The Mitre can be found alongside the Main Road (A3) as it enters the village of Kirk Michael from the south.The Mitre is possibly about the oldest surviving inn on the Isle of Man.
In her 1997 book'Manx Inns', Suzanne Cubbon writes the following about The Mitre.
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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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The Full article as it appears on the IOMToday website is shown below:
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Oldest Manx pub is set to get listed statusWednesday, 19 June 2019 - NorthWhat’s reputed to be the island’s oldest pub is set to be registered.
A notice of a proposal to register the Mitre Hotel in Kirk Michael has been made by the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture.
DEFA wants to register the building due to its special architectural or historic interest.
Registration will mean that no one can demolish, alter or extend of the pub without the consent of the department.
Mike Clague of Michael Heritage Trust said: ’We would welcome the registration of such an important building to the village.’
The Mitre dates from at least the 1780s, and was established on the 120 acre estate of Ballachrink House.
A map from 1785 shows the Mitre Hotel and nearby houses, as well as the stables which is now the rifle club building.
There was no Douglas Road Corner then - the Main Road led to Peel and the road to St John’s went up alongside the Mitre and into the Fairfield, before turning south.
A book by John Feltham about his tour of the island in 1797, describes the Mitre as ’a most respectable inn’ and refers to the ’beautiful hostess, who cannot fail to attract and please every visitant’.
In 1799 it was taken over by a William Ray, who in November 1808 transferred it to Charles Richardson, who had run the Liverpool Hotel, Douglas.
Richardson, in his turn, went to Ramsey in about 1813 and the Kirk Michael house passed into the hands of P. Dellany, who called it the New Inn. A couple of years later it became the Old Inn under Robert Williams.
Under Lt. Ivie, it reverted to the Crown and Mitre. In 1841, it was taken over by a Mr Pitchforth of Yorkshire.
A daily stage coach regularly called at the Mitre in the 1880s and for many years it was a favoured spot for honeymooning couples.
Comments about the proposed registration must be made to planning and building control, Murray House, Mount Havelock, Douglas, by June 21, quoting 18/00004/RBINV.' (
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