The Pub Sign for the Mitre is alongside the Main Road (A3) as it enters the village of Kirk Michael from the south.
This pub sign depicts a black and white Bishop' mitre above the name of the pub and aslo displays the year 1789, the year of the French Revolution, as the date of establishment:
'Bishop's Mitre'
THE MITRE
---EST 1789---'The mitre (British English) (/'ma?t?r/; Greek: µ?t?a, "headband" or "turban") or miter (American English; is a type of headgear now known as the traditional, ceremonial headdress of bishops and certain abbots in traditional Christianity. Mitres are worn in the Catholic Church, Orthodox Church, as well as in the Anglican Communion, some Lutheran churches, and also by bishops and certain other clergy in the Eastern Catholic Churches and the Oriental Orthodox Churches. The Metropolitan of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church also wears a mitre during important ceremonies such as the Episcopal Consecration.' (
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In her 1997 book'Manx Inns', Suzanne Cubbon writes the following about The Mitre.
'
The Mitre Hotel(Old Inn)The Mitre is possibly about the oldest surviving inn which we[the Isle of Man]have left. It was established on the 120 acre estate of Ballachrink, the first mention of it is by Feltham on his tour of the Island in 1797. He referred to it as 'A most respectable inn with a beautiful hostess who cannot fail to attract and please every visitant.'
According to the Atholl Papers of 1799 a Mr Ray, of salt smuggling fame, who has recently taken the hotel at Kirk Michael, is thought to be implicated in the work of some coiners^ at Douglas. It became known as Ray's Hotel. Ray decided to retire in 1808 and the proprietor, Thos. Connell of Glen Wyllin advertised it for sale.
It was taken over in November 1808 by Charles Richardson, who had come from the Liverpool in Douglas. William Ray put an advert in the paper to thank everyone for the support he had received during his nine years at the inn. Whilst in the possession of Charles Richardson it was known by the names of the Crwon and Mitre and also the more familar name of Richardson's.
The estate continued to be advertised to be sold, up until 1813 and 1815, P. Delaney announced the opening of The New Inn. In 1818 it wa to let again and 1820 Robert William open up as The Old Inn.
Richardson had transferred the name of the Crown and Mitre to the Hotel in Parliament Street, Ramsey but the inn at Kirk Michael regained it name under the occupation of Lt. Ivie. He was succeeded by his wifr who was then followed by Mr Stacy Gee, who ran it for at least ten years from 1826 until 1836.
In 1841 it was taken by Mr Pitchforth of Yorkshire who, according to Mona's Herald, had it all newly papered and painted. In 1857 Frederick Twigg was the landlord and in 1882 Peter Best took it after leaving the Commercial in Laxey.
A daily stage coach called regularly at the Mitre during the 1880s, and for many years it used to be a favourite spot for Manx couples to go for their honeymoon, being resaonably accessible, yet far enough from both North and South to afford the desired seclusion.'
^a coiner means 'a person who coins money, in particular a maker of counterfeit coins.' (
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