Kate's Cottage, Isle of Man

Last updated

Kate's Cottage
Kates Cottage IMG 0226.jpg
Coordinates 54°12′40.5″N4°28′37.4″W / 54.211250°N 4.477056°W / 54.211250; -4.477056 Coordinates: 54°12′40.5″N4°28′37.4″W / 54.211250°N 4.477056°W / 54.211250; -4.477056
Built1864-1866, 1922 (road),
Isle of Man location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location of Kate's Cottage in Isle of Man

Kate's Cottage, Isle of Man is a cottage and one of the named corners of the Snaefell Mountain Course used in Grand Prix-style motorcycle racing along public roadways of the Isle of Man. It has been asserted in the Isle of Man's program of Registered Buildings that the cottage was built by 1869. [1]

Contents

It is a former Mountain Shepherd's cottage that is situated adjacent to the 34th TT Milestone racing road-side milestone marker used on the Isle of Man TT Mountain Course near to Keppel Gate on the primary A18 Snaefell mountain road in Kirk Onchan parish, in the Isle of Man. [2] [3]

Keppel Gate and the A18 Snaefell Mountain Road

The A18 Snaefell Mountain Road was developed in the mid-19th century from a number of pre-existing narrow mountain roads, carting-tracks and horse-paths. [4]

This section of the A18 Snaefell Mountain Road from the Keppel Gate to the Windy Corner was built on sections of common grazing land that were transferred to the UK Crown following the sale of the Islands feudal and manorial rights by John Murray, 4th Duke of Atholl as Governor of the Isle of Man in the period 1824-1829. [5]

The Tynwald Disafforesting Commission of 1860 allowed for the proposed sale of mountain land held by the UK Crown to the HM Commissioners of Woods. [6] A condition of sale was the building of a new mountain road from near Hillberry Corner to the Windy Corner. This included the installation of a number of mountain gates including the Beinn-y-Phott gate near to the Brandywell road junction and Keppel Gate.[ citation needed ]

The new mountain 'highroads' were built in the period 1864-1866, replacing and bypassing older sections of mountain tracks including the Keppel Gate section. [7] The section of the mountain road from the Creg-ny-Baa road junction to near Kate's Cottage was rebuilt in the period 1892-1893 [8] and again modified in 1922. [9]

Area of Specific Scientific Interest

The mountain land of moorland "heath" of Keppel Gate, including Slieau Ree Mountain and Kate's Cottage is an Area of Specific Scientific Interest (ASSI) and upland conservation "hot-spot." [10]

Origin of name

Formal names of the building include the "Keppel Gate Cottage," or "Keppel Gate." Previously, also known as the "Shepherd's Hut" or Tate's Cottage, [11] now known as Kate's Cottage. [12] [13]

It has often been alluded to that a BBC commentator mistakenly referred to Tate's Cottage as Kate's Cottage. The name may have originated as a printers typesetting error with the mountain cottage at the Keppel mountain accidentally being transposed to Kate's Cottage during the printing process.

"OUR LETTER BOX..."I live in the house known as "Kate's Cottage," but it is a printers mistake as it should be "Tate's Cottage." GEOFFREY RHODES TATE.

[14]

The property a former Mountain Shepherd's cottage, owned by the Isle of Man Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, was sold at public auction in 1994 and is now in private ownership. [15]

Motor-sport heritage

Contemporary photographs of the RAC Tourist Trophy races for automobiles held in the Isle of Man 1905–1922 and the Isle of Man TT races in the 1920s, show sheep-gates at Kate's Cottage [16] and also at Keppel Gate, with the name Keppel Gate in general referred to both locations. [17]

The Keppel Gate section of the A18 Snaefell Mountain Road was part of the 52.15-mile (83.93 km) Highland Course (amended to 40.38 miles (64.99 km) in 1906 [18] ) and the 37.5-mile (60.4 km) Four Inch Course used for car racing including the 1904 Gordon Bennett Trial and the RAC Tourist Trophy car races held between 1905 and 1922. [19]

In 1911, the Four Inch Course was first used by the Auto-Cycling Union for the Isle of Man TT motorcycle races. [20] This included the Keppel Gate section [21] and Kate's Cottage [22] [23] and the course later became known as the 37.73 mile Isle of Man TT Mountain Course for motor-cycle racing which has been used since 1911 for the Isle of Man TT and from 1923 for the Manx Grand Prix races. [24] [25]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snaefell mountain road</span> Road in the Isle of Man

The A18 Snaefell Mountain Road or Mountain Road is a primary main A-road of 13.35 miles (21.48 km) in length which connects the towns of Douglas and Ramsey in the Isle of Man.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isle of Man TT Mountain Course</span> Motorcycle circuit on the Isle of Man

The Isle of Man TT Mountain Course or TT Course is a street and public rural road circuit located in the Isle of Man, used for motorcycle racing. The motorcycle TT Course is used principally for the Isle of Man TT Races and also the separate event of the Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling for the Manx Grand Prix and Classic TT Races held in September of each year. The start-line for the Isle of Man TT Mountain Course is located on Glencrutchery Road in the town of Douglas, Isle of Man.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">26th Milestone, Isle of Man</span>

