Isle of Man: Summerland Entertainment Center - Vintage Photograph Isle of Man community commemorate 49th anniversary of Summerland - ITVX I was 7 and on holiday with family,that inluded aunts,uncles and cousins.A lot of us had been holdaying in Douglas that week and we spent a lot of time in Summerland.It was a great place to spend the day.It had all the ammenities ,everything you wanted was there,a funfare ,indoor heated swimming pool,indoor amusement arcade.It had bars,a disco's everything.On the night of the fire, we just finished our evening meal in our hotel and we began walking up Douglas promenade ,going towards Summerland,when we noticed smoke billowing up from behind the building,the next instant the entire building was engulfed in flames.I remember seeing people pouring out of the building,some were on fire,it was horrific.We were standing some distance away and I could not take my eyes off it.The explosions from the burning building boomed across Douglas bay.I had never seen so many injured people before and it is something that I wll never forget.The following morning we all cut our holiday short and returned home,as the ferry was leaving Douglas we all stood on the boat deck ,staring at the burnt out shell of Summerland.Have never been back to IOM since that terrible fire. The first drawings materialised in 1965 but hundreds were drafted out before building work actually started. Bit by bit over the years things would start to disappear, until by the end there was only "Manxland" left, my son really enjoyed palying there with all his cousins & it was a great place for Mums to meet on a Saturday & have a coffee while the kids played, we did that for a lot of years. Julie was 14, and identified by her jewellery. The Summerland disaster occurred when a fire spread through the Summerland leisure centre in Douglas on the Isle of Man on the night of 2 August 1973. NOTHING! On the evening of Thursday 2nd August 1973 an estimated 3,000 people were enjoying themselves at the resort. is now owned and operated by the Department of Tourism and Leisure. Seacroft, 3 Summerland, Ramsey 4 bed semi-detached house for sale - I remember seeing below us musicians from the group who had been on stage swimming across the learner pool, one of them with his guitar. Brings back great memories of times spent on the island. I used to love walking round the place & everytime it was just as amazing as the first time.Then in my teens & 20's & 30's going to the cave & upstairs for the TT events from TT supporters club meetings,to gigs & tyre balancing. The Summerland disaster occurred when a fire spread through the Summerland leisure centre in Douglas on the Isle of Man on the night of 2 August 1973. Where is Isle of Man, UK? | Where is Isle of Man Located on Map Continue along King Edward Road beyond the new offices of Royal Skandia. The complex When they couldnt locate me they began their search for me on the prom. I remember seeing balls of fire dropping from the top of the structure this was the so-called inflammable Oraglass (?) I was so sad when the tragedy happened and still feel sad when I drive past the now empty site. Sharon BridsonI was 12 that year. Canada Revenue 1/5 Excise Tax Matchbook "SUMMERLAND GROCETERIA" West Summerland C$10.00 Seller: DeveneyStamps ( 4410 ) tracyI am a surviver of this tragedy.I still have nightmares. They went to give bloood and looked for my brother and sister on the way. Outside its raining yet here you are relaxed in your shirt sleeves, gently perspiring in a tropical 80 degrees.. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. OK.What's with the 3 school-boys, what caused the fire?Accident or sabotage was an investigation carried out?Tell us more! As Bob says the smell of the place too & being in there when it was pouring down outside was amazing to us kids. We went to a show to see the Black and White Minstrels, that's when I smelt smoke. The conflagration took place on 2 August 1973 in this ambitious entertainment complex in Douglas, Isle of Man, commissioned in 1965 and opened in May 1971. On 17 September 1973, three Liverpool boys two of them 12 and the other 14 appeared before Douglas Juvenile Court and admitted wilfully and unlawfully damaging the lock of a plastic kiosk next to Summerland. I'll never forget the tragedy and the emptiness we felt after that horrific day. On the third attempt, my uncle's door came open and several others followed. It had been a last minute holiday booking and to this day I will not go on a last miniute booking holiday. Plans for first phase of Castle Mona restoration submitted - Tevir Group The street frontage and part of the roof was clad in Oroglas, a transparent acrylic glass sheeting.[5]. ISLE OF MAN: Summerland Entertainment Center - Vintage Photograph I was on holiday at the IOM with a group of girl friends the week of the Summerland fire. The Summerland site today is in the ownership of the Isle of Man Government, derelict for 12 years and for sale for 10 years until January 2018 when it was taken off the market. What a great place. A Cafe. At first we thought it was only a small fire but we soon became aware that it was a lot more serious. The building's exterior and the interior were designed by two different architectsthey did not coordinate their planning with each other and thereby created a venue with significant fire risks that were to become apparent only later. Johnny, LaxeySummerland was such a great place to hang out and I would guess that most of the Isle of Man population that was around at the time of the fire is still in shock. Most of week had been spent at the evening disco and I still have photos and the weekly ticket from our good times there. panels dropping in flames onto the ground and I guess, people below. 