Port St Mary (Manx: Purt le Moirrey) is a village district located in the south of the Isle of Man. The village takes its name from the former Chapel of St Mary (Manx: Keeill Moirrey) which is thought to have overlooked Chapel Bay in the village. Its population is 1,953 according to the 2011 census.
Port St. Mary was once a major fishing and trading port, the viilage today is popular with tourists and fishermen.
Port St. Mary is not noted for its industrial heritage but a Warwick Smith painting of Port St Mary in 1795 shows a lime kiln in operation there. Lime burners advertisements appear in early Manx newspapers c 1810 with activity at Scarlett, Ballasalla and Derbyhaven. At the time of the Valuation Report of 1826 rival estimates of the limestone quarries were given by James McCrone and Webster McCrone described the Port St Mary limestone quarries as let to John Clucas for twenty one years from March 1823
The quarries were described as adjoining excellent shipping and 15000 barrels of burned lime had been producedduring the previous year. The limestone had never been wrought to any considerable extent and the demand for the Island is much stronger than the burner has hitherto been able to supply. He also asserted that exports could be made to
Great Britain Webster dismissed McCrone's statements as an inflated
claim the export idea was nonsense blasting was necessary; locals were entitled by the ancient Quarry Law to help themselves to stone An entry in the Crown Letter Books dated 1832 states that Thomas Clucas has shipped immense quantities of limestone to Ardglass to Mr Ogilvie with which he has built the New Pier there... Mr Burgoyne Chairman of the Public Works in Dublin has also asked for some Port St Mary limestone. But the Crown has no control over it further than to demand a Lordship of one penny per ton of raw material and one penny per barrel of shells or burnt lime. Lime Street in Port St Mary is said to derive its name from the workers at the lime quarries and kilns who tended to live there.
About the Town Hall
"Port St Mary is unique in that the village has a Town Hall. Opened in 1898 by the Port St Mary Town Hall Company Limited, it was purchased by Port St Mary Commissioners in 1938. The Town Hall or Balley Haljey is not only the home of the Commissioners Offices, but also the Happy Valley Play School which has been looking after children of the Port for more than 50 years."
The main hall has been used for many different kinds of event over the years and due to its sprung maple floor has been a favourite of roller skaters, dancers and various sports.
Unfortunately the hall was forced to close for public use in 2003 and remained closed until 2012.
The Commissioners has approved plans to improving the toilets and access provision in 2011 and this work started just after Easter 2012 and the Town Hall was officially reopened by Mr Robbie Cooil on Saturday 10th November 2012.
Port St Mary is the perfect base for many types of holidays or days out. With it’s deep water harbour, boat trips are readily available for fishing trips or a trip round to the Calf of Man.
There is a good section of the Raad ny Foillan (Coastal Footpath) which passes through Port St Mary, passed the Chasms, dropping down to the Sound. The Sound Cafe provides a welcome stop off point for light refreshments before heading on round to Port Erin. Bus & rail links between the two Ports provides a link back to the starting point or a path to home.
Wildlife is never far away in Port St Mary, with a number of marine animals, birds and smaller creatures always close by. Free to use binoculars are available at Kallow Point along with wildlife boards highlighting what you may see.
The Port St Mary Heritage Trail will soon be launched which will guide walkers around the village providing a detailed view of the Port’s history.
Tennis courts are available at Kallow Point Road.
Many surfers head down to Kallow Point and Brewery Beach when the waves are right.
Kayaking from Port St Mary is very popular heading round Perwick Bay to Sugarloaf and the Sound.
The Board of Port St Mary Commissioners has represented the Village District of Port St Mary since its formation 1890. The Board consists of nine members who are elected by public vote every four years,
Port St Mary Commissioners are responsible for:-
> Refuse collection
> Grass cutting
> Beach cleaning
> Local Authority Housing
> Dog & Litter Byelaws
> Street lighting
> Abandoned vehicles
> Commissioner owned car parks
> Garden of Remembrance
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