St. John's Sawmill

The current sawmill was opened in 1982 and is sited opposite the Forestry Division's Central Offices and Depot at Hope Road, St Johns. Prior to 1982 sawmill operations were undertaken at Laurel Bank on the T.T. course just north of Ballacraine. This original sawmill was created by the then Forestry, Mines and Lands Board in order to convert harvested timber into fence posts and rails for the farming community on the Island.

As time passed and the then policy of afforestation afforded a greater supply of timber, the need for a larger sawmill to satisfy increased demand became evident. This was when the new purpose-built sawmill was constructed and mill operations transferred to St. Johns.

Today, the sawmill produces a wide range of home-grown timber products which can be purchased either untreated or treated with preservative under the 'Tanalith E' trademark.

The sawmill still satisfies much of the local demand for agricultural fencing posts and produces gates and other fencing material to various sizes.

A range of garden products is also available including larch lap panels, benches, picnic tables, arbors, rose arches and log stores.

A range of bagged firewood products is available.

Other made-to-measure products can be ordered.

Over 3,000 cubic metres of timber is produced from the mill each year which includes around 120,000 fence posts, easily sufficient to fence the entire coastline of the Isle of Man!

Timber is now harvested and extracted by mechanical means. In the past the Department's predecessor, the Forestry, Mines and Lands Board employed heavy horses for this work some of which were stabled on what is now the sawmill car park. A trough for watering these horses can still be seen at the entrance to the sawmill yard.

DisabledGo Information

Terms & Conditions

©2008 Isle of Man Government