68-685: The Manx Museum (Thie Tashtee Vannin) in Douglas , Isle of Man is the national museum of the Isle of Man . It is run by Manx National Heritage . The museum covers 10,000 years the history of the Isle of Man from the Stone Age to the modern era. The museum serves as headquarters of Manx National Heritage. The museum bears no relation to the institution with the same name founded by Trevor Ashe in 1825. The Manx Museum and Ancient Monuments Act of 1886 led to
136-459: A "petty school" in 1675. William Walker (1679–1729) was appointed to the mastership in 1700, school being probably kept in the old Chapel, (in later Heywood Place. ) Later being preferred as Rector of Ballaugh, and the recipient of an honorary Doctorate, Walker is now remembered in his mother's Manx Gaelic lament on her sons: "Illiam Walker as Robin Tear". The more formal history of education in
204-464: A four-year stay; then again in 1313, when Robert the Bruce , King of Scotland, spent the night at the "monastery of Duglas" on his way to seize Castle Rushen . These may be references to the site of the later Nunnery, a little upstream from the port. The first detailed documentation shows that in 1511 there were only thirteen resident households in the settlement clustered north of the harbour; most of
272-541: A multi-use stadium located on Pulrose Road is owned by Douglas Borough Council. A free Parkrun takes place in Nobles Park, St. Ninian's Road every Saturday. Douglas is home to eight of the seventeen football clubs that compete in the Isle of Man Football League : Douglas Rugby Club and Vagabonds Rugby Club are based in the city. Their 1st teams play in the English competitions and reserve teams play in
340-539: A number of permanent exhibitions ranging from the archaeological history of the Isle of Man to the natural history collection, several temporary themed exhibitions are shown each year. Every summer an exhibition covering the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy races and motorcycle racing is shown. Other recent exhibitions have included This Terrible Ordeal which focused on the experiences of the Manx people in World War I , and
408-494: A population of 26,677 (2021) and an area of 4.1 square miles (10.5 km ). It is located at the mouth of the River Douglas , and on a sweeping bay of two miles (three kilometres). The River Douglas forms part of the city's harbour and main commercial port. Douglas was a small settlement until it grew rapidly as a result of links with the English port of Liverpool in the 18th century. Further population growth came in
476-518: A public meeting, the idea of a town council was rejected in favour of retaining the system of Town High Bailiffs; when the Town Bill Act was passed at Tynwald in 1852, the people of Douglas again rejected the idea. However, an Act passed later that decade, which did not include opt-out clauses, was accepted, and in 1860, Douglas elected its first town council, which was predominantly middle class in its makeup. The Town Commissioners could tackle
544-602: A revising chamber. The name Tynwald, like the Icelandic Þingvellir and Norwegian Tingvoll , is derived from the Old Norse word Þingvǫllr meaning the meeting place of the assembly, the field (vǫllr→wald, cf. the Old English cognate weald ) of the thing . Tynwald meets annually on Tynwald Day (usually on 5 July) at an open-air ceremony at Tynwald Hill at St John's . The Lieutenant Governor of
612-495: A separate court. In 1791 a Royal Commission on the Isle of Man was formed to examine the governance and finances of the island. The Commissioners reported back to Whitehall in 1792, stating that " The laws and ordinances that were enacted during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries appear by the Manks Statute Book to have been prescribed by such different powers, or combination of powers, that as precedents of
680-507: Is a common name for place names around the British Isles , related to other toponyms such as Dyfleis, Dulais , Develish, Dawlish , Dowlish and, of course, other settlements named Douglas . In the absence of any archaeological data, the origins of the city may be revealed by analysis of the original street and plot pattern. The discovery of a bronze weapon in central Douglas, and the large Ballaquayle Viking treasure hoard on
748-512: Is generally agreed upon that the toponyms of English Douglas and Manx Doolish both come from Proto-Celtic * duboglassio -, where * dubo - (which survives today in Welsh as du and Irish as dubh ) meant 'black; deep' and * glassio - (surviving in Welsh glais and Irish glais ) meant 'water, river'; thus, it probably meant 'deep river'. The name of the city thus came from a nearby river. It
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#1732786693099816-474: Is open daily. The National Art Gallery and the Manx National Library and Archives are also located on the site. 54°09′16″N 4°28′55″W / 54.15445°N 4.48187°W / 54.15445; -4.48187 Douglas, Isle of Man Douglas ( Manx : Doolish , pronounced [ˈdðuːlʲəʃ] ) is the capital city and largest settlement of the Isle of Man , with
