The Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society (IoMNHAS) will continue its 2020-21 winter programme this weekend.

This Saturday’s lecture is on the working lives and occupations of people in one of the island’s northern parishes in the Victorian era, at a time when the island’s population had been impacted by large-scale emigration.

Dr Fenella Bazin and Ian Radcliffe will together give a presentation on ’A Century of Change: trades and occupations in the parish of Ballaugh in the 19th century’ On Saturday (December 5) at 2.30pm in the Manx Museum Lecture Theatre, on Kingswood Grove and Crellin’s Hill, Douglas.

In their presentation the speakers will attempt to find the answers to the following questions: was 19th-century Ballaugh typical compared with other Manx rural parishes? And how far was the community self-sufficient?

They say that while most occupations met everyday needs, a few specialised businesses developed, helping to sustain the economy which had suffered because of widespread emigration in the early 1800s.

They add that towards the end of the 19th century the coming of the railways - including the opening of the Manx Northern Railway from St John’s to Ramsey with a route passing through Ballaugh in 1879 - transformed the lives of most of the population, signalling the greatest amount of change to have occurred for many generations.

These are only a few of the stories of some of the people of the mountains and plains of this northern parish that will be covered in this fascinating lecture.

As with all IoMNHAS presentations, those attending are advised to arrive early to be sure of a seat and Dr Bazin and Mr RAdcliffe’s talk will be followed by tea and biscuits. Non-members attending the lecture will be invited to make a small donation.

The IoMNHAS Winter Programme will continue on Saturday, January 30, when Fenella Logan will direct her attention to a historic building in another of the island’s northern parishes, this time on the east coast, with a presentation entitled ’Maughold Parish Church: a structural analysis’.

For further details about IoMNHAS and how to join, email [email protected], visit the website at www.manxantiquarians.com or see www.facebook.com/IsleofManNaturalHistoryandAntiquarianSociety