The wild goats of the Laxey Coast Road are well-known, but few know where they came from...
Jim Quilleash here recounts the origin of those first two original goats, discarded to the broogh from two different Ballaragh farms, and flourishing ever since, even to the irritation of a few Laxey MHKs!

This is an extract from the oral history interview with John Quilleash recorded by James Franklin in 2 September 2025.
The full interview is available online here: https://culturevannin.im/watchlisten/oralhistory/

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The story of the Wild Goats of Lonan

First-hand memories of Mona Douglas, as a neighbour of hers at Ballaragh, Lonan.

John Quilleash recalls her mother's harrowing tales of travelling with Mona in her car to Douglas, where she played piano for the Manx youth group, Aeglagh Vannin. He also recounts the time Mona Douglas crashed into his car, parked outside the family farm at Ballaragh!

This is an extract from the oral history interview with John Quilleash recorded by James Franklin in 2 September 2025.
The full interview is available online here: https://culturevannin.im/watchlisten/oralhistory/

Culture Vannin exists to promote and support all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.
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Being crashed into by Mona Douglas

Family memories of the rescue attempts for the Merisia shipwreck of 1940 in Bulgham Bay.

Jim Qulileash recounts his own father and grandfather's telling of their going down the cliffs of Bulgham to try to help the attempted rescue operation of the 12 fishermen stranded on their ship caught on the rocks.
He also explains the history behind the curious and little-known memorial to the ship, to be found on the roadside in Ballaragh.

This is an edited extract from the oral history interview with John Quilleash recorded by James Franklin in 2 September 2025.
The full interview is available online here: https://culturevannin.im/watchlisten/oralhistory/

Culture Vannin exists to promote and support all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.
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The Merisia shipwreck and its Ballaragh memorial

Wonderful family memories of the WW2 bomber which crashed into Ballaragh farm house in 1941.
The off-course Handley Page Hampden crashed through the roof, destroyed a farm and crashed into the field opposite, killing most of the crew. But, miraculously, the Quilleash family survived, thanks to a series of lucky coincidences, as John Quilleash explains.
Also included here is the wonderful tale of the otherwise unrecorded trip out to salvage some of the fuel that night, which didn't go as expected...!

This is an edited extract from the oral history interview with John Quilleash recorded by James Franklin in 2 September 2025.
The full interview is available online here: https://culturevannin.im/watchlisten/oralhistory/

Culture Vannin exists to promote and support all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.
culturevannin.im/
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Family memories of a WW2 plane crash into the family farm

A conversation with John Quilleash about Ballaragh, where he grew up and still lives today.

John Quilleash was born in 1947 and grew up on the family farm of Ballaragh itself. Some of the subjects discussed in the interview include: the farm’s horse, getting water from wells until piped water arrived in the 1950s, going to Laxey school on the tram, the Ballaragh chapel and Sunday School, family stories of the WW2 plane crashing into the farmhouse in 1941, family stories of the Merisia wreck of 1940, Mona Douglas and being on the receiving end of her poor driving, the origins of the wild goats of Bulgham, and more.

This conversation with John Quilleash was conducted by James Franklin on 2 September 2025.

This interview is part of the collection of over 200 oral history recordings freely available on the Culture Vannin website: culturevannin.im/watchlisten/oralhistory/

Culture Vannin exists to promote and support all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.
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Oral history interview with John Quilleash (2 Sep 2025)

A conversation with 98-year-old James Clague, about such things as his work at the Peel Brick Factory and the Isle of Man Forestry Board, as well as his years in the army in Northern India.

Born in Canada in 1913, after his parents had emigrated from Foxdale to explore gold mining there, James moved to England for his youth, where one of his early memories was hearing the sound of bombing during the First World War.

Finally moving to the Isle of Man at the age of 13, James recalls the hard work of thinning turnips on a farm in Bride, and watching an airship pass over the Island. From there he moved to a job at the Peel brickworks, which he describes in detail, from the nature of the work through to the work conditions and pay. Later work in the Isle of Man included helping the building of the Peel Power Station and then becoming a driver for the Isle of Man Forestry Board, through which he came to live in a house in Ballaglass Glen.

In 1931 he was called up to join the British Army. After initial training in Cheshire, and then a brief position in Malta (where his involvement in the transport division saw him tending to mules), he travelled through the Suez Canal to India, where he remained for the next six and more years. He describes something of the daily life and conditions of his life there, stationed first at Allahbad (today's Prayagraj) and then Ambala, with trips to the hill-station of Shimla. Of note are his stories of having to protect food from swooping birds outside the food hall, a friend from Laxey dying after eating rotten fruit on the train journey from Mumbai, and the 8-mile march to reach sick-bay.

This conversation with James Clague was conducted by Elizabeth Ardern-Corris on 5 December 2011.