884-629: Is served by BBC North West Tonight on BBC One and ITV Granada Reports on ITV1 . The town is served by these local newspapers, the Isle of Man Examiner , the Isle of Man Courier and the Manx Independent . References to education in Douglas begin in the late 17th century, with mention of the schoolmastership, usually combined with the Chaplaincy of Douglas, and reference to
952-598: Is the coastal weather station at Ronaldsway , about 7 miles (11 km) south-west of Douglas. The highest temperature recorded in Ronaldsway stands at 28.9 °C (84.0 °F), recorded in July 1983. On average, a temperature of 25 °C (77 °F) or more is recorded 0.8 days per year at Ronaldsway (1981–2010) and on average the highest temperature of the year is 24.1 °C (75.4 °F). On average, 14.5 days of air frost per year were recorded at Ronaldsway in
1020-634: Is the hub of the island's bus network, with frequent services to Port Erin, Peel and Ramsey, as well as various local bus services. The city also has the termini of the two main railway lines on the island: the steam railway to Port Erin and the electric tramway to Ramsey. It is also the home of the ferry terminal , from where the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company operates regular services to Heysham and to Liverpool (Birkenhead in winter) and occasional services to Dublin and to Belfast. The Isle of Man 's three main radio stations Manx Radio , Energy FM and 3FM are all based in Douglas. Local TV coverage
1088-694: The Council of Ministers . Normally, both branches of Tynwald must pass a bill before it goes to the sovereign or his representative the Lieutenant Governor , representing the King-in-Council , for royal assent. If the Council rejects a bill or amends it against the Keys' wishes, however, the Keys has the power to repass the same bill; in this case the Council's approval is not required, and
1156-665: The International Business School are also located in Douglas. Douglas has a number of attractions and items of interest: Douglas saw the first architectural essays of the Arts and Crafts architect Baillie Scott . Douglas is the start and finish point for the Isle of Man TT . The race had been a part of the FIM Motorcycle Grand Prix World Championship but lost its status when a new British motorcycle Grand Prix
1224-477: The Manx people celebrated the millennium of their parliament. The year was picked arbitrarily by officials; there is no evidence indicating that such an assembly was held in 979, or that any such event resembled the modern-day court. The first record of the place-name occurs in the 13th–14th century Chronicles of Mann , and the first description of the role and composition of an assembly held on site occurs in
1292-708: The Tyne-class lifeboat Sir William Hillary . There are three memorials to Sir William in Douglas: one in St George's Church where he was buried in 1847, one on Loch Promenade, and the other on Douglas Head near where he established the Tower of Refuge in 1832. During the First and Second World Wars , Douglas and other parts of the Isle of Man were home to internment camps for " enemy aliens ". Douglas held seven out of
1360-528: The 1750s. More formally, Nicholson's Packet Service began in 1765 or 1766, and the Post Office mail contract was secured by 1782. Sailings were irregular and heavily dependent on weather conditions. Steamer services brought a considerable improvement; the first regular link (en route between Greenock and Liverpool) was available from 1819. The formation of what became the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company in 1830 led to greatly improved services, and also laid
1428-550: The Bishop's Douglas relatives, the Murrey family. Even after this, the mastership of Douglas Grammar School continued to be combined with the Chaplaincy, now of the new Chapel of St Matthew. Details of the building of the original Grammar School are sparse, but it seems that William Murrey was deeply involved, retaining the use of the capacious storage vault under the school in lieu of repayment of £150 costs. Another notable Master of
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#17327866930991496-481: The Council disapproves, then the question can be put again at a different sitting. In this case, the vote is determined by a majority of all the members of Tynwald. If this occurs, the Keys, with its larger size, is likely to prevail. However, in some cases Tynwald votes as one body even when there is no disagreement between the branches: e.g. when electing the Chief Minister or on a vote of no confidence in
1564-584: The Grammar School was Rev. Philip Moore (1705–1783) who was a native of the city, his father Robert Moore having been one of the "Undertakers" who organised the construction of St Matthews, and his mother Miss Katherine Kelly. Moore was appointed Master in 1735, and was reckoned to be a good classical scholar, and have "an inherent love of teaching". Today, Douglas has two high schools: Ballakermeen High School and St. Ninian's High School , and numerous primary schools. University College Isle of Man and
