Quarterbridge, Isle of Man
Encyclopedia
Quarterbridge is situated between the 1st Milestone and 2nd Milestone road-side marker on the Snaefell Mountain Course
used for the Isle of Man TT
Races on the junction of the primary A1 Douglas
to Peel road, A2 Douglas
to Ramsey
and the A5 Douglas
to Port Erin road which forms the boundary between the parishes of Braddan and Onchan in the Isle of Man
.
were built in 1873 for the new Isle of Man Railway company and the new Douglas to Peel railway. Road widening on the A1 Peel Road during the winter of 1937 included the demolition of the Brown Bobby public hotel and road work at the Quarterbridge road junction. During the 1930s a distinctive roadside cafe is built, a modular prefabricated concrete Post-Modernist design on the junction with the A2 Quarterbridge Road. During the winter of 1953/54 road widening to the approach to the Quarterbridge occurs for the 1954 Isle of Man TT
Races. In 1963 a roundabout is added to the road junction at the Quarterbridge
. The winter of 1986/87 further re-profiling occurs at the Quarterbridge road junction with a new road traffic system including two mini-rounderabouts, the removal of a traffic island and Cherry Blossom trees. In July 2008, the Isle of Man Department of Transport announced a £4 Million road safety scheme for the Quarterbridge road junction, including the building of a new roundabout and the demolition of the Quarterbridge Hotel. In February/March 2011 the Highways Division, Isle of Man Department of Infrastructure modify the Quarterbridge road junction including major road resurfacing work, improved drainage, elevation changes and reposition new pedestrian barriers adjacent to the Quarterbridge Hotel.
used for the Gordon Bennett Trial and Tourist Trophy
automobile car races between 1904 and 1922. The start-line for the Highland Course is at the Quarterbridge and junction with the A5 New Castletown Road and the Quarterbridge
railway crossing. For the 1906 Tourist Trophy Race the Highroad course was amended to a distance of 40.38 miles to prevent disruption to railway services. The start was moved from the Quarterbridge to the road junction of the A2 Quarterbridge Road/Alexander Drive adjacent to the property called 'Woodlands' in the town of Douglas. The startline for the 1908 Tourist Trophy was moved again from the A2 Quarterbridge Road to Hillberry Corner
as part of the new Four Inch Course
. The 1905 International Motor-Cycle Cup Races held in the Isle of Man the Quarterbridge was used as the start and finish line. The Quarterbridge road junction is part of the Mountain Course
used since 1911 for the Isle of Man TT
and from 1923 for the Manx Grand Prix
Races.
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...
used for the Isle of Man TT
Isle of Man TT
The International Isle of Man TT Race is a motorcycle racing event held on the Isle of Man and was for many years the most prestigious motorcycle race in the world...
Races on the junction of the primary A1 Douglas
Douglas, Isle of Man
right|thumb|250px|Douglas Promenade, which runs nearly the entire length of beachfront in Douglasright|thumb|250px|Sea terminal in DouglasDouglas is the capital and largest town of the Isle of Man, with a population of 26,218 people . It is located at the mouth of the River Douglas, and a sweeping...
to Peel road, A2 Douglas
Douglas, Isle of Man
right|thumb|250px|Douglas Promenade, which runs nearly the entire length of beachfront in Douglasright|thumb|250px|Sea terminal in DouglasDouglas is the capital and largest town of the Isle of Man, with a population of 26,218 people . It is located at the mouth of the River Douglas, and a sweeping...
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...
and the A5 Douglas
Douglas, Isle of Man
right|thumb|250px|Douglas Promenade, which runs nearly the entire length of beachfront in Douglasright|thumb|250px|Sea terminal in DouglasDouglas is the capital and largest town of the Isle of Man, with a population of 26,218 people . It is located at the mouth of the River Douglas, and a sweeping...
to Port Erin road which forms the boundary between the parishes of Braddan and Onchan 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...
.
Name
The Quarterbridge forms the boundary between the quarterlands of Ballabrooie and Ballaquayle. A quarterland is an old land division in the Isle of Man, which includes a farmstead or Kerroo within the quarterland. In which four of these divisions became a Treen and land rights entrusted to a landholder, who in turn cultivated one of the quarterlands. The three remaining quarterlands were rented to freemen paying dues in the form of rents, produce, parish services including the maintenance of a small church or Keeil within the Treen.History
The Quarterbridge spans the River Glass at this point and forms the boundary between the parishes of Kirk Braddan and Kirk Conchan (Onchan) in the town of Douglas. The bridge at this point was washed away during a storm in 1727 and replaced with a two-arched structure 30 yards downstream. The local mason Charles Scott was contracted in 1809 to build a single arched-span across the River Glass on the present alignment for a price of £280. The bridge was extended upstream in 1862 and a further extension downstream in the early 1900s. The public house on the site, The Union Hotel was damaged by fire in 1830 and replaced by the present Quarterbridge Hotel. A gatehouse and near-by Quarterbridge rail-crossingQuarterbridge
Quarterbridge Crossing was the first major crossing point of the Isle of Man Railway's first line to Peel and was opened in 1873, closing in 1968 with the rest of the line.-History:...
