History

The sections below are a brief introduction to historical political and parliamentary events on the Isle of Man. These will be continually added to over time.

The information provided is for general informational purposes only.

The oldest continuous parliament in the world

Tynwald is over 1000 years old. The parliament of Iceland, known as the Althing, is slightly older than Tynwald but has not operated continuously throughout its history. Tynwald is therefore the oldest continuous parliament in the world in continuous operation.

Norsemen, or Vikings, arrived in the Irish Sea towards the end of the 8th century.  Archaeological evidence suggests that in the 9th and 10th centuries they began to settle and integrate with the local population in the Isle of Man, and also in Orkney, the Shetlands, the Hebrides, Ireland and northern England.

The name “Tynwald” is derived from the Norse word Thingvollr, meaning assembly field. Assemblies were not uncommon in civilisations of this period. An assembly would operate as a high court of justice for the trial of appeals and cases of special difficulty. It would also be an opportunity to make laws known. In Scandinavian countries such assemblies were known as “Things”. Norsemen typically gathered on Midsummer’s Day to hear the laws of the land proclaimed, to air their grievances and to seek justice.

Although the Millennium of Tynwald was celebrated in the Isle of Man in 1979, there is no documentary evidence confirming the date of a first sitting in 979. It is, however, likely that assemblies on the Scandinavian model were taking place in the Island by the late 10th century. It is likely, too, that such gatherings would have taken place from the earliest times at the village of St John’s where the annual Tynwald Day ceremony still takes place today.

All areas conquered by the Norsemen were nominally ruled by the Kings of Norway. Within those areas, however, Viking chieftains fought each other for supremacy. In 1079 Godred Croven landed at Skye Hill in the north of the Isle of Man and, on his third attempt, conquered the Island. Croven and his successors ruled almost without interruption until the death of the last Norse King of Man, Magnus Olaffson, in 1265. During this period the Isle of Man became linked with four Hebridean island groups which were also under Norse control: Lewis, Skye, Mull and Islay. These islands were known to the Norse as the Sudreys. Together with the Isle of Man they formed the Kingdom of Man and the Isles.

The House of Keys

The early House of Keys is likely to have acted during this period like a group of magistrates, settling disputes and enforcing law given by Tynwald. It is thought that the House of Keys originally comprised 32 members: 16 from the Isle of Man (probably one from each of the Island Parishes) and four from each of the four Hebredian island groups.  Later the Isle of Man was divided for administrative purposes into six sheadings (the term “sheading” deriving from the Norse word for “sixth”). At some stage the Hebridean island groups were lost. At the end of the Norse period the Keys had 24 members, four from each sheading. The term “Keys” is commonly suggested to derive from “yn kiare-as-feed”, Manx for “the four and twenty”.

Counsel / Council

The early Legislative Council also dates back to 1208 when Reginald Godredsson, King of Man and the Isles, promised “to take Counsel with his men”. It is believed that the men he was referring to were an advisory body consisting of all the Barons of the island. It is likely that it was more in the nature of an Executive or Privy Council than carrying out a legislative function.

The MacDonald Flag

The blue flag with the representation of a sailing ship is commonly known as the MacDonald flag, and was adopted only relatively recently in the history of Tynwald.

The design is frequently referred to as a Viking ship, but is in fact a lymphad galley.* It was first known in the Isle of Man after Maccus, a vassal king, (with several others) rowed an English king, Edgar of England, on the River Dee in 973. (Incorrectly cited as 931 in the Hansard - see http://www.englishmonarchs.co.uk/saxon_12.htm)

The ancient arms of the Kings of Mann depicted a ship with sails furled. This emblem is also depicted in one of the windows in the Keys chamber. However, the late Roy MacDonald explained in Tynwald that specimens of the seals of those Kings of Mann of the race of Godred Crovan (King Orry) had been preserved and seen. A seal of Godred in the office of the Duchy of Lancaster depicted a ship in full sail.*

The Tynwald Ceremony Arrangements Committee decided that the representation of a ship, in full sail, on the reverse of the Manx 10 shilling and 50 pence notes of the time would be an appropriate emblem for the flag. The designer of the ship depicted on the notes was Mr John Nicholson, who was consulted concerning the emblem for the flag.

The suggestion for the adoption of this flag was first made by Roy MacDonald, then MHK for Peel, in 1966. This was taken up by the Tynwald Arrangements Committee, and the flag was first flown from flagpoles on the processional way to Tynwald Hill on Tynwald Day and outside the Legislative Buildings in Douglas in 1971. It was introduced into the Tynwald Chamber during refurbishment of the chamber in the 1980s.