1632-716: The Honourable Sir John Stanley, Knight, King and Lord of the same Land, and divers others his Predecessors, as by all Barons, Deemsters, Officers, Tenants, Inhabitants, and Commons of the same Land where the Lord's Right is declared in the following Words ". Furthermore, the Commissioners' report noted that prior to the revestment, no "minutes or journals" of the proceedings of the Council or the House of Keys had been kept. …in respect to government and laws,
1700-473: The House of Keys Hansard for 6 December 2023, it was stated that the question of removing the Bishop's vote, and possibly seat, in LegCo and Tynwald has been debated ten times in the recent past. This proposal for change was defeated in the Keys on 6 December 2023. The Millennium Way long distance footpath was opened in 1979 to commemorate the millennium year of Tynwald. "Bailiwick-wide" legislation passed in
1768-478: The Isle of Man presides, unless the monarch as Lord of Mann , or a member of the Royal Family representing them, is present. Here, all laws are promulgated in both Manx and English and petitions are received. If an Act of Tynwald is not promulgated at St John's within 18 months of passage, it becomes null and void. When Tynwald Court sits in Douglas (historically once a month from October to July),
1836-400: The Isle of Man, and by 1705 a clear picture of the early town emerges, with hints that its residential, market, and military defence functions were growing in importance alongside the port facility. The town thrived in the next 60 years, as imposing merchants' houses, large warehouses, quays and a pier were built to accommodate the burgeoning "running trade" ( smuggling ): one of the stimuli for
1904-489: The Keys organised a petition of 800 signatures, which was presented to the British government. A Royal Commission was appointed in 1791, but it was not until 1866 that Tynwald finally passed legislation that would see some of its members elected for the first time. However, before 1866 Tynwald's primary function had been that of the island's court of appeal. The House of Keys Election Act 1866 transferred this judicial power to
1972-419: The Keys passed down through the leading families on the island. In the 16th century the Keys met irregularly. They were akin to a jury which was summoned from time to time by the Lord of Mann or by the deemsters when they required advice as to the law. In 1600 the Keys became a permanent body. Until 1577, the Keys merely declared and interpreted the ancient common law when queries arose. This developed into
2040-617: The Legislature, is held to be the first duty of every Manxman… they dread therefore and must ever dread, the interference in their internal concerns, or even a precedent being made for such interference from any other legislature on earth; even the British… In 2007, the island's system of government was reviewed with plans to transform the Legislative Council into a directly elected chamber , likely stemming from debate around
2108-466: The Manks appear, in all ages to have been a distinct people, and in some degree an independent, or not annexed to any other kingdom… The people, however, beyond all written record, have clearly within claimed and enjoyed the right and privilege of being governed and regulated by laws of their own making, or consented to by themselves, or by their constitutional representative… To maintain this independence of
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2176-522: The Manx Rugby competition. [REDACTED] Media related to Douglas, Isle of Man at Wikimedia Commons Tynwald Tynwald ( Manx : Tinvaal ), or more formally, the High Court of Tynwald ( Manx : Ard-whaiyl Tinvaal ) or Tynwald Court , is the legislature of the Isle of Man . It consists of two chambers, known as the branches of Tynwald: the directly elected House of Keys and
2244-460: The President of Tynwald, who is elected by the other members, presides. In the joint session: When Tynwald votes at a joint sitting, each branch normally votes separately. If a majority of each branch approves, the motion is carried. If the Council vote ties, then the President of Tynwald casts the deciding vote in line with the majority vote of the Keys. However, if the Keys approves a motion but
2312-546: The United Kingdom, due to the Industrial Revolution . The number of holiday visitors grew from the early 19th century, and from around 1870 onwards, the town was transformed into a leading holiday resort. But there were increasingly unsanitary conditions, and poor quality housing; again reflecting a trend seen across the United Kingdom. The open sewage , middens (domestic waste dumps), and smell from
