Bronze bell from the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company vessel 'Lady of Mann I'
Date made: early 20th century
Maker: unknown
Description: A bronze bell from the IOMSPco vessel Lady of Mann I. It carries the name of the vessel in red lettering. This vessel was constructed at the height of the interwar depression, and was said to be 'foreman built'. This meant that the shipyard had laid off most of its casual workers and only the most highly skilled men remained; this resulted in a very high standard of finish. She was noted for her ornately carved internal wooden staircases (though by the 1960s, much of the internal wooden furniture had been removed to comply with tighter fire regulations.)
The Lady of Mann took part in the Dunkirk evacuation of 1940, and subsequently the Normandy landings of 1944. The vessel was withdrawn from service and broken up in 1971. It is reported that this bell was removed from the ship in the breakers yard before the vessel was scrapped.
Materials: bronze
Object name: bell
Collection: Social History Collection
ID Number: 2013-0055