Author Topic: 1950s Guest House in Douglas  (Read 4139 times)

Offline craven481

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1950s Guest House in Douglas
« on: Wednesday 14 December 16 14:19 GMT (UK) »
As a child in the 1950s I went with my family from Manchester to Douglas on several occasions, always staying at the same guest house.

I would love to find out where it was (and perhaps find it on Google maps) but all I remember was the landlady's name was Mrs Corlett, and from an old photo the guest house seems to have been  called Alwyn with a possible house number 32.

I realise the surname is not uncommon on the island but wondered if anyone out there could assist me.

Thanks
Ken
Craven, tarporley cheshire; hulme manchester.
Meredith, manchester.
Scanlon, sligo ireland.
Barwick, grove & reading berks; wolverhampton staffs, manchester.
Simpson, pately bridge appletreewick & halifax yorks; manchester.
Dixon, storriths bolton abbey addingham & embsay yorks; manchester

Offline KGarrad

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Re: 1950s Guest House in Douglas
« Reply #1 on: Wednesday 14 December 16 14:46 GMT (UK) »
Can you remember anything about the location?
Near the promenades?
Up a hill?
Any shops or pubs nearby?
Any other landmarks?

Corlett is a very common surname on the Island :-\
It's a little like searching for a Mrs Brown! :D
Garrad (Suffolk, Essex, Somerset), Crocker (Somerset), Vanstone (Devon, Jersey), Sims (Wiltshire), Bridger (Kent)

Offline craven481

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Re: 1950s Guest House in Douglas
« Reply #2 on: Wednesday 14 December 16 15:12 GMT (UK) »
As these holidays were before my drinking age I don't know about nearby pubs.  I think we walked down towards town so was inland quite a walk.  All I can recall is that there was a sort of grassed area/garden across the street so it may have been in a square.

Wish I could recall more - and the only relative I have left to ask is my brother and as he is four years younger he couldn't remember anything else about the place, except it was still there with the same landlady when he last went on a family holiday to Douglas in 1964.
Craven, tarporley cheshire; hulme manchester.
Meredith, manchester.
Scanlon, sligo ireland.
Barwick, grove & reading berks; wolverhampton staffs, manchester.
Simpson, pately bridge appletreewick & halifax yorks; manchester.
Dixon, storriths bolton abbey addingham & embsay yorks; manchester

Offline KGarrad

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Re: 1950s Guest House in Douglas
« Reply #3 on: Wednesday 14 December 16 15:24 GMT (UK) »
I'll have a look in Douglas Library - they have some Tourist Guides, and may have a 1964 version?

Could be Hutchinson Square, or Derby Square?
Woodbourne Square is also a possibility.
Garrad (Suffolk, Essex, Somerset), Crocker (Somerset), Vanstone (Devon, Jersey), Sims (Wiltshire), Bridger (Kent)


Offline craven481

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Re: 1950s Guest House in Douglas
« Reply #4 on: Wednesday 14 December 16 15:44 GMT (UK) »
Thanks for your kind offer to look in the Library, but please don't go especially for me.
Craven, tarporley cheshire; hulme manchester.
Meredith, manchester.
Scanlon, sligo ireland.
Barwick, grove & reading berks; wolverhampton staffs, manchester.
Simpson, pately bridge appletreewick & halifax yorks; manchester.
Dixon, storriths bolton abbey addingham & embsay yorks; manchester

Offline KGarrad

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Re: 1950s Guest House in Douglas
« Reply #5 on: Wednesday 14 December 16 16:07 GMT (UK) »
I'm going anyway! ;D

Meanwhile, have a look at google street view (of the 3 Squares I mentioned), and see if anything jogs your memory :D
Garrad (Suffolk, Essex, Somerset), Crocker (Somerset), Vanstone (Devon, Jersey), Sims (Wiltshire), Bridger (Kent)

Offline KGarrad

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Re: 1950s Guest House in Douglas
« Reply #6 on: Wednesday 14 December 16 20:20 GMT (UK) »
Success! :D

First Annual Tourist Guide I looked at (Douglas 1963) had the attached advert.

I'll research some more when I am next in the library - just to check the Guides from the 1950s.
Garrad (Suffolk, Essex, Somerset), Crocker (Somerset), Vanstone (Devon, Jersey), Sims (Wiltshire), Bridger (Kent)

Offline KGarrad

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Re: 1950s Guest House in Douglas
« Reply #7 on: Thursday 15 December 16 15:16 GMT (UK) »
Might need a re-think?! :-\

Found another "Alwyn" at 4 Grafton Street, Broadway, Douglas.

Also an "Audlyn" in Hutchinson Square?
In view of your memories of a green park, I reckon this could be the favourite?
Garrad (Suffolk, Essex, Somerset), Crocker (Somerset), Vanstone (Devon, Jersey), Sims (Wiltshire), Bridger (Kent)

Offline craven481

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Re: 1950s Guest House in Douglas
« Reply #8 on: Saturday 17 December 16 18:52 GMT (UK) »
Found it on Google.  One of your suggestions - 32 Woodbourne Square.  My brother just emailed me an old family photo dated circa 1954.  The map URL is:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@54.1564731,-4.4864652,3a,90y,332.2h,91.01t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sTkDZekYmuxJcdFJz78RCQg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
Craven, tarporley cheshire; hulme manchester.
Meredith, manchester.
Scanlon, sligo ireland.
Barwick, grove & reading berks; wolverhampton staffs, manchester.
Simpson, pately bridge appletreewick & halifax yorks; manchester.
Dixon, storriths bolton abbey addingham & embsay yorks; manchester