it is now underway and should be completed by December, with Tree Archyn opening to the public for the first time at Easter 2021.

To give everyone a chance to find out more about Tree Archyn, Rushen Heritage Trust is holding an Open Day (2.00pm-8.00pm) on Friday, October 9th at St Catherine’s Church Hall in Church Road, Port Erin.

Pamela Crowe is leading the team that will run the centre. She said: ‘It is wonderful to finally see work underway on Tree Archyn. It will be used for small exhibitions, talks, and meetings, and provide a visitor centre for the Rushen area, offering leaflets and advice about local attractions. The Open Day is an opportunity for the public, and our volunteers, to drop by St Catherine’s Church Hall for a drink and a chat, to see the plans and meet new friends. The Open Day is an ideal opportunity for anyone who is interested in getting involved with our team to come along and learn more.’

The building project is being managed by quantity surveyor Robert Graham and RHT Treasurer Ali Graham, with the work being undertaken by J&J Building Contractors. Doreen Moule, who chairs our successful WWII Women’s Internment team, is also importantly involved with Tree Archyn.

Ali said: ‘Tree Archyn could not have happened without funding support from several organisations and private individuals, including Manx Lottery Trust, Gough Ritchie Trust, Elizabeth Ann Clucas Trust, Lord Cockfield Trust, Celton Manx, and the Isle of Man Government’s Town & Village Regeneration Scheme.

‘We would like to thank everyone who has supported the project, and all those volunteers who will help bring Tree Archyn to life when it opens in April next year. Our thanks also to Port Erin Commissioners, with whom we agreed a 99-year lease at £1 a year – and we have already paid up our 99 years’ rent in advance!’

The Trust is appealing for some assistance for its storage area within Tree Archyn.

Pamela explained: ‘We are looking for a chart or map chest to store posters, and Dexion shelving for storage. We are happy with second hand and happy to pay. If anyone can help, please call me on 473768.’

Rushen Heritage Trust (RHT) is opposing the plans submitted by Port Erin Commissioners to redevelop the Cosy Nook site.

The popular café, located at the end of St Catherine’s Terrace on Shore Road, has been empty since the lease expired in May 2019 and earlier this year the Commissioners unveiled their plans for a redeveloped art deco-style building.

Having received strong comments for and against the new plans, RHT conducted a survey, which drew 879 replies – with 63% voting against the proposed new building, 33% in favour, and 4% indifferent.

Of the 879 respondents, 37% were Port Erin residents – and of those, 68% were against the plans, with 28% in favour.

Chairman of RHT, Hugh Davidson, said: ‘We would like to thank everyone who took the time to respond to the survey. It is obvious that the Cosy Nook has been a much-loved café for many years and people have strong feelings about it, which was shown by almost 90% of respondents leaving comments explaining their views. These views are proof of the strength of feeling about the site, on both sides. With 63% voting against the new plans, it is a decisive result and, as such, the Trust is therefore submitting an objection to the Planning Committee.’

Concerns raised by those against the Commissioners’ plans:

·  A need to retain the traditional façade, so as not to lose the site’s uniqueness/character

·  New building is too large, and not in keeping with the site

·  Site will lose its cosy/quaint/charming/tranquil aspects

·  Parking issues/congestion

·  Loss of Manx character and the need to preserve heritage

Of those in favour, many considered the plans to be exciting and forward-looking, praising the Commissioners for moving with the times and showing vision.

Mr Davidson added: ‘We are recommending that the new-look Cosy Nook should be a building with traditional Manx cottage style frontage, which fits the heritage setting of St Catherine’s Terrace, and links with the cosy, charming, informal characteristics of the Cosy Nook. The interior would need to fit modern customer requirements and provide spectacular views of the sea. Hopefully, a significant part of the internal decoration and pictures would recall and celebrate the Cosy Nook's memorable past.

‘Of course, we recognize that the substantial minority who favoured the application also had strong views, sincerely held, and courteously expressed, and appreciate their participation in the poll. We also respect the motivations of Port Erin Commissioners in submitting the planning application.’

Irrespective of the decision by the Planning Committee, the Trust is recommending that the Commissioners convene a public meeting to enable them to outline their proposals, and to allow people to express their views face-to-face.

Mr Davidson said: ‘There are several issues which need to be addressed. We recommend that an external lift is installed, creating direct access to the new Cosy Nook from the Promenade, so that those visiting can park “above” on the Promenade. This would have the added benefit of making it more likely for visitors to shop in Church Road. Parking is already a problem in St Catherine’s Terrace during summer. The parking spaces outside the Cosy Nook could be reserved for nearby residents and disabled people. A more traditional building seems likely to be less expensive and savings could contribute to cost of lift.’

