An Isle of Man Tour

Tour Start

Facts and
Figures

TT Racing

Douglas

Castletown

Port Erin &
Port St. Mary

Peel

Ramsey

Laxey

St. John's

Transport

St John's and Tynwald

The village of St. John's is at the cross-roads between Douglas to Peel, and Castletown to Ramsey and in the shadow of the mountain Slieu Whallian, just over 1,000 feet high. St. John's is famous for Tynwald Hill where the Manx laws are proclaimed on the 5th July each year (this being the old Midsummer's Day).

Tynwald Hill, a four-tiered artificial hill is only twelve feet high (3.6m) and is said to be constructed from soil brought from each of the seventeen parishes thereby representing and symbolising the entire Island.

The origins of this Hill and its historical connections go back to when the Vikings established their form of government in the ninth century. The ruler ordered open air meetings where old laws were recited and new laws submitted for approval. Such meetings were held at a place called Thing-vollr (Assembly or Parliament Field) from which today's Tynwald is derived.

Tynwald Day - 5th July - is still the most important day the Manx calendar. His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, Members of the House of Keys, Legislature plus Judiciary, Church, prominent members society and of the civil service assemble here for a very special ceremony.

After a service in the Chapel of St. John the Baptist, there is a procession to the Hill where the Governor sits on the summit together with the President of Tynwald, Legislative Council and the officers in attendance on His Excellency. Members of the House of Keys sit on the next tier, all according to strict protocol. There then follows a number of traditional and ancient ceremonies, followed by the proclaiming of Laws which have been made during the last year in both Manx and English, followed by petitions for Redress of Grievance when individuals exercise the right to being heard before the Court of Tynwald.

Tynwald Day at St. John's is a Manx National holiday and attended by huge crowds. There is traditionally a Fair, set up by individuals and charities, much enjoyed as a social occasion, with family parties and picnics, by both Island residents and visitors.

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