Harris Promenade, Douglas, Isle of Man, c.1874-84 (b/w photo)

On the back of this photograph John James Frowde writes, "c.1877 to 79, after the the two sets of swings that stood in front of the Harris Promenade had been removed. They were set in the shingle. The Old Castle Tap & skittle alley are in the picture & the Lifeboat House, from whence I 'helped' to draw the boat that went out to the 'Lebu' in 1881, with disastrous consequences. Mr Rich Cain M.H.K. tells me that he also pulled on the ropes! I have many stories about the raised bandstand, and the 'Spitting Club' around on the far side. The then unofficial House of Keys. June 1933 Mr 'Alec' Robertson (3 years my senior) dated the swings on the shore between 1874 & 1876. This, and the prior print are reduced from large, (14 x 10) coarse surfaced prints on the old thin paper by Valentine. They come up quite sharp, & with good clear detail, with an ordinary reading glass. The plates I had taken from them are wonderfully crisp considering."