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Tynwald Hill

History

The Norse ran the island for over four hundred years from 800 AD to 1265 AD. It then fell to the Scots, who held it till 1405. The Stanley family of Lancashire were Lords of Man from 1405 to 1736. It was then passed to the Dukes of Atholl, a kin, who held it till it was taken as a Crown Dependency in 1765.

Back in 1079, Godred Crovan successfully invaded the Isle of Man and ruled it for 16 years. It is believed under his rule that the Tynwald Parliament was established. His image is set in the stained glass windows of the Tynwald Chamber in Douglas.

The Isle of Man is believed to have the longest unbroken parliament in the world. The ceremony was set out by Stanley, Lord of Man in 1417, shortly after he acquired the island. He wished the laws of his new property to be set out in writing.

On Manx National Day (normally the 5th of July), the government for the Island go out to Tynwald Hill in St Johns to read a summary of the laws passed over the last year. The artificial hill is made up of four circular platforms. The base is about 80ft in diameter and from ground to top the mound is about 12ft high. The hill is believed to have been a meeting place for the Celtic midsummer assembly. Hence the Celtic cross representing the sun god, Lugh. This past is still remembered by the laying of the rushes on the Processional Walkway (112.5 metres), which lies between the church and the hill.

In 1979, Tynwald celebrated its Millennium under the watchful eye of Her Majesty the Queen, Lord of Man. The Queen returned to preside over the ceremony in 2003, a year after her Golden Jubilee. The Isle of Man is not part of UK, but remains a Crown Dependency.

Location

Tynwald Hill is located in the village of St Johns near Peel in the midwest part of the island.
Map Ref: SC 277 819

By Vehicle:
St John is near Peel along the A1.

By Bus:
St John can be reached by the following bus routes: 4, 4A, 5, 5A, 6, 6A, 6B, 7A, 8, 10, X5. Travelling from Douglas, Peel and Ramsey.

By Railway:
St John is not accessible by the Railways.


Related News Articles

  • An Extraordinary Assembly at Tynwald Hill, St Valentine’s Day, 14th February 1229 8 February 2013
    Did you know that ‘The Chronicles of the Kings of Man and the Isles’ recount an extraordinary assembly at Tynwald Hill on St Valentine’s Day, 14th February 1229, which finally concluded the violent dispute over the Kingship of the Isle of Man? The war, which was waged by two powerful brother-Kings, King Reginald and King Olaf II, was finally ended by what the Chronicles record as a ‘a band of wicked men’. [More]
  • Tynwald Day Live Link 2 July 2012
    Manx National Heritage is pleased to announce that the Isle of Man’s national Tynwald Day celebrations will be broadcast live in the Manx Museum on Thursday 5th July. [More]
  • Isle of Man set to play a part in Diamond Jubilee celebrations 31 January 2012
    THE Isle of Man is set to play a full part in celebrations to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. [More]
  • Visit a crime scene on Tynwald Day? 21 June 2011
    IT would be a crime not to visit the Department of Education and Children’s Mobile Library on Tynwald Day. [More]
  • An Isle of Man First in Space 8 March 2011
    A piece of Tynwald Hill, the ceremonial home of the Isle of Man Parliament, Tynwald, is currently flying in Earth Orbit aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery, presently docked to the International Space Station. [More]
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Publications
Tynwald - The Parliamentary System Of The Isle Of Man
Duke Video, VHS Tape, 17 April, 2000
List Price: £12.99
Buy Now More Info
Tynwald: St. John's, 5th July 1994 - Official Souvenir Programme of the Tynwald Ceremony
Isle of Man Govt, Paperback, July, 1994
ISBN: 0904869482
List Price: £1.50
Buy Now More Info
Tynwald Hill

Tynwald Hill

Tynwald Hill

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