* Report of Proceedings of Tynwald Court; 19th October 1971; T13-14

1417: A Year of Records

1417 is an important year in the history of recordkeeping in the Isle of Man.  In addition to the written laws, records of the names of members of the House of Keys, the Governors, and other officials began to be kept from this year, along with law cases. They have been preserved to this day, in the original or as a copy.

Read more about 1417: A Year of Records - https://www.tynwald.org.im/history/1417

The Stanleys as Lords of Mann

The Stanley family, later known as the Earls of Derby, ruled as Lords of Man for over 300 years. Their long rule is considered to represent a period of relative stability for the Isle of Man.  Apart from some notable exceptions, they did not routinely visit the Island, instead appointing a Governor to look after their affairs. 

Fall of the Kingdom of Man and the Isles

From Godred Crovan’s takeover of the Island in 1079 until the mid-13th century, the Isle of Man had been at the centre of the Norse Kingdom of Man and the Isles.  Following the death in 1265 of the last King of Man, Magnus Olafsson, the islands were ceded to Scotland as part of the Treaty of Perth, bringing Scottish and Norwegian military conflict over the islands to an end. For the Isle of Man, however, this was the beginning of a period of instability, during which the Island passed between English and Scottish hands. 

The Rise of English Dominance

From the 1330s onwards, the Island came under increasing English influence. In around 1333 King Edward III of England gave the Isle of Man to William de Montacute, 3rd Baron Montacute and later 1st Earl of Salisbury. His son sold the Island to Sir William le Scrope in 1392, who was beheaded in 1399 for his alleged involvement in a rebellion against Richard II; shortly afterwards, the Island was granted to Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland by the newly crowned Henry IV. However, Henry Percy soon turned against the new King, and in 1405, after a series of unsuccessful rebellions, he fled to Scotland and his estates were confiscated.

In 1405, Henry IV granted the Isle of Man to Sir John Stanley, a favourite of the King. In 1406, the grant was extended to Sir John’s heirs on a feudatory basis. Their fee for possession of the Island was to render homage and send two falcons to all future Kings of England on their coronations. 

Earls of Derby

In 1485, Sir John’s grandson, Sir Thomas, was given the title of Earl of Derby. The Earls of Derby ruled as Lords of Man until 1736, when the 10th Earl of Derby died without any male heirs. The Island passed to his first cousin once removed, James Murray 2nd Duke of Atholl. In 1765, at the height of the smuggling trade known as the Manx Mischief, the Atholls were persuaded to sell their rights as Lords of Man back to the Crown.

Read the story: The Atholl Papers: The 2nd Duke of Atholl’s Inheritance of the Isle of Man

From Kings to Lords

During the Viking period, the ruler of the Isle of Man was known as rex manniae et insularum, King of Man and the Isles. The title of rex manniae was still in use when the Island passed to the Stanleys, although their status as vassals of the King of England meant that the title of Lord of Man was increasingly prominent.  

In the records from 1417, there are references to both the King and Lord of Man, demonstrating the ambivalence of the title at that time.  The procedure for Tynwald Day opens with an address to ‘our doughtful and gracious Lord’, and then moves on to discuss what ‘a King ought to do’ on his Tynwald Day.

Edward Stanley, 3rd Earl of Derby (c.1509-1572) took the title of Lord of Man, likely in deference to King Henry VIII.  His descendants were usually known as Lords of Man, though the title of rex manniae was occasionally used until the 17th century. A result of the succession dispute between the daughters of the 6th Earl of Derby and their uncle was that the title of Lord of Man became established in law, under ‘An Act for assuring and establishing the Isle of Man in the name and blood of William, Earl of Derby’.

When the Island was sold in 1765, there technically ceased to be a Lord of Man, since the rights of the Duke of Atholl as Lord Proprietor had been revested into the Crown. Nevertheless, the title has continued to be used, perhaps to emphasise the British Monarch’s unique relationship to the Isle of Man. Today, King Charles III as the Island’s head of state is titled The King, Lord of Man. 

Sir John Stanley I

Born the second son of a minor Cheshire landowner, Sir John Stanley (c. 1350-1414) rose from relative obscurity to become one of the most influential men of his day. Through careful political alliances and loyalty to the Crown, as well as a favourable marriage, he laid the foundations of the Stanley dynasty. 

Career

He embarked on a military career, fighting in the Caroline War, the second phase of the Hundred Years’ War between England and France. He distinguished himself to the extent that he was pardoned by Richard II for the murder of his second cousin by marriage, Thomas de Clotham, in 1378, on the recommendation of his commander Sir Thomas Tryvet. 

Sir John’s military experience in France was likely an important factor in his appointment in 1386 as the deputy of Robert de Vere in the government of Ireland.  Although the appointment was sh0rt-lived because of Robert’s exile in December 1387, Sir John returned to Ireland in August 1389 in the military role of justiciar. His campaigns from 1389 to 1391 are considered to have played a major role in the submission of Irish leaders to Richard II in 1395. He later returned to Ireland to help prepare for Richard II’s triumphant visit there.