2380-529: The agreement of Tynwald would be required for all taxation, in imitation of the constitutional practice of Great Britain . This was a short-lived arrangement, as in 1765 the Lord of Mann sold his rights over the island to the British Crown . Following the revestment of the Lordship of Mann into the British Crown in 1765, the British government assumed all powers to impose and collect taxes. Tynwald
2448-480: The artwork of British artist William Hoggatt . In 2018 Manx National Heritage stated that there were 100,000 visitors each year on average to the Manx Museum. This figure was disputed by the Isle of Man Newspapers, following a freedom of information request found the recorded numbers to be much less than estimated. The FoI response revealed that in 2015, MNH counted 63,953 visitors into the museum, in 2016 this
2516-671: The bill is presented to the Lieutenant Governor for royal assent. On some matters, the Royal Assent to Legislation (Isle of Man) Order 1981 requires the Lieutenant Governor to consult with and follow the advice of the Secretary of State for Justice of the United Kingdom. Tynwald claims to be over 1,000 years old, and thus the " oldest continuous parliament " in the world (Iceland's Althing claims world’s oldest parliament, though with noncontinuous operation). In 1979,
2584-410: The building was handed over to the trustees for the Manx Museum. The Manx Museum opened on 2 November 1922 with Philip Moore Callow Kermode as its director. The museum was expanded and was significantly remodelled between 1986–89 and a large extension included a lecture and film theatre, and an art gallery. The museum was officially reopened by Queen Elizabeth II , Lord of Mann in 1989. Apart from
2652-678: The city begins with Bishop Thomas Wilson's establishment of the Douglas Grammar School. Alderman William Dixon (a native of Douglas, but resident in Dublin since at least the 1680s ) agreed to hand over his parents' former home, and passed over the New Bond Street property in 1714. The Bishop raised an endowment of £500 (Irish currency), half being funded by the Barrow Trustees, most of the balance being provided by
2720-462: The creation of a national museum for the Isle of Man with the aim of preserving the island's cultural and historical heritage. Although there had previously been an institution on the Isle of Man named the Manx Museum, founded by entrepreneur, author, and publisher Trevor Ashe in 1825, it has no relation to the Manx Museum run by Manx National Heritage . The Manx Museum is partially housed in
2788-441: The early 15th century. Tynwald originally comprised only the 24 Members of the House of Keys, commonly referred to as "the Keys". There were four members for each of the six sheadings of the island. The earliest surviving record of the Keys dates from 1417. The Keys were not originally an elected body, and membership was for life. When a vacancy arose the remaining members selected the replacement member. In general, membership of
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2856-410: The exercise of legislative authority they can have but little weight. " The Commission noted that only subsequent to this period was the practice of the Council and 24 Keys meeting together to enact legislation established as "the more regular mode of legislating". The Royal Commission also noted that the earliest insular Manx laws on record dated from 1417 (the first Act on record being a restriction of
2924-516: The favourable legal status enjoyed by English debtors and half-pay officers. The initial growth and development of the ALR owed much to its natural harbour (now the Inner Harbour), since greatly expanded and improved. Over the 18th century, the town's population rose from about 800 in 1710 to nearly 2,500 in 1784. Throughout the 19th century, the town's demographics followed the same trends as
2992-531: The following century, resulting during the 1860s in a staged transfer of the High Courts, the Lieutenant Governor's residence (actually located in nearby Onchan), and finally the seat of the legislature, Tynwald , to Douglas from the ancient capital, Castletown . The city is the island's main hub for business, finance, legal services, shipping, transport, shopping, and entertainment. The annual Isle of Man TT motorcycle races start and finish in Douglas. It
3060-564: The foundations for growth in both cargo and tourist traffic. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has a lifeboat station at Douglas. The first lifeboat station in the port was established in 1802. In 1825 it was one of the first lifeboat stations to be provided with a purpose-built lifeboat; this was at the request of Sir William Hillary , the founder of the Institution. It was not operational between 1851 and 1868, and it closed in 1895. The station, established in 1874, operates
3128-543: The harbour at low tide all contributed to the town's uncleanliness. Oil and gas lamps first appeared in the late 1820s and 1830s, the first hospital to join the Dispensary was built in 1850, and in 1832 the scenic Tower of Refuge was built in Douglas Bay to offer shelter and provisions for sailors awaiting rescue. Douglas in the first half of the 19th century often suffered from the destitution of its population and
