Laxey
Laxey
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 View of the harbour and old part of Laxey |
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 Laxey
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| Laxey shown within the Isle of Man | |
| Population | 1,768 (Isle of Man census 2006) |
| OS grid reference | SC434840 |
| • Douglas | 7 miles (11 km) |
| Parish | Laxey |
| Sheading | Garff |
| Crown dependency | Isle of Man |
| Post town | ISLE OF MAN |
| Postcode district | IM4 |
| Dialling code | 01624 |
| Police | Isle of Man |
| Fire | Isle of Man |
| Ambulance | Isle of Man |
| House of Keys | Garff |
Laxey (Manx: Laksaa) is a village on the east coast of the Isle of Man. Its name derives from the Old Norse Laxa meaning 'Salmon River'. Its key distinguishing features are its 3 working vintage railways, having the largest working waterwheel in the world, and being set in a partly wooded valley.
The village lies on the A2, the main Douglas to Ramsey road, and on the vintage Manx Electric Railway, and Snaefell Mountain Railway. Laxey Glen is one of the Manx National Glens, with Dhoon Glen being located close by. The Raad ny Foillan long distance coastal footpath, opened in 1986, runs along the coast through the village.
In the 19th century, mining for lead and zinc began, becoming the largest industry the village has had. The Great Laxey Mines were the deepest in the world in the 19th century. Mining in Laxey came to an end 75 years later in 1929. The village also had a fishing industry.
In the late 1800s the Manx Electric Railway line was built through the village, opening it up to tourists. Various other attractions were built at that time, such as Snaefell Mountain Railway and the Laxey Glen Pleasure Gardens.
Laxey village is now a mainly residential and a tourist area. There are several public gardens, primarily Laxey Glen Gardens. There is also a handweaving mill which sells its own and many other products. The village has five pubs and a microbrewery, The Old Laxey Brewing Company. The village is built around a wooded glen with a number of steep winding streets and paths leading to the floor of the glen, from where one can walk by the side of Laxey River to its outflow to the sea at the small harbour, and onto the beach and promenade. One can also walk around the cliffs to the north of the beach from opposite the "La Mona Lisa Restaurant". This walk goes, over the cairn (kern), from where there are views of Clay Head to the south. A Laxey born & bred person would say, "I'm going over the kern for a walk".
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Wikipedia