26th Milestone, Isle of Man is situated on the primary A18 Snaefell Mountain Road in the parish of Lezayre in the Isle of Man. At the 26th Milestone racing marker used for the Isle of Man TT Races and Manx Grand Prix, the bend was named in honour of 26-times TT winner Joey Dunlop who died after a racing motorcycle crash in Estonia in July 2000. The area is the location of the only accident in which spectators at the Isle of Man TT races or Manx Grand Prix have been killed in a motorcycle racing accident.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keppel Gate, Isle of Man</span> Historic site

Keppel Gate, Isle of Man is part of a former UK HM Commissioners of Woods and Forest estate, including a series of former highway mountain gates. It is now Common land in public ownership and is one of three purpose built former Crown Road sections of the A18 Snaefell Mountain Road used for the Isle of Man TT races. The area of Keppel Gate including a nearby private residence of Kate's Cottage at the adjacent 34th TT Milestone road-side marker is located between the 4th Milestone and 5th Milestone road-side markers on the primary A18 Snaefell Mountain Road in the parish district of Kirk Onchan in the Isle of Man.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Creg-ny-Baa, Isle of Man</span> Historic site

Creg-ny-Baa is located between the 3rd Milestone and 4th Milestone of the primary A18 Snaefell Mountain Road and the road junction with the secondary B12 'Creg-ny-Baa Back-Road', in the parish of Kirk Onchan in the Isle of Man.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guthrie's Memorial, Isle of Man</span> Historic site

Guthrie's Memorial is a S-bend corner between the 26 and 27 mile road-side markers on the primary A18 Snaefell mountain road, part of the Snaefell Mountain Course known mainly for motorcycle racing, situated in the Isle of Man parish of Lezayre.

Rhencullen including Birkin's Bend is situated adjacent to the 17th milestone of the TT course, on the primary A3 Castletown to Ramsey road in the Isle of Man.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brandywell, Isle of Man</span> Historic site

Brandywell, Isle of Man or is an area of Mountain Lands of heath moorland and coniferous woodland plantations situated in the Northern Upland Massif in the parish of Kirk Michael in the Isle of Man. The area was previously used by local shepherds due to a local stream and a nearby former venerated water well which was known for its distinctive quality and "brandy" colour of the water.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Bungalow, Isle of Man</span>

The Bungalow, Isle of Man, one of a handful of better-known vantage points spread around the Snaefell Mountain Course, is situated adjacent to the 31st Milestone roadside marker on the road junction of the primary A18 Mountain Road, the A14 Sulby Glen Road and the road-tramway crossing for the Snaefell Mountain Railway in the parish of Lezayre in the Isle of Man.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarah's Cottage, Isle of Man</span> Historic site in Sarahs Cottage, Kirk German

Sarah's Cottage is situated between the 11th milestone and 12th milestones on Creg Willey’s Hill on the primary A3 Castletown to Ramsey Road in the parish of Kirk German in the Isle of Man.

Ballacraine is located between the 7th and 8th milestones of the TT course, at the junction of the A1 Douglas to Peel and A3 Castletown to Ramsey primary roads in the parish of German in the Isle of Man. It is now at the east end of the ribbon development of St. John's village. At the junction is the former public house, the Ballacraine Inn, now a private residence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hillberry Corner</span>

Hillberry Corner is situated at the 36th Milestone road-side marker on the Snaefell Mountain Course, being on the primary A18 Mountain Road with the side-road junction of the C22 Little Mill Road, in the parish of Onchan in the Isle of Man.

Ballagarraghyn is a farm situated between the 7th milestone and 8th Milestone road-side markers on the primary A1 Douglas to Peel road in the parish of German in the Isle of Man.

Glen Helen or Lambfell Glen) is one of a series of eighteen Manx National Glens owned and maintained by the Forestry Amenity and Lands Directorate of the Isle of Man Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ballacrye Corner</span> Road in the Isle of Man

Ballacrye is situated adjacent to the 19th Milestone of the TT Course, on the primary A3 Castletown to Ramsey road at the junction with the B9 Ballacrye Road, in the parish of Ballaugh in the Isle of Man.

The Mountain Mile is a 1.3 mile section of a purpose-built graded road situated between the 27th and 29th Milestone roadside markers on the Snaefell Mountain Course used for the Isle of Man TT and Manx Grand Prix races on the A18 Mountain Road in the parish of Lezayre in the Isle of Man.

Cronk Urleigh is a stretch of road situated at the 15th Milestone on the primary A3 Castletown to Ramsey in the parish of Kirk Michael in the Isle of Man.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glen Duff</span> Historic site

Glen Duff is situated adjacent to the 23rd road milestone on the A3 Castletown to Ramsey road with the junction with the B14 Bernaharra Road in the parish of Kirk Christ Lezayre in the Isle of Man.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ballagarey Corner, Isle of Man</span> Residential village and point on road-race course

Ballagarey is located between the third and fourth milemarkers used for recognition of the Snaefell Mountain Course road-racing circuit on the primary A1 Douglas to Peel road, in the parish of Marown in the Isle of Man.