3196-478: The indirectly chosen Legislative Council . When the two chambers sit together, they become "Tynwald Court". The chambers sit jointly, on Tynwald Day at St John's for largely ceremonial purposes, and usually once a month in the Legislative Buildings in Douglas . Otherwise, the two chambers sit separately, with the House of Keys originating most legislation, and the Legislative Council acting as
3264-445: The island near the confluence of the two rivers Dhoo and Glass forming the Douglas . At Douglas, the river flows through the quay and into Douglas Bay . A gently sloping valley runs inland and there are hills around the city. The city is surrounded by several villages, most notably Onchan to the north-east (which forms a conurbation with Douglas) and Union Mills to the west. The weather reporting station closest to Douglas
3332-518: The island's total population of 84,069. Douglas elects eight members of the House of Keys: two each from four constituencies (Central, East, South and North). The House of Keys is the lower house of Tynwald , the Manx parliament. The local authority responsible for the running of services is the Douglas Corporation; 18 elected councillors sit as members of Douglas City Council (formerly, up until 2022, Douglas Borough Council). Douglas
3400-829: The main shopping centre. The city was the birthplace of the Gibb brothers, Maurice , Robin , both deceased, and Barry , the members of the Bee Gees . Douglas was home to the Summerland leisure centre , which suffered a catastrophic fire in 1973. In 2011 Douglas hosted the Commonwealth Youth Games . On 20 May 2022, it was announced that, as part of the Platinum Jubilee Civic Honours , Douglas would receive city status by Letters Patent sometime later in 2022. The letters patent
3468-456: The many epidemics, in particular cholera . The rise of Douglas as the social and economic stronghold was recognised in 1869, when it became the home of the island's parliament, Tynwald , and therefore the capital, an honour previously held by Castletown , a smaller town in the south of the island. Douglas's political landscape also changed significantly in the 19th century, in spite of the conservatism of some townsfolk: in 1844, for example, at
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#17327866930993536-682: The oldest recorded in England was from 1229, in Scotland 1424, and in Ireland 1216 – although again there were prior laws that are now merely part of the unwritten common law of each country. The opening statement of the Statute Book was " Divers Ordinances, Statutes, and Customs, presented, reputed, and used for Laws in the Land of Mann, that were ratified, approved, and confirmed, as well by
3604-407: The original Noble's Hospital building. The site on Crellin's Hill in Douglas was bequeathed by Rebecca Noble, the wife of philanthropist and businessman Henry Bloom Noble in 1885. Rebecca Noble laid the foundation stone but did not live to see the building officially opened. After the opening of the new Noble's Hospital on Westmoreland Road in 1912, the building lay empty for nearly a decade until
3672-545: The outskirts (now in the Manx Museum and British Museum , London ), both in the 1890s, hint at the early importance of the site now occupied by Douglas. Scholars agree that the name of the city derives from Early Celtic 'Duboglassio' meaning 'black river'. Douglas is twice referred to in the monastic Chronicle of the Kings of Man and the Isles : first in 1190, when the monks of St Mary's Abbey at Rushen were transferred there for
3740-481: The period 1981–2010. The lowest temperature recorded in Ronaldsway is −9.1 °C (15.6 °F), recorded in December 1961. For the period of 1981–2010, the lowest temperature of the year was −3.4 °C (25.9 °F) on average. The Isle of Man census 2021 lists the population of Douglas as 26,677, a reduction from the 2011 population of 27,938. The 2001 census gave a population of 25,347. The city has 31.73% of
3808-627: The power to create new laws, a function that Tynwald adopted around 1610. In October 1651, during the English Civil War , the island fell to the Parliamentary forces , who took over the administration of the government. During this period, Tynwald met only sporadically. Following the restoration of the monarchy , control of the island was returned to the Lords of Mann . The Keys saw a reduction in their power at this point, as Tynwald
3876-529: The powers of the church to offer sanctuary ). This was after the arrival of the Stanley family as Lords of Mann. It also noted that the comprehensive Manx Statute Book dated from the year 1422 onwards. These were not necessarily the earliest laws passed, but any prior to this date were not recorded as Acts of Tynwald . Comparison can be made with other parliaments in the British Isles of a similar period:
