Manx National Heritage Library

Manx Costal Erosion

Select Bibliography No. 8

Coastal erosion has been noted for many years on the Island particularly on the North Western coast in the parishes of Michael, Ballaugh and Jurby where the sandy shore has been retreating steadily. The following material is intended as a selected guide to resource material.

BELOW: The scene at Cranstal, north of Ramsey, February, 1951, showing the effects of unchecked erosion on the coastline of the Isle of Man.

The scene at Cranstal, north of Ramsey

MAIN SOURCES

Jolliffe, I.P.

An investigation into coastal erosion problems in the northern part of the Isle of Man: causes, effects and remedial strategies / by I.P. Jolliffe

University of London, 1981

Report to the Isle of Man Harbour Board and the Isle of Man Government

This standard 200 page report on coastal erosion highlights key features of previous reports and discusses marine and coastal influences specific to the Isle of Man.

Library Ref D134q

Renshaw, J.C.

Coast Erosion in the North of the Isle of Man / by J.C.Renshaw

1976

A useful synthesis prepared as an undergraduate dissertation.

Archive Ref 9630

Robinson, Vaughan and McCarroll, Danny

The Isle of Man: Celebrating a sense of place / edited by Vaughan Robinson & Danny McCarroll

Liverpool : Liverpool University Press, 1990

Chapter 6 The Isle of Man’s unstable coast’ by Colin Rouse gives a concise illustrated summary. A good introduction to this topic.

Library Ref F68/8

MAPS

Ordnance Survey

The Isle of Man: Celebrating a sense of place / edited by Vaughan Robinson & Danny McCarroll

1:2500 Survey plans of the 1860s

These illustrate the extent of erosion over the last 130 + years; and 1:2500/1:10560 plans of the 1950s and 1960s

GOVERNMENT REPORTS

Blaker, W.H.

Report on Construction and Effect of Groynes at certain English Seaside Towns, and suggested Remedial Measures for Arresting Erosion at Peel and on the North West Coast of the Isle of Man / by W.H. Blaker

Douglas: Brown & Sons, 1917

Report presented to Isle of Man Harbour Commissioners. pp 26-31 refer to Peel, Kirk Michael and the north west coast, with methods of construction and projected costs.

Library Ref B92/10/2x

Brown, J.C.

Coast Erosion / by J.C.Brown

Douglas, Isle of Man Govt, 1951

Typescript report prepared for the Harbour Commissioners with several photographs clearly show the failure of previous attempts to halt erosion on the North West coast of the island, also includes maps.

Archive Ref MS 5359C

Coast Erosion: Report of Committee of Tynwald with report by W.H.Baker and report from H.Cowin.

Douglas, Isle of Man Govt, 1924

Considers West coast erosion and cost of remedies with report from W.H. Blaker and financial statement from H. Cowin.

Library Ref D134/1x

Harbour Board and Board of Agriculture and Fisheries: Report on Erosion of the coasts of the North of the Isle of Man.

Douglas, Isle of Man Govt, 1983

Assesses Jolliffe report, the possible effects on government boards and advises non intervention as a general rule.

Library Ref D134q

Department of Highways, Ports and Properties & Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Coast Erosion Policy: A report to the Executive Council

Douglas, Isle of Man, 1990

Follow up to 1983 report which reviews the recommendations made.

Library Ref D134/17

Department of Transport

Coastal Erosion at Kirk Michael: An Interim Report to Tynwald January 2000.

Douglas, Isle of Man Government 2000

Report of a geophysical survey by Posford Duvivier consulting engineers commissioned by the Department.

Library Ref D134

Tynwald

Encroachment of the sea at Michael, Ballaugh, etc.: a report of Committee of Tynwald.

Douglas, Isle of Man Govt, 1897

Also contains minutes of evidence. Evidence of landowners and G.W. Lamplugh on causes of erosion and preferred measures to prevent further erosion.

Library Ref D134/1x

see also questions and debates in Tynwald, the proceedings of which are available both in the library and at the Central Reference Library, Government Offices, Douglas.

OTHER SOURCES

Craine, David

Manannan’s Isle: A Collection of Manx Historical essays / by D.Craine.

Douglas: Manx Museum and National trust, 1955

Contains brief details of erosion in Ballaugh pp 210-211 and Jurby p 232.

Library Ref F64/121

Kermode, P.M.C.

The Manx Archaeological Survey Third Report / drawn up by P.M.C.Kermode.

IOMNHAS, 1911 reprinted with reports 1 to 5, Manx Museum and National Trust 1968.

Discusses the site of Keeill Pharlane in Michael with a sketch map showing rate of erosion.

Library Ref F6q

Lamplugh, G.W.

The Geology of the Isle of Man (Memoirs of the Geological Survey) / by G.W.Lamplugh.

London: HMSO, 1903

Contains details of changes since the Ordnance Survey of the 1860s particularly for the Point of Ayre, Jurby and Orrisdale Head.

Library Ref A224

Moore, Arthur William

A History of the Isle of Man / by A.W.Moore.

Douglas: Manx National Heritage, 1992, (reprint of 1900 edition). - 2 vols. 1026 p.

ISBN 0 901106 3 X

Vol 1, pp 24-25 refer to the rate of erosion.

