Castletown

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Castle Rushen seen across Castletown Harbour at low tide. Also in view to the left is the famous Gluepot Pub.

Castletown (Balley Chashtal in Manx) is a town in the south of the Isle of Man. It is the former capital of the island. Castletown is also a House of Keys constituency, electing 1 MHK.

Notable buildings in the town include Castle Rushen, King William's College, The Buchan School and the Old House of Keys. Tynwald used to meet in Castletown except on Tynwald Day, when it traditionally met (and still meets) on Tynwald Hill in St. John's. Castletown's population is 3,100 (according to the 2001 census).

Much of the attraction of Castletown is due to the quality of its period buildings, many constructed of the local silver-grey limestone. The layout of the town centre still retains its early arrangement, echoing the cluster of houses around the military parade ground, which still has its alternative use as market place. The interested visitor can still identify the original building plots, and the crofts attached to them, which have given their name to a delightful residential area a stone's throw from the town centre.

Other attractions include the old schoolhouse and the Peggy boat museum. The Peggy is an old boat which was bricked up in an outbuilding belonging to the Quayle family, and 'lost' for around 100 years before being rediscovered by workmen. Dan Quayle, former Vice President of the United States is also of a Manx Quayle family.

King William's College and Ronaldsway Airport border the north-east of the town. To the north-west of the town lies Castle Rushen High School. To the north is Ballasalla, the north-west the village of Ballabeg and to the west Port St. Mary and Port Erin. Castletown has a railway station on the Isle of Man Steam Railway. The town sits on the north-western side of Castletown Bay, at the south western-tip of which is the Scarlett Point visitor centre. The opposite shore of the bay is made up of the west coast of the Langness Peninsula.

[edit] MHKs & Elections

[edit] External links

• Castletown.org.im
• Castletown - Isle of Man Guide

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