The face of Douglas has slowly changed over the years. The latest landmark to go is HMP Douglas. It's not far from my work and over the last couple of months this correctional institution has been reduced to a cleared site and one final building. I always like the distinctive red brick and tiled main building which was visible beyond the high wall although demolition of this wall revealed there was less red brick than one imagined.
I've heard several people say that the old prison should have been preserved but I can't say I favoured that. What would you do with an old prison? We have a couple of castles which served the same sort of purpose. I can only hope the site isn't sold on for flats to be built.
Something else of old Douglas will also soon disappear. The lift to the Cunningham Holiday Camp. The very early holiday camp was situated on what is now an office park off Victoria Road, opposite a well known shop. It can be a steep climb from sea level up to the site of the camp and a lift was installed. The nearest modern equivalent I can think of is a ski lift. The Cunningham lift was a continually moving set of bucket seats that were fixed sideways to a belt, the seats flipping over and underneath when it reached the top.
This is something that I think should be preserved. I became aware of the lift a few years ago when I saw it through shrubbery whilst going up Switzerland Road from Douglas Promenade to Victoria Road. If you're looking for this road, it's can be found on the junction between the Hydro Hotel and Promenade T-Shirts. It brings you out opposite the old prison site. Manx National Heritage only appear to want to high light things where a cafe and interpretation centre can be built. It's a shame. I've included a couple of photos and I think you can just about make out the lift in one of them. The other one shows the entrance to the lift.
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