Thomas Frederick Quine

Epithet: Miller and developer of Silverdale Glen (1862-1939)

Record type: Biographies

Biography: From ‘New Manx Worthies’ (2006):

Thomas was the fifth and youngest son of William Quine, MHK. After leaving school, he was apprenticed in 1877 to the milling trade, from which he entered a partnership with his eldest surviving brother, William, manager of the Nunnery Mill, Douglas. He was the first known Manxman to sit the City and Guilds of London Institute's millers' examination, covering the subjects of UK grain processing, mill technology and business management. He obtained a first-class pass, as well as first place and a prize of £3.

In 1885 he emigrated to Vancouver, Canada, to pursue his career, later followed by his fiancée, Eva, daughter of Mr and Mrs John Cubbon of Ballavear, Braddan, and they married over there. Because of family circumstances in the Isle of Man, the couple returned to Ballasalla in January 1897, to assist Thomas's father in the running of Cregg Mill, a corn merchant's business near Ballasalla, and to help in developing the catering business initiated by his sister, Margaret Elizabeth Quine (1854-1951), to meet public demand.

This trio, encouraged by their father, were the creators and developers of the new enterprise at the Cregg Mill which, from around 1897, the family called Silverdale, the name taken from their home built by William Quine in 1870 above the original miller's cottage. The catering business prospered and, to meet potential increase, a stone-built catering quarter was attached to the west side of the mill overlooking the mill dam, later referred to as The Lake. The potential of the business was further enhanced when in 1900 William Quine's fourth son, Dr Richard Henry Quine purchased the river below the Cregg Mill which Thomas and his father further beautified with tree planting, naming it Silverdale Glen. For the pleasure of children and adults, the family paddle-boat was supplemented with rowing boats and, also in this first decade of the new century, the famous waterwheel-powered roundabout [still operating in 2006]. Later, swings and swing boats were added. After William Quine's death in May 1907, Thomas and his sister took joint ownership of the whole milling and catering businesses which, in family tradition, embodied their temperance principles, with Margaret and Eva managing the catering side and all employees. Thomas followed his father by being elected to the House of Keys as a member for Rushen Sheading.

After World War I Thomas asked his nephew, Richard Quine junior, a civil engineer, to design an enlarged restaurant adjoining the earlier extension. This was completed in the early 1920s, and whilst all the buildings have since been internally modernised they have remained externally a witness to the original concept. Thomas, his wife and sister dedicated four decades of their lives to the development of Silverdale as a national institution, deriving their own pleasure from the pleasure of others. Thousands of children from Manx schools and Sunday Schools, and countless visitors, were encouraged to Silverdale for their outings and remembered so clearly their picnics and games.

Eva died in 1930, a loss from which Thomas never really recovered, and due to his failing health and with no immediate family to take on the business, he had no alternative but to sell the Cregg Mill and the catering interests in August 1938. He then declined, and died in January 1939, being buried with his wife in Malew Churchyard.

As his father was largely the creator of the Glen Helen National Glen, so Thomas Quine was the Manxman who was the prime mover in the creation and development of Silverdale and its glen as they are today.

Biography written by William Sleigh (great-nephew).

(With thanks to Culture Vannin as publishers of the book: Kelly, Dollin (general editor), ‘New Manx Worthies’, Manx Heritage Foundation/Culture Vannin, 2006, pp.394-5.)

Culture Vannin

#NMW

Gender: Male

Date of birth: 1862

Date of death: 9 January 1939

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