Jurby
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Jurby (Manx: Jourbee) is a parish in Michael Sheading in the Isle of Man and has, according to the 2006 census, 659 (2001 census 677) residents.
It is largely an agricultural district on the north-north-western coast of the island but also has an industrial park on the old RAF Jurby Airfield.
The parish is one of three divisions of the sheading of Michael. The other two are Ballaugh and Michael.
Landmarks
Airfield
Jurby Airfield was originally used as a Royal Air Force training base in World War II. During the 1950s it was used as a training camp for Officer cadets on short term commissions in the RAF. The course lasted 3 months. Part is now used as an industrial and retail estate. The old runways and taxiways now form the Jurby motorcycle race track.
The grassland surrounding the airfield harbours a fine range of wildflowers, as the land has never been ploughed. Skylarks can be heard in summer when there are no races on.
Museum
A museum dedicated to transport of the Isle of Man, the Jurby Transport Museum, is housed in an old aircraft hangar.
Church
A tiny 8th century chapel dedicated to St Cecilia (the patron saint of music) was Jurby's first recorded church. St Cecilia's Day on 22 November was the parish festival day. The present Jurby Church (St Patrick's) was built during the war with help of RAF Jurby. There are a number of war graves, for British, Commonwealth and Polish servicemen. They died mostly from aircraft training accidents.
There are several Viking carved crosses/ gravestones within the church. Medieval objects have been sometimes dug up when new graves are dug in the church's grounds.
In medieval times the church was part of the Whithorn diocese in SW Scotland. This caused some political trouble when the English and Scots were at war: the Bishop invited the Scottish clergy of Jurby to visit him and was criticised by English authorities for fraternising with the enemy.
The Church is set on a headland on the coast and there are dramatic views South to Peel, North to Scotland, and inland across the rural North of the Island, towards the hills. There are also fine sunsets towards Ireland.
Prison
The Isle of Man Prison operated by the Isle of Man Prison Service is located at Jurby.
See also
- RAF Jurby Head, an offshore air weapons range operational between 1939 and 1993
Gallery
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Jurby Church
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One of the Viking Crosses (J.G.Cumming, 1857)
References
- Isle of Man Building Control Districts showing parish boundaries
- Glenology - Manx Glens. An ongoing study of Manx glens, their locations and meanings.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jurby. |
- A Manx Notebook
- GeoHive Census Information
- RAF Jurby Airfield
- Aerial photo of Jurby by Jon Wornham
- Isle of Man Guide - Prison contract signed
- Jurby Church Air Force war graves
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Coordinates: 54°21′09″N 4°30′29″W / 54.35250°N 4.50806°W