House of Manannan

The House of Manannan on Peel harbour presents the island's history through full-scale reconstructions rather than cases: a Celtic roundhouse, a Viking longhouse and a replica longship, Odin's Raven, sailed from Norway to the island in 1979 for the millennium of Tynwald. Manannan, the sea god of Manx tradition, narrates. The later galleries cover the herring fishery and the island's maritime trade, and the whole thing takes a couple of hours.

History

The museum occupies the former Peel railway station, built in 1873 and closed in September 1968 when the line between Douglas and Peel shut; in 1979 the building was used to house the longship Odin's Raven (Wikipedia, House of Manannan).

What to look for

• Odin's Raven - the longship replica sailed from Norway in 1979.
• The reconstructions - full-scale roundhouse and longhouse settings.
• The maritime galleries - the herring fishery and the island's sea trade.
• The narration - the sea god Manannan used as the framing device.

When to go

Open year round, with reduced winter hours. Two to three hours covers it properly. Wet days fill it up.

Practical notes

The presentation is dated in places, having been designed in the 1990s. Some visitors find the narration heavy-handed. Winter hours are reduced and it closes some days.

Nearby

Peel Castle is across the harbour, and Glen Maye is south.

Key facts