He also played a number of key roles in vulnerable border regions of England.  He was warden of the east march in 1388; justice of Chester in 1394; and sheriff of the country of Roxburgh and captain of Roxburgh Castle from 1396. 

Sir John’s fortunes continued under the new King Henry IV.  His experience in Ireland was likely behind his appointment as the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from 1399 to 1401, and later again in 1413. In 1403 he was made steward of the household of the prince of Wales, and in 1405 he was promoted to steward of the King’s household, a role he held until 1412.

Marriage and Estates

As the younger son, Sir John’s inheritance was limited to a modest estate in Macclesfield, so his marriage in 1385 to Isabel Lathom, the heiress of the estates of Lathom and Knowsley in south-west Lancashire, was advantageous.  He was later granted further estates in Cheshire and Moreton that had been owned by supporters of the Percy rebellion, and he became steward, surveyor, master forester and rider of the hundred and forest of Macclesfield in 1404.

The Isle of Man

The Isle of Man was granted to Sir John in 1405, after it had been confiscated from Henry Percy after his failed rebellion against Henry IV.  In 1406, the grant was extended to Sir John’s heirs in perpetuity.  Along with the Lathom inheritance, this acquisition moved the Stanley sphere of influence from Cheshire to Lancashire.  However, Sir John did not visit the Isle of Man during his lordship, perhaps due to his many other commitments.

Death

Sir John died in Ireland in 1414 of unknown causes. According to the Annals of the Four Masters, an Irish chronicle, it was the result of satirical verse written about him:

A man who granted no protection to cleric or layman to the poets of Ireland, for he plundered every one of its clerics and men of skill in every art on whom he laid hands and exposed them to cold and beggary. He plundered Niall son of Aed OhUicinn in Usnagh of Meath….After this the Ui Uicinn made lampoons of John Stanley and he lived only five weeks till he died from the venom of the lampoons.

Sir John Stanley II

Sir John Stanley II (d. 1437) succeeded his father as the Lord of Man upon the latter’s death in 1414.  Unlike his father, Sir John II was actively involved in the administration of the Island, and he made several changes that had a significant and lasting impact upon the Isle of Man and Tynwald.  Most notably, Sir John II was responsible for the customary laws of 1417, the earliest known written laws of the Isle of Man. 

Consolidation

After the foundation of the Stanley fortunes under his father, Sir John II’s rule can be characterised as one of consolidation.  Although he did not acquire any significant new property, his marriage to Isobel Harrington, a member of one of the leading families of 15th century Lancashire, is an indication of the rising status of the Stanleys. He inherited his father’s offices in Macclesfield, and was elected to the second Parliament of 1414. As Lord of Man, he was among the parties to a short-lived truce between England and France drawn up in early 1415. Later that year he fought at the Battle of Agincourt, for which service he received a knighthood.  In later life, he acted as a commissioner or agent on behalf of the Crown in Lancashire, and was particularly in demand as an arbitrator in disputes between landowners.  He was known for his legal expertise, and he may have studied law at one of the inns of court.

Laying Down the Law

An important aspect of Sir John II’s consolidation of the Stanley fortunes was his work in the Isle of Man.  In 1417, he ordered that the laws of the Isle of Man be written down for the first time.  Beginning with the procedure for Tynwald Day, the customary laws of 1417 describe in some detail the rights of the Lord of Man and his relationship to his subjects.  As such, they can be understood as an attempt on Sir John II’s part to assert his authority as the King and Lord of Man.   

This was required for a number of reasons.  First were the numerous rebellions that took place during this period.  Sir John II is said to have first visited the Isle of Man on behalf of his father, in an attempt to quell a rebellion; he visited the Island in 1417 for the same reason, after an attack on his Lieutenant Governor.  This uprising was dealt with in the customary laws of 1417 by sentencing those involved to death.  This does not, however, appear to have deterred the rebels, as Sir John II had to return to the Island in 1422 to quell another rebellion against his Governor. 

Another reason was the competing influence of the barons, the major landowners in the Isle of Man during this period.  All eight of the baronies of the Island were ecclesiastical: they belonged to the Lord Bishop of Sodor and Man, the Prioress of Douglas, and the Abbot of Rushen, as well as the Prior of Withorne in Galloway, the Abbot of Furness, the Prior of St Bees in Cumberland, and the Abbot of Bangor. Partly as a result of the uncertainty that had prevailed since the fall of the Kingdom of Man and the Isles, the Church barons had become increasingly powerful in the Isle of Man.  The baronies operated as separate jurisdictions with their own courts and ecclesiastical prison; the Church had its own written laws dating back to 1229, while the state had none. The Church also had a complex system of taxation: it had all the tithes on a range of products, including grain, beer, poultry, eggs, butter, cheese, fish, wool, and honey; all working men had to pay it 2p a year; and they received 20 shillings on the death of a property owner. 