The Trust is conscious that timing is important since the community has already lost two summer seasons of the Cosy Nook. While a 2021 opening for a new building may be too optimistic, priority should be given to accelerating the planning, consultation and building process. The Trust feels it is essential that strong consideration is given to the needs of the residents of St Catherine’s Terrace, a narrow street with some historic buildings.

The Cosy Nook planning application (reference 20/00598/B) can be viewed at: www.gov.im/viewapplications.

The deadline for submissions to the Planning Committee is 17th July 2020. They can be sent to planning@gov.im or to the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture, Planning & Building Control Directorate, Murray House, Mount Havelock, Douglas, IM1 2SF.

Dear Friends

First and most importantly, I hope you are managing to adapt to this new situation and keeping safe. As someone who was a boy on the Island during WWII, it's one of the most disruptive environments I can recall. 

People will remember their experiences in this period in 20 years' and 50 years' time, and their successors will want to hear about them. We are creating tomorrow's heritage and memories today.

At Rushen Heritage Trust, we are adapting quickly. In summary, we will do all the things we had previously planned, but use a wider range of online communication, keep in touch with our more elderly supporters by phone or surface mail, and in a few cases, postpone activities.

For 2020, our Coordinator John Quirk has already established the successful new series of Winter Talks, with audiences of more than 100 people, and regular volunteer meetings. He has also booked exciting speakers for the 2020/21 series, and we expect the first talk to be in early November at the Erin Arts Centre.

Major activity in 2020 would have been the opening in mid-summer of the new Tree Archyn Heritage Centre, converting the former bus shelter building opposite the Cherry Orchard. Our Buildings Team, led outstandingly well by Robert and Ali Graham, both qualified quantity surveyors, is ready to move fast once it is possible to start building work. We already have approvals from the Planning Committee and Department of Infrastructure, have signed a 99-year lease at £1/year with supportive Port Erin Commissioners, developed detailed specs & bills of materials, and shortlisted possible suppliers. The Hon Juan Watterson SHK has been really helpful in this approval process, as has Clerk to PE Commissioners, Jason Roberts.

Thanks to generous funders and proceeds from Port Erin Secret Gardens, organised by Pam Crowe in summer 2019, we have almost reached our funding target, and are ready to start. The stop press news is that, through Eddie Lowey, the Cockburn Trust has generously donated £6,500 to the project. 

Pam, who, together with Pamela Tomlinson, heads our Friends of RHT, has also given talks on WWII Women’s Internment to large international audiences on cruise ships, and has many future talks on the topic booked in the IOM and Florida. 

Much of our time in 2020 will be spent preparing for a big year in 2021, since some projects have quite long lead times. Major activities in 2021, in addition to opening Tree Archyn Centre, will be:

1. Events to mark the 150th anniversary of the building of Milner Tower. They will cover the life of William Milner, Port Erin's biggest benefactor, the building itself and Bradda Head as a notable place. 

2. Activities to celebrate 90th anniversary of The World's Best Photograph, a competition run by Kodak in 1931. The value of first prize, a picture of the photographer's girlfriend on Bradda Head, was worth more than £300,000 in today's money. We are planning a photographic competition, hopefully in partnership with Southern Photographic Society. It will be open to people all over the world, must be a photograph of the South of the Island, and will be linked to Visit Isle of Man to attract more tourists.

3. Knockaloe WWI Internment exhibition in Port St Mary, set up by our partners in Patrick, who have done world-class work on WWI Internment.

We expect the Heritage Centre to be open by early 2021 and are delighted to have at least 25 volunteers who have kindly offered their time to help operate it.

Doreen Moule will be continuing to lead the highly knowledgeable WWII Women’s Internment Team, and, with Ali Graham, our Schools programme. Another Director, Staffan Overgaard, will be spearheading the exciting new Heritage Street Signs project with Port St Mary Commissioners, as well as the relaunch of our I-Beacon Walk project.

All four of our books have sold well, with Living with the Sea one of the bestselling Manx books last Christmas season. Friend or Foe has already been reprinted.

John Quirk will shortly be writing to tell you how we plan to progress these activities online in the new environment, inviting supporters to volunteer for our project groups, and suggesting new ways in which we can create tomorrow's heritage today in our current ‘once in a century’ situation.

Many thanks for all you have done to make Rushen Heritage Trust a success since its launch in 2014, both in heritage and for the community. 

Best wishes, Hugh

Hugh Davidson MBE

Chair, Rushen Heritage Trust

(Image - Vintage LNWR Travel poster, by Sam J M Brown)