Sky Hill, Ramsey, Isle of Man

                            Skywatch sunset


Sky Hill overlooks the town of Ramsey, Isle of Man. This image was taken on a walkway adjourning Ballure Road and the Mountain Road, the road leaving the town to head to Douglas, the island Capital. The Hill gets its name from the Battle that took place there in 1079 between the invading Vikings and Manx people. Another iconic place in the small town I live.  Further reading about the Battle of Sky Hill can be found here. 


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OLAF 1, KING NO. 2

Olaf 1 posing in the library

So my world yesterday was puking queens, today we have murdering Viking Kings. Never a dull moment here is there. Well actually there are plenty but it looks like the past, those historical footsteps around Ramsey were jam packed lively ones. So who is this Olaf 1 guy then? No he's not a rapper with a name like that. Here we go then, Olaf1 complete with Babooshkaisms.

Olaf, was a minor(child not digging coal) when King Magnus Barefoot( great name) raided the island and the Hebrides. Known too as Olaf Klining(no not Klingon) or Bitling. Why? Due to his teeny, tiny stature or maybe his rosy complexion. No I don't know if that was down to the local brew. He reigned for 50 years we think( who's we?) and kept everything hunky dory, peaceful keeping on good terms with the Kings of Norway, Scotland, England and Ireland. He married Ingibiorg, daughter of Earl Hakon of Orkney and had one son, Godred the Black.( Now that sounds very middle earth.)It's also rumoured and documented somewhere(I'm not an historian, but a storyteller) that he married Elfrica, daughter of Fergus, Lord of Galloway. Randy Olaf had several illegitimate sons and daughters, one of whom, Ragnhildis (Raghnaid), married Somerled MacGhillebrighde, regulus of Argyle(don't you just love these names?) and Daddy of the great Clan Donald. He bacame Lord of the Isles don't ya know too. Olaf Bitling sailed to Norway at the end of his reign to pay his 'scat' of 10 marks of gold.Pays his dues, he was crowned at Trondheim and left his son Godred to be educated in Norway. On his return to Man, he found that the sons of his deceased brother Harold were conspiring to overthrow him. Royalty eh! Bloodthirsty backstabbers. On the Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul( sitting on a wall) 1153, Olaf arranged a meeting with the conspirators to consider their claims. Unfortunately Reginald, son of Harold, took advantage of the opportunity to dispatch(polite way of saying hack to pieces) his uncle with an axe. He was slain with said axe in Ramsey. Well of course we didn't have "CSI Ramsey"(please let me write the script) so we can't actually prove a murder most foul took place can we? In fact who says any of this really happened, it is the Isle of Man afterall.

Do you think Kingons were based on Vikings? Discuss!

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GODRED CROVAN - G

Godred Crovan

ABC This week is brought to you my the letter G

I am so excited we have snow!!!!!!!!!!!!! Back to the letter and a Viking tale.

Godred Crovan founded of the last Dynasty of the Isle of Man. His father was Harold the Black of 'Ysland' (i.e. Iceland). His origin is murky, as is a lot of Island history. He received a considerable amount of support from the Hebrides and he was successful in establishing a Dynasty that lasted for two centuries without challenge that we do know. These circumstances argue that he was in some way related to some of the previous Kings of the Isles. First noting was 1066 and all that, when we find him with Godred, son of Sigtrygg, King of Man and the Isles at the time. He was helping out King Harold Hardrada of Norway and Tostig Godwinson. That would be assisting them in their invasion of Merry Old England. The invaders were routed by Harold Godwinson, King of England and a brother of Tostig at the Battle of Stamford Bridge as all Chelsea fans should know. King Harold of Norway and Tostig were slain. Both Godreds( confusing isn't it) escaped to guess where, yes, the Isle of Man. King Godred Sigtryggson of Man and the Isles died soon after succeeded by his son Fingal. Godred Crovan seems to to have returned to Iceland. However he had plans. Big plans! In 1071 in Norway, he formed an army to invade little 'ole Isle of Man. Naval support came from the Hebrides, but stubborn opposition came in Man. Apparently the islanders were not at all impressed with this interlopping Viking. He in return was also equally as stubborn though and unimpressed. Despite two setbacks, he finally triumphed in battle at Scaefell(Skyhill) Ramsey. The Hebrideans received the South part of the island. It was take land or plunder it. The people of Man were driven into the Northern portion, that would be places like er, Ramsey then. Godred Crovan was a mighty ruler, conquering Dublin and a large part of Leinster. He was married leaving three sons, Lagman, Harold and Olaf. He died of pestilence in Islay in 1087.

Godred Croven established the Kingdom of Mann and the Isles after the Battle of Skyhill, Ramsey as it happens, on his third attempt. Sifting through info concerning anything to do with the events and timelines can be a nightmare, but the above married times, dates, places and names most frequently. It's also a Ramsey connection, rather than just generic Isle Of Man. The image is part of a scuplture to be found in the lobby of Ramsey Library of Godred and his
son Olaf. To see the full sculpture and read about Olaf click here for my other post and the scroll to Olaf lower part of the post.