This interview is part of the collection of over 200 oral history recordings freely available on the Culture Vannin website: https://culturevannin.im/watchlisten/oralhistory/

Culture Vannin exists to promote and support all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.
https://culturevannin.im/
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Oral history interview with James Clague (5 Dec 2011)

Interview with Mrs Violet Corlett, who was born in Douglas and subsequently moved to live in Cronkbourne Village upon becoming married. The following topics of conversation are covered:

* Early childhood memories
* Husband's work at Clucas' Laundry
* Getting married and starting a family
* Cronkbourne Village
* Braddan Commissioners
* Shops in Cronkbourne Village
* Groceries and deliveries
* Children's parties and games
* Local characters
* Neighbours and relatives
* Recitation of 'When the Laundry whistle blew'
* Local quarry
* Wages and budgeting money

This conversation with Violet Corlett was conducted by Elizabeth Ardern-Corris on 27 May 2011.


This interview is part of the collection of over 200 oral history recordings freely available on the Culture Vannin website: https://culturevannin.im/watchlisten/oralhistory/

Culture Vannin exists to promote and support all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.
https://culturevannin.im/
www.facebook.com/culturevannin/
www.instagram.com/culturevannin/
www.youtube.com/@culturevannin8486

Oral history interview with Violet Corlett (27 May 2011)

A conversation with Patricia Crebbin about her early life in Douglas, including work at R. C. Cain's retail store in Strand Street, before moving to Colby and continuing her life involved in choirs and the community in various ways.

Born in 1940, Patricia was raised on Westbourne Drive by her butcher and a champion weightlifter father, and her dressmaker mother. After attending Murray's Road, Ballakermeen and then Park Road schools, she joined R. C. Cain's at the age of 15, initially in the ladies' underwear department, and then fashion, before moving onto the haberdashery area and then the cash desk. After her move to Colby and her years as a parent of young children, she took up a part time job at a chemist in Port Erin.

Outside of work, Patricia speaks about her many happy years in the Lon Vane choir and the Manx Operatic Society, before moving on to the Meadowside Choral Society and then Mycheilley Ladies Choir after her move to Colby. She describes her involvement in Laa Columb Killey for over 50 years, and in the Colby W.I. since her earliest days as a parent. Later in life, after her marriage to Jim Crebbin, she became an important supporter of the Rushen Silver Band, as well as member of Rowany Golf Club.

At the conclusion of the conversation spanning many difficulty times as well as joyful ones, Patricia notes the importance of having a positive attitude to life.

 
This conversation with Patricia Crebbin was conducted by Elizabeth Ardern-Corris on 19 June 2012.

This interview is part of the collection of over 200 oral history recordings freely available on the Culture Vannin website: https://culturevannin.im/watchlisten/oralhistory/

Culture Vannin exists to promote and support all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.
https://culturevannin.im/
www.facebook.com/culturevannin/
www.instagram.com/culturevannin/
www.youtube.com/@culturevannin8486

Oral history interview with Patricia Crebbin (19 Jun 2012)

The amazing story of the Handley Page Hampden which crashed through the roof of Ballaragh farmhouse on the morning of 27 March 1941.
Involved in the tale are the lucky escapes of those who survived the day, both on the ground and in the plane, and those who did not; as well as the story of what happened after...

This is an extract from the full tour around Ballaragh delivered by James Franklin on Saturday 11 October 2025.
It was delivered as Culture Vannin's offering for the Heritage Open Days 2025.

The full tour can be enjoyed in full here: https://culturevannin.im/watchlisten/audioarchive/ballaragh-tour-gallons-of-tea--fairy-song/

This recording was produced by Culture Vannin in 2025.
Culture Vannin exists to promote and support all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.
www.culturevannin.im
www.facebook.com/culturevannin
www.instagram.com/culturevannin/
www.youtube.com/@culturevannin8486

WW2 plane crash at Ballaragh, 1941

The tragic tale of the Fleetwood trawler wrecked at the bottom of the Bulgham Bay cliffs on 26 December 1940.
This is one wreck amongst so many around the Manx coast, but it is remains in public awareness today thanks to the stone carved at the roadside at Ballaragh, Lonan, and, more recently, with the ship's bell on display in the Ramsey Lifeboat Station.
This is the story of the wreck...

This is an extract from the full tour around Ballaragh delivered by James Franklin on Saturday 11 October 2025.
It was delivered as Culture Vannin's offering for the Heritage Open Days 2025.

The full tour can be enjoyed in full here: https://culturevannin.im/watchlisten/audioarchive/ballaragh-tour-gallons-of-tea--fairy-song/

This recording was produced by Culture Vannin in 2025.
Culture Vannin exists to promote and support all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.
www.culturevannin.im
www.facebook.com/culturevannin
www.instagram.com/culturevannin/
www.youtube.com/@culturevannin8486

The wreck of the Merisia, Bulgham Bay, 1940

Promoting and supporting all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.

Culture Vannin awards grants and initiates schemes whilst supporting the work of development officers for music and language. The work of Culture Vannin has been fundamental to the revival of interest and support for Manx language and culture over the last twenty years.

Culture Vannin is the trading name for the Manx Heritage Foundation, registered charity 333 in the Isle of Man.

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