In 1417, Sir John II sought to reduce the baronial powers in two main ways: by depriving the barons of the power of sanctuary on their lands through the indenture signed on his behalf by his commissioners Thurstan de Tyldesley and Roger Haysnap, and by having them swear fealty to the Lord of Man on Tynwald Day, or else forfeit their lands. 

Some historians have understood Sir John II’s efforts to reduce the barons’ powers as an early form of secularism or Protestantism, but it seems more likely that it was an attempt to subdue competing powers in the Island to the authority of the Lord of Man.  There is no evidence that Sir John II was anti-Catholic; indeed, around this time he and his wife obtained papal permission to use a private confessor, reflecting their high social status. 

In 1422, Sir John II was able to put this aspect of the Tynwald Day procedure into practice. While the Bishop of Sodor of Man, the Abbot of Rushen, and the Prioress of Douglas attended Tynwald Day and pledged their fealty, the other barons did not.  They were given 40 days in which to pledge their fealty to the Lord of Man, which they dutifully did. 

At the meeting of Tynwald in 1422, Sir John II commissioned a survey that would later result in other legal and constitutional reforms.  In 1429, at a Tynwald presided over by his Governor Henry Byrom, trial by battle was abolished and replaced with trial by jury; and in 1430, an early form of election to the House of Keys was held, whereby six men from each sheading were proposed by the Commons, and out of the 36 men the Governor selected the ’24 worthiest’. 

Legacy

A.W. Moore summarised Sir John II’s rule in the following terms:  

He may justly be considered an enlightened and upright ruler, much in advance of his time. He caused the ancient laws and constitutions of his little kingdom to be reduced to writing, he humbled the overbearing ecclesiastical authorities, and, after he had practically concentrated all power into his own hands, he wisely conceded a representative form of government. 

A.W. Moore

Tynwald Day - Then and Now

There are many striking similarities between the procedure described in 1417 and the way in which the ceremony unfolds today.  There are also, however, a number of important differences. While the procedure of 1417 was largely designed to assert Sir John Stanley II’s authority in the Isle of Man, today the Tynwald Day ceremony is an important aspect of Manx parliamentary democracy.

Service in the Chapel

There is no mention in the 1417 procedure of any church service or other business before the procession towards the Hill. Today, the ceremony begins with a service in the Chapel, and the Chapel is also the venue for the Captioning of the Acts at the end of the ceremony, when the President of Tynwald and the Speaker of the House of Keys signs certificates of promulgation. 

Procession towards the Hill

The procession towards the Hill remains suitably regal.  Those who have a seat on the Hill move to line the processional way, so that the Governor, preceded by the Sword of State carried by the Tynwald Sword Bearer, may pass and be the first to step on the Hill.  The processional way is covered with rushes, which is thought to be a continuation of the ancient Celtic tradition of appeasing the sea god Mannanan on midsummer’s eve. 

The King and Lord of Man

Nowadays the Lord of Man, the British monarch, is usually represented on Tynwald Day by the Lieutenant Governor. While the Lieutenant Governor used to preside over sittings of the Legislative Council and Tynwald Court, today his role as a presiding officer is limited to the Tynwald Day Ceremony.  The naming of successors and the inauguration of the new Lord of Man is no longer carried out on Tynwald Day. 

Seating Arrangements

The Lieutenant Governor continues to sit on the top tier of Tynwald Hill facing towards the East, with the Sword of State before him. The only remaining Baron is the Lord Bishop of Sodor and Man, who sits on the top tier along with the President of Tynwald and the other Members of the Legislative Council. The next lowest tier is occupied by the Members of the House of Keys.  Members of the Clergy and other Island officials, such as the High Bailiff, the Mayor of Douglas, and the Chairmen of the Town and Village Commissioners, sit on the next tier, and the lowest tier is reserved for the Deemsters, the Captains of the Parishes, the Coroners, and the Superintendent of Police. 

Fencing the Court

It is still the Coroner of Glenfaba’s responsibility to fence the Court or call it into order, although it is unlikely today that anyone who causes a disturbance will be executed.

I fence this Court in the name of our Most Gracious Sovereign The King. I charge that no person do quarrel, brawl or make any disturbance and that all persons do answer their names when called. I charge this audience to witness this Court is fenced. I charge this audience to witness this Court is fenced. I charge this whole audience to bear witness this Court is now fenced.

