Manx National Heritage Open Day – Photo Exhibition, Memorial Hall, Union Mills
Braddan Commissioners and Manx Nostalgia held a photo exhibition at the Memorial Hall as part of the Heritage Open Days organised by Manx National Heritage on Friday 9th and Saturday 10th October.
An appeal was put out by both Braddan Commissioners and Manx Nostalgia for photographs of the parish and people responded with enthusiasm.
Commissioners’ Clerk Colin Whiteway said “We didn’t know what to expect but in the end we had a very diverse range of pictures which covered everything from open air Services at Kirk Braddan to Snugborough carnival in the 1980’s.”
He added “Braddan Commissioners’ staff searched their office for anything and everything of historical interest and put together photographs, newspaper cuttings, paintings, the first minute book of Braddan Commissioners and the tea set presented to the Memorial Hall in Union Mills on it’s opening in 1903. We were very pleased at the amount of people who attended on both days and the feedback we have received has been extremely positive. We have received so many offers of photographs that we intend to have another exhibition in the future”.
Thanks to Stephen Mylchreest (his father Cyril Mylchreest was the last Station Master at Union Mills) and Mike Buttell from the Railway Museum in Port Erin there was a great deal of information about the railway in Braddan. They provided many items of interest including the bell from Union Mills Railway Station, items of uniform, photographs and rare film of trains in and around Union Mills.
On Saturday afternoon Mrs Priscilla Lewthwaite led a fascinating walk around Union Mills concentrating on the history of the village. This proved to be immensely popular with everyone and the Commissioners are very grateful to Mrs Lewthwaite for giving up her time to participate.
After the walk tea and cakes were served in the Memorial Hall and many people took the opportunity to browse the exhibition and reminisce.
The Commissioners would like to thank, Mrs Priscilla Lewthwaite, Sharry Stowell from Manx Nostalgia, Stephen Mylchreest, Mike Buttell; Port Erin Railway Museum, the iMuseum and everyone who donated items of interest and photographs.