References

  1. "Registered Building No. 117" (PDF). With photo.
  2. Place Names of The Isle of Man – Da Ny Manninee Dooie Volume Four Sheading of Garff (Kirk Maughold & Ramsey, Kirk Lonan and Kirk Connchan) page 402 Kirk Connchan by George Broderick (1999) Manx Place- Name Survey, Max Niemeyer Verlag Tubingen ISBN   3-484-40138-9 (Gesamtwerk) 3-484-10132-X Druck: Das Weihert-Druck GmbH Darmstadt, Eiband: Siegfried Geiger, Ammerbuch "Kates Cottage….."
  3. International Isle of Man Tourist Trophy Races and Production Machine Races 3 June 5, 7 & 9 1972 – Official Programme and Guide FIM The World Championship Road Races page 72 Auto-Cycle Union (1972) Fleet Studios London – Charles Frost Ltd
  4. Isle of Man Examiner page 5 Thursday 5 June 1969
  5. BIBLIOTHECA MONENSIS A bibliographical account of works relating to the Isle of Man. page 237-256 William Harrison The Manx Society Douglas MDCCCLXXVI "1824.—An Act empowering the Lords of the Treasury to Purchase all the Manorial Rights of the Duke of Atholl in the Isle of Man, 6th Geo. IV., Cap. 34. 10th June."
  6. Manx Milestones pages 13–17 and pages 57–58 by Stuart Slack (1st Edition)(2003)The Manx Experience ISBN   1-873120-58-3
  7. Manx Sun page 5 Saturday 24 November 1866
  8. Isle of Man Times page 20 Saturday 13 February 1892
  9. Motor Cycling page 103 31 May 1922
  10. Guidelines for the selection of biological Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSIs) on the Isle of Man Volume 2: Detailed habitat and species criteria page 108 The Isle of Man Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (2008) (DAFF)
  11. Isle of Man Examiner Friday 12 November 1943
  12. Place Names of The Isle of Man – Da Ny Manninee Dooie Volume Four Sheading of Garff (Kirk Maughold & Ramsey, Kirk Lonan and Kirk Connchan) page 402-403 Kirk Connchan by George Broderick (1999) Manx Place- Name Survey, Max Niemeyer Verlag Tubingen ISBN   3-484-40138-9 (Gesamtwerk) 3-484-10132-X Druck: Das Weihert-Druck GmbH Darmstadt, Eiband: Siegfried Geiger, Ammerbuch "really Tate's Cottage from Rody Tate, shepherd in the 1940's/50's. Always known as the Shepherd's Hut OD1991..."
  13. Isle of Man Examiner page 9 Thursday 25 May 1950
  14. Isle of Man Examiner page 5 Thursday 9 April 1937
  15. Isle of Man Examiner – Brialtagh Ellan Vannin page 21 SECOND FRONT Isle of Man Newspapers Ltd (2003) Johnson Press Publishing Ltd Tuesday 3 June 2003 "The man who owns the TT des res...." ISSN 1358-4383
  16. TT Special page 15 Editor G.S.Davison 16 June 1933 "....The view is perfect; not only can we see Kate's Cottage at Keppel Gate, but also the outline of the Snaefell Hotel...."
  17. Motocourse History of the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy Races 1907–1989 by Nick Harris page 24 and page 100 (1990)(1st Edition) Hazelton Publishing ISBN   0-905138-71-6 "....The Gate is kept open at Keppel Gate during the 1921 Senior TT Race. This part of the Course is now called Kate's Cottage."
  18. TT Pioneers – Early Car Racing in the Isle of Man page 22 Robert Kelly, Mercury Asset Management (1996)(1st Edition) The Manx Experience, The Alden Press ISBN No 1 873120 61 3
  19. Isle of Man Car Races 1904–1953 page 30 by Neil Hanson (2015) Lily Publications ISBN   978-1-907945-36-6
  20. The Manx Experience. A Souvenir Guide to the Isle of Man. page 66-67 Gordon N. Kniverton 8th edition The Manx Experience (1987) Mannin Publishing Ltd
  21. Isle of Man Green Final page 8 TOURIST TROPHY RACES Saturday 5 May 1962
  22. TT Special page 10 JUNIOR RACE --- COURSE JOTTINGS edited by G.S. Davison Wednesday 14 June 1933 "TT Special" Observer Jottings
  23. Daily Express Tuesday 6 June 1972 Supplement page 3
  24. The History of the Manx Grand Prix page 7, 8, 9 by Bill Snelling and Peter Kneale Amulree Publishing(1998) Manx Heritage Foundation ISBN   1 901508 04 8
  25. Isle of Man Times page 8 MANX GRAND PRIX MOTOR CYCLE RACES Saturday 2 August 1952