Swearing-in of the Coroners

The Coroners are sworn in each year on Tynwald Day, a practice that was codified in law in 1422.  They each represent a sheading, an administrative division of the Isle of Man that dates back to the Viking period, when they were responsible for producing a certain number of warships.  Today they are responsible for the administration of jury service and the enforcement of certain orders and judgments of the Courts.

Promulgation of the Acts of Tynwald

There is no specific requirement in the 1417 procedure for the laws to be promulgated. Today, the promulgation of the Acts takes place after the swearing-in of the Coroners. The Deemsters read out loud, in Manx and English, the title and a short description of each Act that has been passed during the previous session.  This is the final step in the making of a law: if an Act is not promulgated within eighteen months of being passed by Tynwald, it ceases to have effect.

Petitions for Redress

After the Acts have been promulgated, Petitions for Redress are collected at the foot of the Hill by the Clerk of Tynwald.  This is considered to represent an ancient right of the people of the Isle of Man, but there is no mention of it in the 1417 procedure.  In the 1950s, the practice was revitalised, and it is arguably the focal point of the ceremony today. ​

Towards Democracy - Revestment and Popular Elections

Towards Democracy: A Timeline

Click through the timeline below to find out more about the events leading up to the first popular elections in 1867.

EXTERNAL LINK: https://cdn.knightlab.com/libs/timeline3/latest/embed/index.html?source=1ZAusd2GhBnRt7NYSFn8Xlco3fMSSwTmfoED2EZX_Oaw&font=Lustria-Lato&lang=en&initial_zoom=2&height=650

Read the history of the Story of Revestment and Popular Elections here.

1881-2021: 140 Years of Votes for Women

In 1881, Tynwald became the first national parliament to give women the vote in a general election. In 1919, with the introduction of universal adult suffrage based on residency, women were able to stand for election.

Click here to read the story of Women's Suffrage in the Isle of Man.

Click here to read more information about the journey of women in Tynwald - past and present.

Constitutional Reforms of 1919

2019 is the 100th anniversary of two significant pieces of legislation in the Isle of Man.

​What did this mean?

THE HOUSE OF KEYS ELECTION ACT 1919 ​

The House of Keys Election Act 1919, amending the House of Keys Election Acts of 1866-1917, introduced universal suffrage to the Isle of Man. The Act was passed by Tynwald on 15th April 1919 and received Royal Assent on 21st June 1919. The Act gave the vote to the following classes of people:

i)             Every man or woman aged over 21 owning or leasing and in actual occupation of real estate with a value of £4.

ii)            Every man or woman aged over 21 on the 12th of May on the year of voter registration and having been resident on the Island for the preceding twelve months.

iii)           Males over 18-years-of-age whose usual place of residence was the Island and had served with His Majesty’s forces in the Great War.

Those who had been conscientious objectors and had also refused to do work of national importance during the Great War were prohibited from voting for a period of five years from the termination of the war.

Under the Act women were to no longer be disqualified by sex, age, or marriage from being elected, voted, or sitting as a member of the House of Keys. 

• 

THE ISLE OF MAN CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT ACT 1919

​The Isle of Man Constitution Amendment Act 1919 amended the Isle of Man’s unwritten constitution, codifying some of its elements for the first time. The Act received Royal Assent on 18th August 1919, and came into effect on 7th October 1919.

The 1919 Act imposed an obligation upon the Governor to convene meetings of Tynwald upon receipt of a request signed by a majority of members of either Branch. Similarly, the Governor was obliged under the Act to convene a meeting of either branch on receipt of a request signed by a majority of the Branch in question.

The 1919 Act stripped the Archdeacon, the Vicar-General and the Receiver-General of their seats on the Legislative Council. However, they remained Justices of the Peace.

Under the Act, the Legislative Council would be composed of the Bishop, the First and Second Deemsters, the Attorney General, four members elected by and from the House of Keys, and two members appointed by the Governor. The elected and appointed members were to serve four year terms.

It was stipulated that to be qualified for appointment or election to the Legislative Council one must be a male of no less than 21 years of age and resident of the Isle of Man, and, no appointed member could be in receipt of a salary from either the Manx or British Government. Furthermore, bankruptcy, insolvency, mental disorder, and long-run absenteeism from meetings were all grounds for disqualification.

The 1919 Act also conferred a power upon the Governor to authorise a member of the Council to speak, but not vote, in the House of Keys, when a Government Bill passed by the Council was before the House for consideration.

The Act also empowered Tynwald to mandate statutory boards or committees to submit periodical reports and any accompanying recommendations for its consideration. This power was to have all the force as if it was contained in the committee or boards’ enacting legislation. Furthermore, Tynwald was empowered to vary the composition of any board or committee by resolution.  

Constitution Amendment Act

Membership of the Legislative Council 1765 - 1990

Note: the membership of the italicised positions is contentious. 

