Fingerpost Signs
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The Need For Direction
Being placed as it is on the outskirts of the historic former capital, visitors benefit from directional signage to find their way into the former capital and for many years this was something that was lacking from the site. A solitary signpost on Victoria Road was the only form of direction for the visitor and in 2010 the Friends Of... identified this as an essential requirement. Drafts were drawn up and sign-writers contacted, while a funding appeal was also made to Culture Vannin for financial assistance.
After an iniital site meeting the design, layout and colour scheme was agreed with Culture Vannin and funding generously granted. The Signmann O' Laxey fabricated and painted the fingers and was also on hand to assisr wirh erection which was achieved in the early part of 2011, two such posts being provided with one located on the platform and the other at the rear of the station exit/entrance. Once quirk added was that the first post advised a 10 minute walk to the town, the other some yards away advising 9½ minutes!
Thanks & Acknowledgements
As with all our works on site, these signs would not have been possible without the assistance of a number of contributors to whom we are extremely grateful:-
Culture Vannin Signmann O' Laxey
Ian Longworth Isle Of Man Railways
Peter Jordan Grant Taylor
Tony Brown Craig Quayle
Matt Cairns Jim Brown
The image to the right show the standard of work provided by Leander Limited and the idea of how the replacement finger-posts will appear. The appearance will be similar to the large notice board on the platform which was supplied by the same manufacturer and donated to us by Castletown Commissioners in 2018 when it was removed from the Market Square.
Watch This Space For Updates!
This Way To The Town...
These signs were fabricated from aluminium and affixed to poles topped with ball finials and finished in the traditional colour scheme of green and cream associated with the station for many years. Over time it was found that these moved slightly in the wind and sadly some eventually sheared off their posts, it proving impossible to fix them back on owing to the manner of construction; this meant that by 2017 the first example ( left) was removed from its position. Gales in early 2025 saw the second post also removed.
With the generous support of Bushy's Brewery who sponsored the advertisement hoarding for a period of five years, funding became available for new posts and at the present time liaison is being made with Leander Limited with a view to providing a new set of signage, proposed to be in cast aluminium with raised lettering, so that they will survive much longer and not require the attention of sign-writers in the future. It is hoped to have the new posts in place at the station by the end of the 2025 season.
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