Historical records of Castletown Heritage

The contents consists of administrative records relating to committee meetings, society correspondence, legal records, financial records, membership subscriptions, society projects, events, newsletters and programmes. Records relating to the establishment of Castletown Heritage are also included.

Other material relates to Castletown Heritage's actions in preserving Castletown, its buildings and the surrounding area. Further records include the society's activities in collecting and preserving the memories of Castletown such as, the history of the town, memories of individuals, biographical information on individuals and the history of Castletown buildings and streets.

Further historical items include maritime related records, archaeological related material and various topics relating to social history, visits to the Island and the Castletown Gazette .

Castletown Heritage was established in 1997 in the hope of encouraging and supporting the preservation, restoration and development of the heritage of Castletown. The first officers elected to the Council of Management were chairman Tony D. Petty, treasurer Elsie Pickard, secretary Jonathan Kewley, members Celia Salisbury Jones, Sir David Wilson, Lady Eva Wilson and ex officio members, Mahendra Patel, (chairman of Castletown Commissioners) and J.A. Tony Brown (Member of the House of Keys). Susan Temple was membership secretary and the school representatives were Sam Gross (Castle Rushen High School) and Ameeta Patel (King Williams College).

This civic society also formed committees for buildings, events and research and archives as well as managing public relations and the newsletter. In 2002 the society constructed an official constitution, listing their aims and objectives as:

• To promote the preservation and enhancement of the built environment and landscape setting of Castletown
• To promote the survival of Castletown as a living town
• To preserve, research and make public records and memories of the history of Castletown and its hinterland
• Generally to act as the civic, amenity, historical and antiquarian society of Castletown

Castletown Heritage is administered and managed in accordance with its constitution by the members of the Executive Committee. Other activities include undertaking historical research, publishing content, arranging lectures and guided walks, commenting on planning applications and promoting a positive environment in the town and surrounding areas. In March 2017 Castletown Heritage will celebrate its 20 year anniversary.

A 20 year embargo period is in place, restricting access until August 2031.

Access is available to Castletown Heritage committee members and officer holders. Members of the public seeking access will require authorisation by application to Manx National Heritage via library@mnh.gov.im .

A detailed box list is available for consultation

Fonds-level description created by Eleanor Williams (MNH Project Archivist), November 2016.

Separated material held by Manx National Heritage includes photographs of Castletown, created on behalf of Castletown Heritage (reference number: PG/13528) and maps sourced by Castletown Heritage (reference number: P.6512).

Publications by Castletown Heritage include William Henry Cooper's Castletown (2005), The Town Clark's Castletown (2009), Castletown A Miscellany (2012) and A Book of Prospects (2014). Copies are held in Manx National Heritage's Library & Archives.