Library Ref F64/141

Ramsey Town Commissioners

Report on the Denudation of the Beach along Mooragh Promenade / by Ove Arup & Partners for RTC.

Cardiff: Ove Arup & Partners, 1979

Assesses erosion undermining the sea wall and its prevention.

Library Ref D134/18

Train, Joseph

An Historical and Statistical Account of the Isle of Man.

Douglas: Mary A. Quiggin, 1845

pp 33-35 Dimensions of the Island summarises previous authors comments on the rate of erosion.

Library Ref F64

Tynwald Debates 1981/82 T416-421

Coastal Erosion, Ballure Cliffs, further expenditure for study - approved 19/1/82.

SELECTIVE INDEX TO ISLE OF MAN NEWSPAPERS

Harbour Board to make survey - Port Cranstal -22/3/57 IOM Examiner.
Report of further damage at Cranstal -4/3/60 IOM Courier.
Ballavarey Cottage, Andreas collapses into the sea -9/3/62 IOM Weekly Times.
Enquiry - 2/2/65 IOM Daily Times.
Cranstal article with pictures - 8/10/65 IOM Weekly Times.
Mooragh Shore -19/1/68 IOM Weekly Times & 27/1/68 IOM Courier.
Laxey Beach -6/2/68 Mona’s Herald & 9/2/68 IOM Weekly Times.
Island in general especially the north coast -6/2/68 Mona’s Herald.
Problem of sand erosion at Laxey -12/3/68 Mona’s Herald.
Beach at Bride inspected - 16/2/69 Mona’s Herald.
On Farm at Cronkbane, Bride -16/10/70 IOM Examiner.
Notes on the Cronkbane, Bride -11/6/71 IOM Courier.
Government gives assurance that situation is being carefully watched - 28/1/72 IOM Courier
Residents in the north worried about erosion -25/1/72 Mona’s Herald.
Government Office informs farmers that there is no evidence that the old Jetty near the point of Ayre causes erosion by deflecting heavy seas towards the coast -28/11/72 Mona’s Herald.
North of Ramsey. Local government holds public enquiry -5/12/72 Mona’s Herald
Reduction of rates for Ramsey man following claim regarding the constant expenditure caused by coastal erosion - 16/3/73 IOM Examiner.
Erosion caused by gales - 21/2/74 IOM Weekly Times.
Too much gravel removed from the coast leads to erosion - 26/4/74 IOM Examiner.
Erosion at Glen Maye - 18/10/74 IOM Examiner
Erosion following high tide at Ballure -7/2/75 IOM Examiner.
Erosion at Jurby - 20/5/75 IOM Weekly Times.
Storms cause further erosion at Bride -6/2/76 IOM Examiner.
Descriptive notes of erosion in the north of the Island - 18/10/77 IOM Weekly Times.
Notes on coast erosion in the North of the Island - 18/3/80 IOM Weekly Times.
Project undertaken by Bedford College, London - 10/4/81 IOM Examiner.
Mr. Joughin of Bride refuses to pay income - 27/11/81 IOM Examiner.
Descriptive notes of report on erosion along the Northwest coastline - 15/2/83 IOM Weekly Times.
Work started on groynes at Glen Mooar beach to prevent erosion; notes and photos -10/86 Peel City Guardian & 17/10/86 Manx Star & 21/10/86 IOM Weekly Times.
The problem of our shrinking Island; notes and photos - 3/7/87 Manx Independent.
Dramatic effects at Ballaugh; notes and photos - 16/2/90 Manx Independent.
Battle to save the crumbling riverbank; notes and photos - 21/2/90 Manx Independent.
DHPP considering asking advice from Dutch engineers - 23/2/90 Manx Independent.
Millions would be needed to halt the erosion of the Island’s north-west coastline -2/3/90 Manx Independent.
Michael Commissions say groyne barrier at Glen Mooar has halted erosion - 6/3/90 Manx Independent.
Residents take initiative to protect cliff-top home on erosion-hit north western coastline; notes and photos - 23/10/90 IOM Examiner.
The Island’s northern coastline and the soft option’ remedy - 11/12/90 IOM Examiner.
Scheme to protect coastline at Glen Wyllin -17/2/91 IOM Courier.
DHPP plan pilot scheme at Glen Wyllin to fight coastal erosion -30/8/91 Manx Independent & 10/9/91 IOM Examiner.
Cost of sea defences at Bay Ny Carrickey -18/12/92 IOM Courier.
Marine expert to be called in - troubled defence breached again (Shore Road) -Manx Independent 19/1/93.
Shore Road closure hits local trade -Manx Independent 29/1/93.
Coast at Ballaugh and further North -15/3/94 IOM Examiner.
1,000 tonnes of cliff comes crashing down (Orrisdale Head) - IOM Examiner 11/5/1999.
Anger after DOT stalls for time, cost of coastal protection at Michael -Manx Independent/IOM Examiner 14 & 18/1/2000.
Minister denies delay tactic over erosion (Michael) - IOM Examiner 8 & 22/2/2000.

The Manx National Heritage Library holds a wealth of various and extensive source material. Staff at the library and throughout Manx National Heritage, are always pleased to hear from anyone with an interest in Manx history.