'Bloody Comeovers'

One of our regular commentators contacts me to say they are just a tad angry that various people seem to want to peddle the myth of a ‘subterranean village’ under the reservoir in the West Baldwin valley.

Imagine them all down there in their watery graves - the butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker - just one problem its a load of bollocks!

Now the true story is that although three farmouses were submerged when the reservoir was built fortunately for the folk of West Baldwin the village was further down the Valley. It’s still thriving even if Manx Telecom wouldn’t give them a proper telephone box!

Apparently a comeover MHK (emotive term that which is why I like using it) was one of the first to tout the drowned village myth and then the comeovers that run the bizarrely named ‘Year of Our Island’ site compounded the myth.

Does it matter farmhouses or a village? Well yes I think it does. To much of our history is being rewritten by bloody comeovers. When they are not rerouting footpaths or closing them off they are amending the scripts. I wish they would all ‘get a boat in the morning’.

It reminds me of Illiam Dhone a patriot for three hundred years once people started commemorating him it was: ‘Was he a patriot or a traitor’ with Manx Radio leading the revisionism. Mind you that place is full of…….!

Footnote: Strangely the MUA ( Isle of Man Water Authority) do not peddle ‘the drowned village’ myth they have the correct story - glad ‘Popeye’ can get something right!

Image: ‘Oh look there’s a drowned village. No its not’!

Bernard Moffatt