Friday night in Douglas

Fridays at the AIA Conference are usually the day of the Seminar - a pre-conference academic meeting - but this year, because of the (relatively) remote location that's been shelved. So our first gathering is in the bar - with Manx Real Ale naturally. Followed by dinner.

Thus fortified we gather to hear a short speech from Angus Buchanan on the historic importance of the AIA's return to Man and then an introduction to Man by Frank Cowin, a Trustee of Manx National Heritage (and one of the original hosts back in '73).

I won't even try to summarise Frank's presentation - except to say he covered everything, taking a long view back to the earliest neolothic flint factory sites and setting all in the context of the island's geography and people. So, not in any particular order (my notes vary in legibility) we had Celtic Crosses, Viking Longships, Iron Age encampments, lead and copper mining, the oldest Parliament (when they speak of the Millennium here they mean the 1000 years of the Tynwald - 1979... I think, must check that). Plus comments of the lack of coal accounting for the continuing reliance on water power for the mines, and the extremes of waterwheel and water turbine engineering this led to (Lady Isabella Wheel at Laxey Mine is pictured), political change, customs significance for trade, red herrings and kippers , ship-building etc. More on all of this as the week goes on...

Later in the evening we had some member's contribution including one from Henrik - an IA professional from Denmark - I hope to talk to him for the podcast soon - he has some interesting stories on how the industrialistion of Denmark, though it lagged behind Britain, was eventually catalysed by the Danes using industrial espionage to extract our secrets...