3944-521: The property there was classified as "chambers" (unoccupied, unheated, single-celled structures) for which rent was paid by non-residents including clergy, officials and landowners from elsewhere on the island. This suggests that the city's nucleus originated as a non-urban port. Speculation links the store buildings with the Irish Sea herring fishery, and the import/export trade. In 1681 Thomas Denton described Douglas as "the place of greatest resort" on
4012-722: The reform of the House of Lords , which was a promise of the Blair Government, and resulted in the passage of the House of Lords Act 1999 and the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 . As of September 2023, no such legislation has passed through the Tynwald or Parliament of the United Kingdom , however between 2017 and 2018 the Tynwald considered a series of recommendations from Lord Lisvane regarding legislative reform, most of which were rejected. According to
4080-408: The ten internment camps on the island during World War II, including: Hutchinson , Metropole , Central, Palace, Granville and Sefton Camp . Sections of the Promenade were cordoned off and many guest houses were used for the purpose. The war dead of the island are commemorated on the Douglas War Memorial . Douglas is now the main home of the island's offshore financial services industry, and also of
4148-571: The town was achieved at the expense of the original maze-like layout of the oldest streets. These were cleared away in the new street schemes and slum clearances of the 1870s to 1920s. The town's infrastructure was radically altered for tourists' convenience, and in 1878 the Loch Promenade was constructed. In 1870, there were 60,000 visitors annually; by 1884, this had grown to 182,000. In 1887, 310,916 visited for Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee . The earliest organised ferry services emerged between Douglas and Whitehaven, established by William Nicholson in
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#17327866930994216-400: The town's expansion. Other forms of trade also grew, and after the Revestment Act 1765 , Douglas began to reap the benefits of transatlantic trade, due in part to co-operation at a local level with Liverpool . Legitimate merchants who rose to prominence over the period included the Murreys, the Moores, and the Bacons. The town's later prosperity was facilitated by the low cost of living, and
4284-433: The town's problems with greater efficiency, and by 1869 the sewage problem had been largely resolved. The Commissioners also worked to alter the anachronistic architecture of Douglas, built during the era of fishing and trading, and no longer amenable or safe for tourists. The proportion of the total Manx population living in Douglas was also expanding, with 35% living there by 1891. The Victorian and later modernisation of
4352-405: Was 68,602 and in 2017 the number was 72,661, while the numbers represent an increase of 8,708 visitors over three years, this is still 27,339 shy of the number MNH claimed. The museum stated that due to remodelling of one of the museum's entrances, "it has become clear that the methodology we use to estimate visitors and users needs to be updated." The museum has limited parking, a shop, a café and
4420-436: Was established in 1977. The Isle of Man Cricket Club was formed in 1930 and later reformed as the IoM Cricket Association. It was elected a member of the International Cricket Council in 2004. The National Sports Centre (NSC), is a large multi-sports centre and athletics stadium located on Pulrose Road. Owned by the Department of Tourism and Leisure it is operated by Manx Sport & Recreation. The King George V Bowl ,
4488-401: Was expected to be effective from 1 November 2022, although there were some reports in November 2022 that it was somehow delayed following the death of Queen Elizabeth II , to a unknown date. A council meeting was said to discuss the issue in February 2023, but it was not discussed. Queen Camilla presented Letters Patent conferring city status on 20 March 2024. Douglas is on the east of
4556-428: Was left with no money to spend, and little power, although it was still able to bring about social change by the repeal in 1771 of restrictive labour legislation. As a result, the Keys asked the British government to dissolve Tynwald and to assent to legislation for a new elected parliament, which they hoped would have a stronger voice to challenge the new government of the island, based in distant Whitehall. To this end,
4624-448: Was reconstituted as "the Lord [of Mann], the Governor, the principal officers and the deemsters (who constitute the Lord's Council), and the Commons represented by their Keys." Administration of the government was vested in a Governor , and the Lords of Mann became absentee landlords. The Keys were unhappy with the changes, and agreed to very few new laws. In 1737, Tynwald obtained further powers in addition to its monopoly on law-making:
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