People were hunting for seats as the theatre of Peel Centenary Centre filled for Frances Coakley’s presentation on some aspects of Peel’s development in the 10th to the 18th centuries.

This large audience from all over the island was not to be disappointed.

Frances is very well known as a speaker and for her expansive and still expanding website, www.manxnotebook.com

Her e-mail address is [email protected] so very easy to contact.

It is useful to know that the islet off Peel was known in 1274 as Insula Sanct Patricii, in 1377 as Insulad. Holmo, Holm(e) Patrick or Patrickys Holm. Old Norse for island is holmr.

The fort in 1399 was referred to as Pel, in 1428 as The Pele, the Holme, in 1500 as The Peele and in the late 17thC as Castle Peele.

The name of our town is inextricably linked with the fort and Christian buildings on the site being named in 1428, Holmton, 1580, Holmetowne, 1665, Peeletown and not until the 19th Century as Peel.

Let’s hope that’s it, now!

Records from the early years appear to be sparse. However, we know that there was a cemetery and keeill (a simply-built chapel) in early Christian times, in the Late Norse period 1000 to 1200, a stone rampart, a round tower and St Patrick’s church built on the islet.

This blossomed in the High Medieval Period from 1200 to 1390 into St German’s Cathedral, sadly allowed to fall into ruin and an important ecclesiastical centre. These would have involved a large number of people, causing the town to expand.

In late medieval times, 1390 to 1530, the curtain wall surrounding the site was built with military control of the islet and included a civil administrative centre.

In the post medieval period, 1530 to 1735, Lord Derby did some re-modelling on the site but there was a steady decline post Civil War.

The military, of course, had a huge impact on the town. Many of them were garrisoned in houses and the town provided a whole range of soldiers’ comforts.

Food and ale was supplied to the castle as well as fuel and all the supplies that a large number of men would require.

These services were of great value to the town and were missed when the site went into decline.

The garrison roll is a good guide as to what was going on and their individual earnings. We looked at 1428, noting still familiar surnames. Allowances ranged from £10 a year for the Captaine down to 5 shillings for the boatman. This can’t have been his only income.

Frances took us through a series of town plans and illustrated how tenancies from barons and the Abbot became more secure over time until charges were removed - as late as 1911.

Population growth, schools and the development of the harbour were all referred to with excellent illustrations.

So much to explore, so much to enjoy! Do hit the website.

Our next meeting is Wednesday, April 19, at 7.30pm in the Centenary Centre when Alan Gelling JP, presents ’ The Dumbell’s Bank Affair’.

John Slater

Peel Heritage Trust