What’s reputed to be the island’s oldest pub is set to be registered.

A notice of a proposal to register the Mitre Hotel in Kirk Michael has been made by the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture.

DEFA wants to register the building due to its special architectural or historic interest.

Registration will mean that no one can demolish, alter or extend of the pub without the consent of the department.

Mike Clague of Michael Heritage Trust said: ’We would welcome the registration of such an important building to the village.’

The Mitre dates from at least the 1780s, and was established on the 120 acre estate of Ballachrink House.

A map from 1785 shows the Mitre Hotel and nearby houses, as well as the stables which is now the rifle club building.

There was no Douglas Road Corner then - the Main Road led to Peel and the road to St John’s went up alongside the Mitre and into the Fairfield, before turning south.

A book by John Feltham about his tour of the island in 1797, describes the Mitre as ’a most respectable inn’ and refers to the ’beautiful hostess, who cannot fail to attract and please every visitant’.

In 1799 it was taken over by a William Ray, who in November 1808 transferred it to Charles Richardson, who had run the Liverpool Hotel, Douglas.

Richardson, in his turn, went to Ramsey in about 1813 and the Kirk Michael house passed into the hands of P. Dellany, who called it the New Inn. A couple of years later it became the Old Inn under Robert Williams.

Under Lt. Ivie, it reverted to the Crown and Mitre. In 1841, it was taken over by a Mr Pitchforth of Yorkshire.

A daily stage coach regularly called at the Mitre in the 1880s and for many years it was a favoured spot for honeymooning couples.

Comments about the proposed registration must be made to planning and building control, Murray House, Mount Havelock, Douglas, by June 21, quoting 18/00004/RBINV.