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Governor's Bridge (Isle of Man)

Roads in the Isle of ManUse British English from May 2017
Governors bridgeIMG 0211
Governors bridgeIMG 0211

Governor's Bridge (formerly known as Heywood's Bridge or the Deemster's Bridge) is a hairpin bend adjacent to a road junction on the primary A18 Mountain Road in the parish of Onchan in the Isle of Man, with a sudden drop in elevation leading to Governor's Dip, followed by a left-hand bend and finally a right exiting on to the main Glencrutchery Road. The Governor's Bridge road junction and hairpin bend are part of the Snaefell Mountain Course used since 1920 for the Isle of Man TT and from 1923 for the Manx Grand Prix Races. This junction was part of the Clypse Course for the TT races between 1954 and 1959. It is also part of the Willaston Circuit used for cycle racing, classic car racing and used as part of a timed special stage for the Rally Isle of Man. For the 1920 Isle of Man TT Races, changes were made to the Mountain Course and competitors then turned left at Hillberry, continuing uphill at Cronk-ny-Mona following the primary A18 Mountain Road to Governor's Bridge, with a new start/finish line on Glencrutchery Road which lengthened the course to 37¾ miles. This included the creation of a new link road at Governor's Bridge on the primary A2 Ramsey to Douglas Road between the road junction of the newly created A18 Bemahague road (from Governor's Bridge to Signpost Corner), the A2 Governor's Road/Glencrutchery Road and Victoria Road in Douglas. The new A2 link road effectively redirected the main road traffic and created the Governor's Dip bends off the primary A2 road which was used as part of the Snaefell Mountain Course for motor-cycle racing. The new link road also created a small wooded glen on the site which is known for its distinctive horse-chestnut trees. For the 1954 Isle of Man TT races, the approach to Governor's Bridge on the A18 Bemahague Road was widened with the removal of a grass bank to facilitate turning of the wider sidecar outfits in the re-introduced Sidecar TT on the Clypse Course. During October 2007 the Isle of Man Department of Transport began road widening at Braddan Bridge, further around the Mountain Course exiting Douglas, additionally creating a roundabout. The Department of Transport also announced a proposal to build a new section of road for the Mountain Course with a link road from Signpost Corner to Governor's Bridge using the pre-existing A18 Bemahague Road. This road widening scheme occurred between February and April 2008, with the removal of trees on the Bemahague Estate (which includes Government House, the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man) and the creation of a small mini-roundabout. Further work by the Isle of Man Department of Transport in July and September 2008 included the installation of a storm drain and the completion of the mini-roundabout. The Isle of Man TT Races and Manx Grand Prix continue to use the original A18 Bemahague Road (designated as Old Bemahague Road which runs parallel to the new link road) and the Governor's Dip for motorcycle racing, avoiding the new road sections.

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Governor's Bridge (Isle of Man) (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors, Images).

Governor's Bridge (Isle of Man)
Glencrutchery Road, Douglas Willaston

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Geographical coordinates (GPS)

Latitude Longitude
N 54.171666666667 ° E -4.4683333333333 °
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Address

Glencrutchery Road

Glencrutchery Road
Douglas, Willaston
Isle of Man
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Governors bridgeIMG 0211
Governors bridgeIMG 0211
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The Nook, Isle of Man

The Nook (Middle English: a corner or recess) is situated on the primary A18 Mountain Road in the parish of Onchan in the Isle of Man between the 37th Milestone road-side marker on the Snaefell Mountain Course and the TT Grandstand on the primary A2 Glencrutchery Road in the town of Douglas. The Nook along with the nearby Governor's Bridge road junction and hairpin bends is part of the Snaefell Mountain Course used since 1920 for the Isle of Man TT and from 1923 for the Manx Grand Prix Races. The Nook was part of the Clypse Course for the Isle of Man TT races between 1954 and 1959. It is also part of the Willaston Circuit used for cycle racing, classic car racing and used as part of timed special stage for the Rally Isle of Man. For the 1954 Isle of Man TT races, the approach to Governor's Bridge including The Nook corner on the A18 Bemahauge Road was widened to accommodate the re-introduced Sidecar TT on the Clypse Course. The Department of Transport announced a proposal to build a new section of road for the Mountain Course with a link road from The Nook to Governor's Bridge using parts of the pre-existing A18 Bemahague Road. This road widening scheme occurred between February and April 2008 with the removal of trees on the Bemahague Estate which includes Government House, the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man. The Isle of Man TT Races and Manx Grand Prix continued to use the original A18 Bemahauge Road that runs parallel to the new link road from The Nook to the Governor's Dip for motor-cycle racing.

Cunningham's Camp Escalator

Cunningham's Camp Escalator was a moving seated escalator open c. 1919 to 1968 from a short distance behind the promenade in Douglas, Isle of Man, to Cunningham's holiday camp on Victoria Road. Although sometimes described as a 'chairlift', this was a ground-level escalator covered by a roof, albeit with seats, rather than an overhead chairlift as used in ski resorts. Cunningham's camp, one of the earliest holiday camps in the British Isles (pre-dating Butlins), opened around 1902 and initially had only steps leading to it from the seafront. The escalator was installed just after the First World War. It is thought to have been built by JT Skillicorn of Onchan. In 1938, a second escalator was provided, both working in only the up direction and running within a wooden shelter.The escalator last functioned in 1968, after which it was closed off but not demolished. In the 1990s the entrance was bricked over owing to the site being the target of vandalism. Since that time visitors can only view the large red brick and stone archway midway up Little Switzerland Road (site of today's Edelweiss Hotel). Behind the facade remain the turnstiles, and toilets with ceramic tiles and copper pipework, before reaching the approach steps to the escalator. The fascinating design is split into two parts, an "up" and "down" section, and each has its own set of moving wooden seats accompanied by steps for the more energetic. The system has been left to decay since closure, particularly since being bricked up. At the start of 2013 it was announced that it is to be demolished.