Current Members

Click this link to see all the current members of Legislative Council

Constitution Key Dates

Universal Suffrage

Votes for All: House of Keys Election Act 1919

The introduction of universal adult suffrage in the Isle of Man was the result of a private member’s initiative. Mr William Crennell, MHK for Ramsey, was persistent in his attempts to introduce an Adult Suffrage Bill, giving the vote to all men and women resident in the Isle of Man. Sadly, he died before he could see his efforts come to fruition.

On 19th November 1912, William Crennell moved that ’the time has arrived when the principle of adult suffrage should be accepted as the basis of qualification for voters in the election of members of the House of Keys’. After some debate, the motion was approved by the Keys, with 16 Members voting in favour, and the Lieutenant Governor Lord Raglan was requested to prepare the necessary legislation for introduction. When the Second Reading of the Bill took place on 18th February 1913, however, 13 Members of the Keys voted against it.

If at first you don’t succeed...

Crennell tried again five years later—with more success. On 20th November 1917, he moved exactly the same motion. The House of Keys supported it again, with 19 Members voting in favour. The Second Reading of the Adult Suffrage Bill took place on 30th April 1918; this time the motion carried unanimously, and the House immediately began to consider the clauses of the Bill. The Bill aimed to give the vote to all men and women aged 21 and over who lived in the Isle of Man, regardless of their property or marital status, and also to give them the right to stand for election to the House of Keys.

Redistrubution and plural voting

There was some debate about whether the Bill should first be considered by a Committee, which would also be tasked to consider the thorny question of redistribution: the number of seats representing each area of the Island. The Keys eventually voted against this proposition. The Keys also voted against Clause 7, which aimed to abolish plural voting and introduce the principle of ‘one vote for each citizen’. This remained a controversial topic well into the 20th century: the property qualification was not abolished until 1969.

The Impact of WWI

In 1919, the Isle of Man was just beginning to recover from the turbulent events of the First World War. This was reflected in two important amendments to the Bill. The first gave the vote to men aged 18 and above who had served in the armed forces. The second disenfranchised conscientious objectors who had refused to do any work of ‘national importance’. While some Members wanted to remove this right to vote for life, the House agreed that it should only be for a period of five years from the end of the war.

Death of William Crennell MHK

Crennell died suddenly on 29th May 1918 at the age of 51. An obituary in the Ramsey Courier commented that ‘his last achievement in the Keys was to successfully pilot through the Adult Suffrage Bill, which was always dear to his heart,and with its completion he finished his work in the Manx Legislature. It was his crowning achievement.’

Council amendments

On 18th February 1919, the Council considered the clauses of the Bill and changed the age of voting for women to 30 years, in line with the UK’s law. The Keys considered the Council’s amendments on 11th March 1919. After a conference on 8th April 1919, the Council agreed to withdraw this amendment, meaning that the Bill as passed by the Keys was the final form. The Bill was signed in Tynwald on 15th April 1919, received Royal Assent on 25th June, and was promulgated at St John’s on 5th July.

General Election 1919

The first election under universal adult suffrage took place in September 1919. It is now considered to be a ’landmark election’. Of the 24 returned Members, 11 had never before held office—the biggest change in membership since 1867. The new House was progressive in nature, favouring political and social reforms—many of which, such as the introduction of a national health insurance scheme and old age pensions, took place in the following years.

Universal Suffrage Key Dates

Before 1866
The House of Keys is a self-selecting body. Whenever a seat becomes vacant, the Keys select two candidates to present to the Governor, who chooses one of them to take up the seat. Membership is for life or until the Member decides to retire from the position.

1866
The vote is given to men aged 21 and over who either owned property with an annual value of at least £8 or rented property with an annual value of at least £12. Candidates for election have to be male, aged 21 and over, with real estate of the annual value of £100, or of £50 together with a personal estate producing an annual income of £100.

1867
The first elections are held on 2nd and 3rd April. Five of the ten constituencies are uncontested; 3996 votes were cast in the other 5 constituencies. Since the franchise is based on property ownership, some voters areable to vote in more than one constituency.

1881
The franchise is extended to all men and unmarried women aged 21 and over who owned or, in the case of the former, occupied real estate worth an annual value of no less than £4. The property qualification for candidates is modified to allow the alternative of personal property producing a yearly income of £150. The first elections in which some women can vote are held in November.

1892
The franchise is extended to unmarried women occupiers of property worth at least £4 and to male lodgers who were sole tenants of lodgings worth an annual value of at least £10. The property qualification for candidates is removed.

1903
A residency qualification for voters was introduced in addition to the property qualification. The time between elections is reduced from 7 to 5 years.

1919
Universal adult suffrage on the basis of residency is introduced: all men and women aged 21 and above and resident on the Island can vote. The entire electorate, with the exception of clergy and holders of office of profit, becomes eligible to stand for election.