Go to Mrs N for a plethera of G's.

babooshka ramsey daily photo http://dailyphotoisleofman/blogspot.com/

MARCH THEME DAY GLASS - BRITISH RED TELEPHONE BOX

A different glass

British Red Telephone Box

Theme today is glass. Glass building are relatively few in a Ramsey and I have featured the ones I could have used already, so I went for a very British Institution a Red Telephone Box. To highlight the box I just desaturated the background. A departure for me. With the advent of mobile phones phone boxes and the more modern open kiosks are dwindling in use. They are no longer replaced or new ones provided when the present ones need updating. The iconic red box stopped production many years ago, in fact there is more than one design called "K class" but you still find them in far flung places such as Gibraltar, Bermuda, obviously the UK and here. Anywhere that is part of the British Isles, UK, or British Islands. Many were sold off privately once they were de-commissioned and you will often come across one in the most unlikely country. You may have one in your area? Many also have been adapted for other uses across the world. British theme bars around the world always seem to have one too in one form or another. Click here to read more about the history from wiki.



This phone box is still in use and working. Situated outside Ramsey Football Club Ground. It still accepts coins not just phonecards or credit cards, still has a phone directory intact and as you can see is also non vandalized. Not one pane of glass smashed. It's not the only Red Telephone box in Ramsey, we have quite a few and all of them are still used. Just want to point that out. The tourist's love them. So that's my iconic glass image. Something a little different, iconic, historical, outmoded but strangely still in use here.

Have fun and do check out the many daily photos around the world and there unique images

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Babooshka ramsey daily photo http://dailyphotoisleofman.blogspot.com/

MONA STREET, RAMSEY

Nothing to moan about in this street

I was hoping to play the 6 game today but as usual time has run away, so I'll do that Saturday and 6 of you  bloggers beware. Instead I give you Mona Street. Now of course we have the Mona Lisa, but this Mona would be the Gaelic variety. Now I know that Mona in Gaelic means noble but I'm not sure if this is where our Mona in Ramsey got here little name from. Sweet little street isn't it? Very brightly coloured sunny yellow houses, lots of cars, cables, those chimney pots again, plant pots so much for a tiny street(or terrace as it used to be.) This was another of those guerrilla run and shoot images not overly composed. Quite enjoying this style of photography. Nicely rough around the edges, busy. The bonus was the crane from yesterday peeping over the top shows you where this is just behind the docks.

Mona street was built it seems between the 1840's to 1860's to coincide with the brand spanking new road built a little earlier. They were known as status houses, homes of note. Ones reason was piped water, which made it's way into Ramsey in 1857. Apparently it was a walk to the well before then. One other interesting fact for me. There used to be a photographic studio there many moons ago, and the street is the main focal point for today's daily photo post.  What goes around comes around. Oh yes the one other interesting fact. I know someone who has just left this street, and that's why I had the idea to capture it. How many times have I passed here and ignored it. 

Post and run again.  Had sometime out with mindjolt games. Now to bed. Work can wait. I'll do some proper photography again next week, just wanted to experiment a little this week. Unless you want more of these quick snaps and less of the pretty perfect ones?

Having email probs. Trying to sort that out but they are boucing back.

Babooshka ramsey daily photo http://dailyphotoisleofman.blogspot.com

 

THE WHITE BRIDGE- MY WORLD

Over The White Bridge onto the Battle of Skyhill

Another Ramsey Landmark, and one of Babooshka's regular haunts is the aptly, if not imaginatively named White Bridge. The bridge is situated in The Poyll Dooey Nature Reserve and crosses over the Sulby river. The hill you can see on the left in the distance is Skyhill as in the battle which I have covered before in the viking posts and a My World post. It's basically a single file pedestrian only bridge, although bikes and motorbikes can be walked but not ridden across. It really is quite a narrow, sturdy but perfectly formed walkway. It's also another of many favourite places to photograph in Ramsey.

When looking for information about this bridge, again, I either came back to my own links or just found the vaguest reference, or uncorroborated info, which I need to confirm. Even images seemed limited. The Poyll Dooey Reserve is just the same. This is a specific area that has been set aside as a nature reserve/wetlands site for wildlife and yet it's almost as if it's some dirty little secret the island is ashamed of. To say I am exasperated by this is an understatement. I have a few ideas where to find text to post with my photos I regularly take of this place, so I will elaborate more soon. Nothing more fustrating than coming back to your own blog.



White bridge

If you take the Bridge away and look up to Skyhill you will be looing upon the same view he Viking would have seen when they arrived marching towards Skyhill an onto battle. No skyscrappers to osbcure the beautiful veiw here.


MY WORLD and thank the skywatch gang once again for another inspired idea.