Bishopscourt, Isle of Man
Encyclopedia
Bishopscourt consists of a Seventeenth Century Mansion House, the St Nicholas (Private Chapel) in the Church of England
Diocese of Sodor & Man and the former estate of Ballachurry or Bishopscourt Manse. Previously the official residence of the Bishop of Sodor and Man, the current Bishopscourt House and estate is now in private ownership.
Bishopscourt is situated near Kirk Michael on the primary A3 Castletown to Ramsey
road adjacent the 16th Milestone road-side marker on the Snaefell Mountain Course
and the tertiary C19 Orrisdale Loop Road. The Bishopscourt Manse and the Bishop's Glen forms the boundary of the parishes of Michael and Ballaugh
in the Isle of Man
.
from 1698 after finding the 'house in ruins nothing but an sentient tower and chapel remaining entire.' The previous timbered residence was rebuilt by Bishop Thomas Wilson in the present castellated baronial style and enlarged by Bishop Claudius Crigan from 1784 onwards. The King Orry's Tower was repaired and restored by Bishop Crigan in preparation 'to reside at Bishopscourt, to repair and even rebuild the ruins of which as all was ruins has cost a very severe expense.' The medieval chapel adjacent to King Orry's Tower which dated from 1651 was demolished circa 1815 and replaced by a Georgian Chapel on the same site. This chapel was in turn replaced a Victorian Gothic Chapel of St. Nicholas on a slightly different site by Bishop Horatio Powys. Further renovation occurred when a fire in 1893 destroyed the hall section of Bishopscourt house.
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
Diocese of Sodor & Man and the former estate of Ballachurry or Bishopscourt Manse. Previously the official residence of the Bishop of Sodor and Man, the current Bishopscourt House and estate is now in private ownership.
Bishopscourt is situated near Kirk Michael on the primary A3 Castletown to Ramsey
Ramsey, Isle of Man
Ramsey is a town in the north of the Isle of Man. It is the second largest town on the island after Douglas. Its population is 7,309 according to the 2006 census . It has one of the biggest harbours on the island, and has a prominent derelict pier, called the Queen's Pier. It was formerly one of...
road adjacent the 16th Milestone road-side marker on the Snaefell Mountain Course
Snaefell mountain course
Snaefell Mountain Course or Mountain Course is a road-racing circuit used for the Isle of Man TT and Manx Grand Prix Races held in the Isle of Man from 1911 and 1923 respectively. The racing is held on public roads closed for racing by an Act of Tynwald...
and the tertiary C19 Orrisdale Loop Road. The Bishopscourt Manse and the Bishop's Glen forms the boundary of the parishes of Michael and Ballaugh
Ballaugh (parish)
Ballaugh is a parish in the Isle of Man.-Parish:Ballaugh is a mainly agricultural district on the north-western coast of the island. The parish is one of three divisions of the sheading of Michael. The other two are Jurby and Michael District. Ballaugh runs for some three miles along the...
in the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
.
Description
The current residence dates from the Seventeenth Century and the former moated King Orry's Tower and residence was rebuilt by Bishop Thomas WilsonThomas Wilson (bishop)
Thomas Wilson was Anglican Bishop of Sodor and Man between 1697 and 1755.He was born in Burton and Ness, in the Wirral, Cheshire, in December 1663. Having studied medicine at Trinity College, Dublin, he was ordained priest in 1689...
from 1698 after finding the 'house in ruins nothing but an sentient tower and chapel remaining entire.' The previous timbered residence was rebuilt by Bishop Thomas Wilson in the present castellated baronial style and enlarged by Bishop Claudius Crigan from 1784 onwards. The King Orry's Tower was repaired and restored by Bishop Crigan in preparation 'to reside at Bishopscourt, to repair and even rebuild the ruins of which as all was ruins has cost a very severe expense.' The medieval chapel adjacent to King Orry's Tower which dated from 1651 was demolished circa 1815 and replaced by a Georgian Chapel on the same site. This chapel was in turn replaced a Victorian Gothic Chapel of St. Nicholas on a slightly different site by Bishop Horatio Powys. Further renovation occurred when a fire in 1893 destroyed the hall section of Bishopscourt house.