Thirteen Manx landmarks given protected status

Political sites, medieval bridges and Victorian railway buildings all feature

Thirteen Manx landmarks have been granted protected status in the Isle of Man.

It follows a public consultation by the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture.

The collection, ranging from medieval bridges and Victorian railway buildings, has now been added to the Protected Buildings Register.

And it may come as a surprise that not all of them were already protected.

For example, the home of Manx lawmaking for the past 125 years, the Legislative Buildings in Douglas (or affectionately the 'Wedding Cake') and the Royal Chapel and National Assembly Site in St John's are two of the Island's most important political locations. 

They have both now been added to the list, along with a number of buildings celebrating our rich railway heritage.

The Laxey, Groudle and Ballure viaducts, the former railway stations in Peel and Kirk Michael, and the Douglas Railway Station Workshops and Signal Box have all also been added.

Also featuring at Moore's Bridge in Laxey, Monk's Bridge in Ballasalla, Stone Bridge in Ramsey, and the Kensington Arts Centre in Douglas (which is the Former School of Art).

The designation means they are now all legally protected from demolition or significant alteration without registered building consent.

Clare Barber MHK, Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture, says: "These registrations celebrate the diversity of the Island’s heritage, from medieval bridges to the innovation of our railways and the splendour of our parliament buildings. 

"By registering them, we are safeguarding these landmarks for generations to come."

Juan Watterson SHK, Speaker of the House of Keys and Chairman of the Tynwald Management Committee, adds: "As Manx people, we are proud to be the home of the world’s oldest continuous parliament. 

"Our current home is steeped in history, just as its predecessors were, and the Royal Chapel at St John’s is as iconic a part of Tynwald Day as the hill itself. I congratulate DEFA on recognising the importance of these historic sites."

The full list of sites given protected status can be found below:

• Legislative Buildings, Douglas – Seat of Tynwald and home of Manx lawmaking for over 125 years.
• Royal Chapel, St John’s and National Assembly Site – The Island’s National Civic Church dating from 1849 and Tynwald Day site.
• Moore’s Bridge, Laxey – A pioneering 1854 road bridge built for horse-drawn coaches.
• Laxey Manx Electric Railway Viaduct – A striking curved viaduct from 1898 with Ruabon brick detailing.
• Kirk Michael Railway Station (now Fire Station) – A distinctive 1879 station reflecting the Manx Northern Railway’s heritage.
• Monks’ Bridge, Ballasalla – A unique 12th-century medieval bridge once linking Rushen Abbey with its estates.
• Ballure Manx Electric Railway Viaduct – An 1899 iron and steel structure, restored to award-winning standards.
• Stone Bridge, Ramsey – Built in 1755 and widened in 1840, connecting the town for over 250 years.
• Groudle Viaduct – A unique 1894 structure carrying both road and rail.
• Former Peel Railway Station and Water Tower – Early 1900s Arts and Crafts design and water tower with a rare slate tank.
• Former School of Art (now Kensington Arts), Douglas – 1884-built art school associated with Archibald Knox and Norman Sayle.
• Douglas Railway Station Workshops – Home to one of the world’s most complete collections of historic working railway machinery.
• Douglas Railway Station Signal Box – A rare 1892 signal box, the last frame of its kind in situ worldwide.