Facts About Ramsey
-
Ramsey, which has a population of about 8,000, is the second-largest town on the Isle of Man.
-
The town’s name comes from the Old Norse word “hrams-á”, which means “wild garlic river”. More specifically, it refers to the Latin name Allium ursinum, also known as ramsons, buckrams, or wild garlic.
-
Ramsey has a long history of shipbuilding, and many of the boats used in the island’s fishing industry were built by the town’s shipyards.
-
King William III bestowed Ramsey with the title of Royal Borough in 1668.
-
The courthouse in the town is among the oldest in the British Isles, having been built in 1423.
-
The “Ramsey Sprint,” a motorcycle racing competition that takes place on closed town streets, is a well-known annual event in Ramsey.
-
The town hall, courthouse, and St. Paul’s Church, which has a striking spire that dominates the town’s skyline, are among the historic structures and landmarks that can be found there.
-
During World War II, Ramsey was heavily bombed, and many of the town’s structures were destroyed.
-
Due to royal visits by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1847 and King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra in 1902, Ramsey is also known as “Royal Ramsey.”
-
The disused Queen’s Pier in Ramsey Bay was built in 1886 to provide a low-water landing for passenger ferries and was last used in 1970.