14a Majestic Apartments King Edward Road Onchan IM3 2BD. Seconds later the light grew to a flame a few feet high, then within no time at all there were large flames extending the whole height of the side of the building I was frozen in shock watching what was kicking off. Experts into wreckage of building 4. PDF Heritage: A look at the Castle Mona Hotel s history The journey from over 1.7 million (government grant of 600,000). 2. ws Summerland after fire - skeleton of building. The state-of-the-art facilities put the Isle of Man on the map as one of the most important tourist destinations in the British Isles. Lomas wanted to create the illusion of being outside and to this end he planned to cover exposed cliff faces with tropical plants while allowing wild birds to live and fly throughout the building. In 1973, the Summerland Complex suffered a tragic accidental The Summerland Tragedy, Isle of Man.The Summerland Tragedy, Isle of Man. [9] The building's open-plan design included many unblocked internal spaces that acted as chimneys, adding to the conflagration. The burning kiosk collapsed against the exterior of the building. Her Name was Julie Panter, and her friend Dawn Ellingham wrote to me to tell me this. It was so colourful and had such a happy and relaxed atmosphere. xx. I had the best holidays ever as a kid in IOM , it is a magical place. House prices in Summerland, Ramsey, Isle of Man IM8 - Zoopla The decor made it look like a tropical fairyland in places with the waterfall which looked like it was tumbling into the building from where the cliff-face was at the rear of the building. I've just seen that picture of the pool with the rows of spectator seats and it brought it all back to me.I remember the next year when the fire happened because we were packing for our holiday to Anglesea when the news broke. Instead the first call came from a passing taxi driver, while another came from the captain of a ship 2 miles (3.2km) offshore who radioed HM Coastguard and said, "It looks as if the whole of the Isle of Man is on fire". Tehachapi, CA, US. There was a charming wooden see saw, slide and roundabout. Location: Doolish; Share; Posted July 3, 2008. . [1][2][3], Summerland was opened on 25 May 1971. The average house price in Summerland, Ramsey, Isle of Man IM8 is . [17], In October 2002, torrential rain caused damage to several structures, as well as two landslides behind Summerland which dislodged two 50-tonne concrete blocks that had once supported the roof of the original building, but had not been removed in the wake of the fire. Having met with Mr Gawne MHK to discuss my proposal for a commemorative space prior to his unsuccessful re-election, then continued with Ray Harmer MHK the newly . Those were the days. There was a lot of excited anticipation before it opened. The site was acquired by Douglas Corporation in 1964 and I'll never forget the tragedy and the emptiness we felt after that horrific day. ISLE OF MAN SUMMERLAND FIRE | AP Archive The fire spread to the wall's interior soundproofing material, which was highly combustible, causing an intense fire that ignited the flammable acrylic sheeting that covered the rest of the building. The Summerland site is to go on sale after Manx government attempts to find a private development partner failed. 'The inferno was racing towards me': survivors of the Summerland fire (Good move as it happens - I understood later that about 12 people were found dead at the bottom of that staircase, which I seem to recall did not have proper handrails round it, being largely decorative.) (The comedian/presenter on stage made a remark about there being "a chip pan on fire"). Location. Summerland Comes Down Fast! - Page 2 - Manx Forums I am a surviver of this tragedy.I still have nightmares. This part of the building was clad in a material called Galbestos: profiled steel sheeting with asbestos felt on both sides coated with bitumen,[5][8] with no fire-resistant qualities. Game & Entertainment Centers. The Isle of Man [1] ( Manx: Ellan Vannin) is an island in the British Isles, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. Summerland hi-res stock photography and images - Alamy August ISLE of MAN "SUMMERLANDS DOUGLAS" DESTROYED BY FIRE 2nd AUGUST 1973 POSTED 1974 Street Cars Derby Vehicles Swiss Derby Castle before Summerland was demolished J Judith B summerland isle of man August 2013 My Heritage 40th Anniversary Birth Gem Sidewalk Memories From pantomime to ballet and live music to musicals. It was a climate-controlled building covering 3.5 acres (1.4ha) on Douglas's waterfront, consisting of 50,000sqft (4,600m2) of floor area constructed at a cost of 2 million. Following many goes on the slide (the attendant was very friendly and let me have many free rides!) The Majestic. Summerland was rebuilt, but staff and visitors to the site reported the sounds of screaming, hearing footsteps along empty passages, and occasionally seeing ghostly people wandering around the area. Canada Revenue 1/5 Excise Tax Matchbook SUMMERLAND GROCETERIA West At first we thought it was only a small fire but we soon became aware that it was a lot more serious. Summerland Leisure Complex Douglas Isle of Man IM99 2TB Tel: +44 (0) 1624 625511 The Site Facilities Include: Cinema Children's Soft Play Area Squash Badminton Basketball Five-a-Side Football Tennis Rollerskating Volleyball Indoor Golf Simulator Sports Bar Nightclub Spa Suite Future of Summerland Site 5 October 2010 When we noticed the black smoke to one end of the building - and the crowds looking in that direction - we started to move towards the exit. After a couple of hours frozen to the spot I remember seeing my Mum running towards me and picking me up, crying and hugging me as if she hadnt seen me in years or something. It was indeed quite glamorous and I know for a fact my mum and dad spent more than a few romantic evenings there, (We kids got packed off to our grandparents house!) The scale of the fire has been compared to those seen during