Interview with Miss C. Quayle about Castletown
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Date(s): 14 March 1951
Creator(s): Manx Museum
Scope & Content: Miss C. Quayle talks to Mary Quilliam about Castletown. She talks about her mother part-witnessing the suicide in Rushen House of Robert Quayle, Member of the House of Keys; the steps where she was told John Wesley had preached; the umber House, the cow houses and the Bank of Mona; houses cleared for a quay and the big steamers from Norway; bringing umber down from the mountain and its peculiar smell; execution at the Gallows Meadow of 16-year-old Kate Kinrade for poisoning a wife and the poem 'Kate Kinrade the Pretty Maid'; fields before there was Victoria Road.
Miss Quayle recalls how Janet’s Corner in Castletown was named after Janet Walkington; small shop and dressing rooms for football players later added to Janet’s house. She talks about Lorne House Lodge built with stones from church; her grandfather, coachman at Kentraugh before he came to Lorne house; her father as a boy at Lorne House working with two Scottish gardeners; Pat Connachan, Lorne House; Mrs Gawne teaching her grandfather to read; wages and diet of potatoes and milk; Castletown bell man David McGill; Ellen Sandy coming to the lodge; Kitty ‘the donkey’ and the rag-and-bone cart; 'Old Shooter' grazing his donkey by Lorne House Lodge and selling sand for cleaning floors and tables; beggars; games played by the children and days off school to pick potatoes.
She ends by reciting and explaining parts of Tom Dipper’s poems including 'The Cottage in The Heather' and 'Thie Kinsey'.
Administration / Biographical History: This recording was made for the Manx Folk Life Survey. Mary Quilliam was a Manx Folk Life Survey recorder.
Language: English
Extent: 21 min. 11 sec.
Item name: magnetic tape
Collection: Sound Archive
Level: ITEM
ID number: SA 0054
Access conditions: All reasonable attempt has been made by Manx National Heritage to trace and request permission (where needed) from the copyright holder(s) in this sound recording. If however you think you are a rights holder then please contact Manx National Heritage.
Subject tags : #UOSH, #UOSHManxFolkLifeSurvey