Former MHK David Cretney delves into the history of two unmistakably Manx attractions - the island’s famous tailless cats and their unlikely celebrity connections to 150 years of Douglas horse trams.

When on holiday and the subject of the Isle of Man comes up, what are you most asked about?

For some, it is the old chestnut of explaining that it is not the Isle of Wight or the Channel Islands.

For many, it is the excitement of realising that you actually live on the island which hosts the TT Races, which, through modern technology, are witnessed across the world.

Perhaps it is our language, culture and folklore, or rich history and heritage. Then there are those who have heard of the Manx cat, which is probably the most internationally recognisable animal associated with our island home.

The first documentary references to tailless cats date from the early 18th century, although local traditions about them go much further back. There are several theories about their origins, including connections with cats brought to the island by the Vikings…

What makes Manx cats so popular? They weren’t originally kept as curiosities; indeed, they were renowned working cats. Farmers valued them enormously as mousers, and their powerful hindquarters and excellent jumping ability made them formidable hunters.

There were also colonies of Manx cats around Douglas, including one associated with the horse tram stables in the 1950s. They were particularly popular as ship’s cats. Indeed, in 1963, a tabby Manx cat was presented to the Queen Mother when she visited Castletown, and this cat then became the ship’s cat on the Royal Yacht Britannia.

Manx cats were given as gifts to help promote the island in the 19th and 20th centuries to famous people such as John Wayne, Walt Disney and Edward VIII, and tourists were encouraged to take one home.

Manx cats are very popular in the USA, where the breed has been established for more than a century. The Cat Fanciers’ Association has recognised the breed for many decades, and its records show Manx cats being registered in the 1920s and 1930s. Its records indicate numerous Manx cats imported directly from the island.

The Manx cat has several characteristics that appeal to American cat owners, including its unmistakable tailless appearance. They are very affectionate and people-oriented, intelligent and playful, and are often described as being ‘dog-like’ because they will play fetch. They are also good with children and other animals, amongst other things.

The government established an official breeding cattery at Knockaloe Farm in 1961. The objective was essentially to maintain a nucleus of good Manx breeding stock. The 1964 publication ‘The Manx Cat’ records that the government cattery had maintained approximately 20 adult females and three adult males. It had also attracted enormous publicity, with enquiries about kittens coming from around the world.

But there was a problem, inasmuch as Knockaloe was not particularly convenient for tourists, and tourism was very important to the Manx cat story. In fact, despite its inconvenient location, about 600 tourists visited the cats in just one fortnight in August 1963, demonstrating the enormous potential of putting the cats somewhere tourists could easily reach.

In 1964, Douglas Corporation took over the cattery and moved it to Noble’s Park. The new cattery was purpose-built and cost in the region of £4,000 to construct and fit out. In today’s money, that equates to about £105,000 - a substantial investment.

It could accommodate around 30 cats, with heated accommodation and individual sleeping quarters. It became a real attraction for visitors and local residents, who could walk into Noble’s Park and see the famous tailless Manx cats, with the little kittens being particularly appealing to families.

Several thousand adults and children visited during the early period of the new cattery. Noble’s Park wasn’t merely a public park attraction. It became one of the places where visitors could experience something that was uniquely Manx.

As a music lover, I was really interested to read of some visitors to the Isle of Man who arrived via Cambrian Airways, on board a Vickers Viscount, on August 14 1964 and who were presented with a black Manx cat on arrival… none other than the Rolling Stones!

The cattery lasted approximately 28 years at Noble’s Park, finally closing in 1992. It is suggested that there were two principal issues: rising operating costs and some concerns about animal welfare.

A 1989 report records Douglas councillors campaigning to ‘save our trams and cattery’, with both the horse trams and Noble’s Park cattery facing questions over their financial future.

So, in effect, the cattery became part of a wider debate in relation to traditional Manx tourist attractions in a changing tourism world. So nothing really changes!

It feels appropriate, whilst looking at a campaign in relation to the horse trams from 1989, 37 years ago, to look briefly at this special part of island life, this year celebrating its 150th anniversary.

The story starts in the middle of the Victorian tourism boom. Douglas was rapidly changing from a small Manx town into a fashionable seaside resort. Steamships were bringing increasing numbers of visitors, hotels were appearing along the bay, and the promenade was becoming the centre of tourist life.

Into this came Thomas Lightfoot, a retired civil engineer from Sheffield. He recognised that Douglas needed an efficient way of moving holidaymakers along the rapidly developing seafront.

On August 7, 1876, the first section of the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway opened. It ran initially from the area of the Iron Pier at Broadway northwards towards what is now Summer Hill. The line was only a short distance, but it was the beginning of something extraordinary.

The original tramway was 3 ft gauge and started with just three tramcars: No. 1, an enclosed single-deck saloon, intended particularly for winter use, and Nos. 2 and 3, open-topped double-deck cars. They were supplied by Starbuck’s Car & Wagon Company of Birkenhead.

The tramway was extended very quickly. By the end of 1876, it had been extended southwards along Harris and Loch Promenades, reaching Peveril Square, close to the steamship landing area.

That was extremely important. A visitor arriving by steamer could effectively step ashore and then use the horse tram to travel along the seafront. It became part of the holiday experience itself.

By 1891, the line had been developed into a double-track tramway for its full length, allowing trams travelling in opposite directions to pass each other.

This was the great Victorian attraction. You didn’t simply use the tram… you saw the tram.

Who, like me, 150 years later, still enjoys the sight of the magnificent horses gently clip-clopping along, with visitors and locals taking a ride?

The horses, conductors, colourful cars, promenades, hotels, boarding houses and crowds of holidaymakers became part of the spectacle of Douglas.

Lightfoot eventually sold the operation in 1882 to Isle of Man Tramways Ltd. The company later became associated with the Isle of Man Tramways & Electric Power Company, which also became involved with the emerging Manx Electric Railway system.

But the company ran into financial difficulties and, following its collapse, Douglas Corporation acquired the horse tramway in 1902.

Another time, I will recall the history from that date…

It would be wrong, whilst discussing the unique horse trams and the pleasure the horses bring, not to mention that after their duties they can be seen enjoying and relaxing in fields in several places. I often stop to say hello as I walk around Clypse and Kerrodoo.

In retirement, they are lovingly cared for at the Home of Rest for Old Horses… another subject for another day?