Unlike the well-preserved Rushen Castle, where even the
roofs were intact, Peel Castle is reduced to remains, with nowhere to get cover
from the rain. Of course, I’m no stranger to rain, and brought with me adequate
gear. The Manx are also accustomed to rain, because the audio devices for the self-guided
tour were sheathed with plastic.
Peel was settled by Celts about 500 BC. Originally a place
of worship, successive invasions by Vikings, English, monks and tourists turned
Peel into a government center worth defending. It wasn’t long before it became
a military post, and even the small church was surrounded by fortress walls
thick enough to fend off future invaders. Eventually, the government moved to
Castletown into a bigger and better fortress, and Peel Castle was left to
suffer the fate of most castles whose usefulness expired. Still, it’s a
picturesque stop, even in the rain.
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| Peel Harbour and Peel, viewed from castle |
Adequately soaked, I then moved on to the House of Manannan,
a three story building through which an indoor trail threads through the isle’s
history. Interactive story boards, dioramas, and videos present Man history
from early settlement to modern times, as seen through the eyes of legendary
sea god, Manannan. Although the museum
covered far more history than I can absorb, it had a roof and a coffee bar.
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| Depiction of Vikings landing |
When I returned to Douglas, high, wind-blown tides were
crashing heavily on the shore. At least one store had placed sandbags at its
front door. More heavy weather is forecast, but I’ll be inside.