1956
The 24 seats of the House of Keys are redistributed into 13 constituencies, with a mixture of one-, two-, and three-seat constituencies.

1969
The property qualification is abolished, putting an end to extensive plural voting.

1971
The voting age is reduced from 21 to 18 years old. Candidates may not hold office in local authorities.

1976
Candidates must have been resident in the Isle of Man for at least three years, and pay a £100 election deposit.

1982
The single transferable vote system is introduced. It is used in the 1986 and 1991 General Elections, before a return to the first-past-the-post or block vote system.

1985
The 24 seats of the House of Keys are redistributed into 15 constituencies, with a mixture of one-, two-, and three-seat constituencies.

2006
The voting age is reduced from 18 to 16 years old.

2015
The 24 seats of the House of Keys are redistributed into 12 constituencies, with two Members for each.

Commemorating World War I

2018 - #100yearsagotoday​

On 11th November 1918 a message was transmitted directly from the Eiffel Tower, received in the Isle of Man at 11 a.m., which read: ‘Armistice was signed at 6 a.m. today, November 11th’. The Mayor of Douglas immediately called for a demonstration of national thanksgiving in the Villa Marina hall attended by 3000 people, including the Lieutenant Governor, Lord Raglan. Sir Hall Caine, at this time one of the world’s bestselling authors, did a speech and concluded with ‘some of the best and the bravest of our young Manx manhood, the hope and the pride and the flow of it, has fallen. Their loss is to the world’s gain; the world will never forget’.

Official records show 8,261 men had enlisted in the armed forces, which was 82.3% of the islands male population of military age. Of these, 1,165 gave their lives and 987 were wounded.

The immediate post war years were a turning point in Manx history. A new lieutenant-governor, a reformed house of keys and a reconstituted legislative council cooperated to deliver a package of social and economic reforms that were to transform the role of the state in Manx society.

2014 - #100yearsagotoday

In 2014 to commemorate World War One, we ran a #100yearsagotoday Twitter feed. 2018 marks the 100th year anniversary of the end of WW1, so to give an insight of Tynwald’s reaction following the end of the war the #100yearsagotoday will run again.

In 1914 the tourist industry on the Isle of Man was booming. It was the industry upon which the majority of the Manx families relied and that particular summer had promised record breaking numbers of visitors. Indeed, the total number of arrivals during the holiday season exceeded that of any previous summer.

The Lieutenant Governor at the time was Lord Raglan (1902-1918) and in November 1913 there had been a general election to the House of Keys where the Speaker, Mr Maitland, was joined by 23 members who would, months later, become the first to sit after the declaration of War.

The declaration of War with Germany came on 4th August 1914. With war came the ruin of the tourist industry. The hardships of the Island caused political agitation and eventually resulted in the “sodding” of the Governor and an all-Island strike. The War also saw the rise of Trade Unions and changes in the place of women in political and social life.

To commemorate the War we ran a #100yearsagotoday Twitter feed on Thursday 18th September 2014 which was the date #100yearsagotoday when Tynwald sat for the first time since the outbreak of the War. This feed hopes to give an insight to the problems, debates and decisions of Tynwald Parliament throughout World War One.

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125th anniversary of the first sitting of Tynwald in the Wedding Cake

20th December 2019 marks the 125th anniversary of the first sitting of the legislative use of the Tynwald Chamber. This now landmark building provided members of Tynwald with a newly designed chamber in a centralised location to conduct the Island's business.

The information on this page showcases the history of the building that is now home to Tynwald and its Branches, and the history of the iconic Wedding Cake.  

Brief History  

The Wedding Cake building has stood at the top of Prospect Hill since 1855. Designed by Manx architect John Robinson, the building was built for the Bank of Mona and originally had a red exterior. 

The collapse of the parent Glasgow Bank forced the sale of the building and it was purchased by the Government in December 1879 to provide a venue for Tynwald and its Branches to meet in Douglas.

The Legislative Council and the House of Keys began to hold sittings in the Wedding Cake in 1881 but Tynwald Court continued to meet in the Douglas Courthouse due to space. A Committee established to consider the question of a dedicated meeting place for Tynwald Court recommended in 1885 that a new building should be erected adjoining the “Wedding Cake” for this purpose. 

Designed by James Cowle, the extension to the building created space for the Tynwald Court Chamber, a robing room for the Speaker and an entrance lobby. The layout of the new chamber comprised 24 seats for the Keys and a bench for the Council. In the centre of the Chamber a table was set for the Sword of State which must be present at every Tynwald sitting. 

When the lobby was first constructed there were no connecting doors from it to the Keys Chamber. To move from the Tynwald Court Chamber to the Keys Chamber, Members had to go outside and re-enter by a separate entrance. The connecting doors marked for use by Members and the public were added in 1908.  

