Souvenir plate bearing the portrait of Governor Loch
Date made: mid 19th century
Maker: Broughton
Description: This plate is an an early tourist souvenir, apparently part of a series showing eminent persons (the others including the Bishop of Sodor and Man). It was produced for J.Broughton of Ramsey, a retailer of china and ceramics.
The plate is white with a black transfer print portrait of Governor Henry Loch, Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man. It has a gilt gold rim and is lettered J. Broughton, Ramsey on the back.
Henry Bloom Noble (1816-1903) made a vast fortune through mining, banking and property. Following the death of his wife in 1888 he established the Henry Bloom Noble Trust and used his great wealth to fund many charitable schemes including the Douglas library and Noble’s park. Using £5,000 provided by her husband, the hospital was built in the garden of Rebecca’s family home, Clifton House.
The first Noble’s Hospital closed in 1911 and was replaced by a new building on the outskirts of Douglas, again funded by Henry Bloom Noble’s Trust. The old hospital building lay empty for several years but found a new lease of life in 1922 when it opened its doors as the Manx Museum.
Appointed as Governor of the Isle of Man in 1863, Henry Brougham Loch played a pivotal role in reforming the House of Keys. When funds were urgently required for the rebuilding of the breakwater in Douglas and following the imprisonment of newspaper editor James Brown, Loch became convinced that there should be no taxation of the Manx people without representation and negotiated with the British authorities and the House of Keys for the election of its members. The result was the 'House of Keys Election Act, 1866'. The first public election of the House of Keys took place in 1867.
Loch remained Governor until 1882. During his appointment, he oversaw the development of infrastructure necessary to support the island’s tourist industry including harbour works, the Battery and Victoria Piers in Douglas, and what is now known as Loch Promenade.
Measurements: overall: 2 cm x x x 17.5 cm
Materials: ceramic
Object name: plate
Collection: Social History Collection
ID Number: 1954-3305c