the Blitz. Location: Isle of Man Date Posted: 4/5/2017 2:49:35 PM Waymark Code: WMVDNA Those were the days. dotty kiddI was 17 and was working there at the time of the fire, it was total panic, the fire spread so fast and no body could get out due to the doors being locked, I managed to get my friend away safely but with all the panic going on around I ended up in a daze, I dont know how I got out but remember someone pulling me, I got out befor the first explosion went off. The fire started at around 7:30p.m. on 2 August 1973 when approximately 3,000 people were inside,[5] and was caused by three boys who were smoking in a small disused kiosk,[6] on the centre's miniature golf course[7] and who told police it was likely started by a carelessly discarded match or stub. "Services weren't equipped for Summerland disaster", "Article about the disaster based on the report by Dr Ian Philips", "Remembering the Summerland fire disaster, 40 years on", "Isle of Man 'shame' over Summerland fire disaster", "Remembering The Summerland Disaster 40 Years On", "Asbestos information centretrade names", "Summerland fire survivor: 'I don't blame dad for saving my sister and leaving me in blaze but I never got to tell him', "Summerland fire: Fifty victims remembered on anniversary", "Summerland disaster survivor: 'I still dream of people in flames', "THE SUMMERLAND SITE IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY", "Summerland fire memorial built to mark 40th anniversary", "Summerland fire victims remembered on 40th anniversary", 1972 amateur film of pre-disaster Summerland, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Summerland_disaster&oldid=1142829611, Fire disasters involving barricaded escape routes, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 4 March 2023, at 16:12. Location Western Europe, island in the Irish Sea, between Great Britain and Ireland Geographic coordinates 54 15 N, 4 30 W Map references Europe Area total: 572 sq km land: 572 sq km water: 0 sq km country comparison to the world: 193 Area - comparative slightly more than three times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries total: 0 km Coastline Now I have my own kids of my age at the time of the disaster, I know why. Matteo Vinci on LinkedIn: BluVeinXL: aiming for benchmark status in the Aug 27, 2019 - Explore Amanda Smith's board "Summerland IOM" on Pinterest. The decor made it look like a tropical fairyland in places with the waterfall which looked like it was tumbling into the building from where the cliff-face was at the rear of the building. I was too young to realise what had happened but it makes me feel cold now. We would spend alot of time up there because of the pool and because they could keep and eye on us and have a drink at the same time. 22 Summerland IOM ideas | summerland, isle of man, brutalist architecture County: . CLOSED COMPLETELY! ISLE OF MAN: Summerland Entertainment Center - Vintage Photograph 1399665 - 12.48. Fifty people were killed and 80 seriously injured. [1] [2] [3] Background Summerland was opened on 25 May 1971. Behind the stage was the huge rock face. We hadn't had decent swimming baths for a long time in Douglas and for that reason alone I couldn't wait to get in and have a look. Summerland - General Chat - Manx Forums - A Discussion Board LizAlthough I remember when the fire happened (as a relative was working there that evening and thankfully survived), my happy memories are also quite vivid as I used to go there many times, especially during school holidays. Everthing about that place was magical, everyone had a smile on their face & the atmosphere was exciting. xx. It was my last night on the IOM with my BB Company from N Ireland. Phase II It took me a long time to go on holiday again. These proposals will necessitate significant investment but will enable us to rectify core issues that have compromised the integrity of the building in recent years, such . The house has 4 good sized reception rooms, a breakfast kitchen, basement, 4 bedrooms, ensuite bathroom and separate wc and family bathroom. I used to love walking round the place & everytime it was just as amazing as the first time.Then in my teens & 20's & 30's going to the cave & upstairs for the TT events from TT supporters club meetings,to gigs & tyre balancing. The water in the pool was lovely and hot and we used to go out and stand in a cold shower and the cold foot bath then dive into the pool to get that even warmer feeling. Also had a vague recollection that the lads who were smoking near a kiosk which led to the fire, came from Liverpool. Isle of Man - Wikipedia Now it's completely gone & it is a shame but they will hopefully put something back there for the manx & visitors to enjoy & make their amemories last a lifetime too. I was too young to realise what had happened but it makes me feel cold now. But I was young and my family did not let me know about it. I dont remember the initial Summerlands complex, but I was in Summerlands in the mid 80's; after it was rebuilt and reopened in 1978; I was therer on annual camp with the scouts, that was the year I joined the scouts and that was the reason i joined, the trip to the Isle of Man.What a great time I had there using the swimming pool. sammy hamiltonI worked in Summerland a week before it burnt down. I hope you'll find it a useful means of info as to the current status of the site; my hopes for the Isle of Man Government to develop a memorial space there dedicated to the 50 killed in the fire of 2nd August 1973; the one minute's silence I organise on the anniversary of the fire; the Summerland Memorial Concert held each year; together with links and blogs. I've not lived on the Island for 10 years, but I have the memories of the great times I had & will never forget Summerland, even know my time spent there was in the 90's, quite a long time following the 1973 Disaster.