This was one of a number of changes over the years as the building was adapted for use as a parliamentary chamber. The last major changes were made in 2003-2006 during refurbishment of the buildings. The Legislative Council area in the Tynwald Chamber was remodelled and an additional viewing gallery accessible without steps was installed above the President’s chair. All of the chambers were upgraded with modern technology to allow audio streaming of sittings and electronic voting.  

The refurbishment also encompassed the former General Registry on Finch Road, which was mostly demolished in 2003, although the red brick façade still exists. The new Legislative Buildings were built to accommodate members of Tynwald and the Office of the Clerk of Tynwald. The new and refurbished Legislative Buildings complex cost £11 million and re-opened to the public in 2006. 

Want to know more?

Further Reading

Further Reading

All Tings Tynwald

• Tynwald Hill as a THING Site - Discover the Viking Cradle of Democracy
• The Tynwald Guidebook - available from the Tynwald Gift Shop

The Stanleys

Bennett, Michael J.: 'English rule confirmed: the Isle of Man 1389-1406', in: A New History of the Isle of Man, Volume 3: The Medieval Period 1000-1406, ed. by Sean Duffy and Harold Mytum (Liverpool University Press: Liverpool, 2015)

Coward, Barry: The Stanleys, Lords Stanley and Earls of Derby 1385-1672: The origins, wealth and power of a landowning family (Manchester University Press: Manchester, 1983)

'STANLEY, John (d. 1437), of Knowsley and Lathom, Lancs., lord of the Isle of Man', in: The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1386-1421), ed. by J.S. Roskell, L. Clark, C. Rawcliffe (1993) (accessed online 6th July 2017: http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1386-1421/member/stanley-john-1437).

Manx Note Book, Volume 3 (January 1887) (http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/manxnb/v09p001.htm)

Transmission History

• A Bibliographical Account of Works Relating to the Isle of Man, compiled and edited by William Cubbon (Victoria Press: Douglas, 1933) (accessed online 6th July 2017: http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/books/cubbon/p0270.htm)

Legislative Buildings

• A contemporaneous account of the movement of Courts and Tynwald to Douglas - Brown's Isle of Man Directory 1881/2
• A Centenary of the Tynwald Chamber - available from the Tynwald Library
• Folder of plans and photograph at the Manx Museum

Revestment

Tynwald website - The Story of Revestment and Popular Elections

iMusuem Blog The Atholl Papers: Project Finale - https://www.imuseum.im/the-atholl-papers-project-finale/

House of Keys Election Act

• House of Keys Election Act 1919 as enacted

William Taubman Crennell

• Obituary published 1st June 1918 in the Isle of Man Examiner (iMuseum)
• Obituary published 31st May 1918 in the Ramsey Courer (iMuseum)
• Image: William Taubman Crennell (iMuseum)

• Education Pack - The education pack was produced to support the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the passing of the House of Keys Election Act 1919.  It contains an overview of the history of suffrage in the Isle of Man, along with activities to support learning in schools.

Infographics
1867-1919: Suffrage in the Isle of Man

• Debates
  • House of Keys Election Act 1881 - Women householders given the vote
    • House of Keys, 5th November 1880: Consideration of clauses (iMuseum)
    • House of Keys, 17th December 1880: Keys resolve that they accept the Council's amendments (iMuseum)
  • House of Keys Election Act 1892 - Women leaseholders given the vote
• House of Keys, 19th November 1891: Second Reading and Consideration of Clauses
• Legislative Council, 18th February 1892: Consideration of Clauses
• House of Keys Election Act 1919 - Universal adult suffrage
• House of Keys, 19th November 1912: Motion for leave to introduce
• House of Keys, 18th February 1913: Second Reading - Bill rejected
• House of Keys, 20th November 1917: Motion for leave to introduce
• House of Keys, 30th April 1918: Second Reading and Consideration of Clauses
• House of Keys, 30th April 1918: Continuation of Second Reading and Consideration of Clauses
• House of Keys, 14th May 1918: Conclusion of Second Reading Consideration of Clauses
• Legislative Council, 8th October 1918: Second Reading
• Legislative Council, 18th February 1919: Consideration of Clauses
• Legislative Council, 8th April 1919: Conference with the Keys

Representation of the People (Franchise) Act 1971 - Voting age lowered from 21 to 18House of Keys, 3rd February 1970: Consideration of Clauses
Legislative Council, 2nd June 1970: Consideration of Clauses

Registration of Electors Act 2006 - Voting age lowered from 18 to 16
House of Keys, 7th February 2006: Consideration of Clauses
Legislative Council, 7th March 2006: Second Reading and Consideration of Clauses

Other history resources on the Tynwald site