were built in 1873 for the new Isle of Man Railway company and the new Douglas to Peel railway. Road widening on the A1 Peel Road during the winter of 1937 included the demolition of the Brown Bobby public hotel and road work at the Quarterbridge road junction. During the 1930s a distinctive roadside cafe is built, a modular prefabricated concrete Post-Modernist design on the junction with the A2 Quarterbridge Road. During the winter of 1953/54 road widening to the approach to the Quarterbridge occurs for the 1954 Isle of Man TT
1954 Isle of Man TT
The 1954 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy was the second race in the 1954 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season and proved highly controversial for course and race changes. The 1954 Junior TT was the first race where the official race distance was reduced from 7 laps to 5 laps...
Races. In 1963 a roundabout is added to the road junction at the Quarterbridge
Quarterbridge
Quarterbridge Crossing was the first major crossing point of the Isle of Man Railway's first line to Peel and was opened in 1873, closing in 1968 with the rest of the line.-History:...
. The winter of 1986/87 further re-profiling occurs at the Quarterbridge road junction with a new road traffic system including two mini-rounderabouts, the removal of a traffic island and Cherry Blossom trees. In July 2008, the Isle of Man Department of Transport announced a £4 Million road safety scheme for the Quarterbridge road junction, including the building of a new roundabout and the demolition of the Quarterbridge Hotel. In February/March 2011 the Highways Division, Isle of Man Department of Infrastructure modify the Quarterbridge road junction including major road resurfacing work, improved drainage, elevation changes and reposition new pedestrian barriers adjacent to the Quarterbridge Hotel.
Racing
The Quarterbridge was part of the Highland Course and Four Inch CourseFour Inch Course
Four-Inch Course is a road-racing circuit first used for the 1908 Tourist Trophy Race for racing automobiles. The races were held on public roads closed for racing by an Act of Tynwald...
used for the Gordon Bennett Trial and Tourist Trophy
RAC Tourist Trophy
The International Tourist Trophy is an award given by the Royal Automobile Club and awarded semi-annually to the winners of a selected motor racing event each year in the United Kingdom. It was first awarded in 1905 and continues to be awarded to this day, making it the longest lasting trophy in...
automobile car races between 1904 and 1922. The start-line for the Highland Course is at the Quarterbridge and junction with the A5 New Castletown Road and the Quarterbridge
Quarterbridge
Quarterbridge Crossing was the first major crossing point of the Isle of Man Railway's first line to Peel and was opened in 1873, closing in 1968 with the rest of the line.-History:...
railway crossing. For the 1906 Tourist Trophy Race the Highroad course was amended to a distance of 40.38 miles to prevent disruption to railway services. The start was moved from the Quarterbridge to the road junction of the A2 Quarterbridge Road/Alexander Drive adjacent to the property called 'Woodlands' in the town of Douglas. The startline for the 1908 Tourist Trophy was moved again from the A2 Quarterbridge Road to Hillberry Corner
Hillberry Corner
Hillberry Corner is situated at the 36th Milestone road-side marker on the Snaefell Mountain Course on the primary A18 Mountain Road and the road junction with the C22 Little Mill Road in the parish of Onchan in the Isle of Man....
as part of the new Four Inch Course
Four Inch Course
Four-Inch Course is a road-racing circuit first used for the 1908 Tourist Trophy Race for racing automobiles. The races were held on public roads closed for racing by an Act of Tynwald...
. The 1905 International Motor-Cycle Cup Races held in the Isle of Man the Quarterbridge was used as the start and finish line. The Quarterbridge road junction is part of the 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...
used since 1911 for the Isle of Man TT
Isle of Man TT
The International Isle of Man TT Race is a motorcycle racing event held on the Isle of Man and was for many years the most prestigious motorcycle race in the world...
and from 1923 for the Manx Grand Prix
Manx Grand Prix
The Manx Grand Prix motorcycle races are held on the Isle of Man TT Course every year for a two-week period usually spanning the end of August and early September. The 'MGP' or 'Manx' is considered to be the amateur riders' alternative to the Isle of Man TT Races held in May and June...
Races.
See also
Quarterbridge Railway CrossingQuarterbridge
Quarterbridge Crossing was the first major crossing point of the Isle of Man Railway's first line to Peel and was opened in 1873, closing in 1968 with the rest of the line.-History:...