View source for Ramsey, Isle of Man

{{Short description|Human settlement on the Isle of Man}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox UK place
| crown_dependency = Isle of Man
| official_name = Ramsey
| manx_name = Rhumsaa
| coordinates = {{coord|54.321111|-4.384444|display=inline,title}}
| population = 8,288
| population_ref = (2021 census)<ref name="census-2021"/>
| manx_parish = Ramsey
| manx_sheading = [[Ayre]], [[Garff]]
| constituency_manx_parliament = Ramsey Town
| post_town = ISLE OF MAN
| postcode_district = IM8
| postcode_area = IM
| dial_code = 01624 / 07624
| os_grid_reference = SC449943
| douglas_distance = {{convert|15|mi|km}}
| static_image_name = Ramsey-Isle-of-Man-harbour-July-2015.JPG
| static_image_caption = Ramsey Quayside and fishing boats with Albert Tower seen in the top-right
}}

'''Ramsey''' ({{langx|gv|Rhumsaa}}) is a coastal town in the north of the [[Isle of Man]]. It is the island's largest town after [[Douglas, Isle of Man|Douglas]] was granted city status in 2024.<ref>https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c280m1vmepeo</ref> {{efn|Although [[Onchan]] has a higher population, unlike Ramsey it is not considered to be a town.}} Ramsey's population is 8,288 according to the [[Census in the Isle of Man|2021 Census]].<ref name="census-2021">{{Cite web |title=2021 Isle of Man Census Report |url=https://www.gov.im/media/1380987/isle-of-man-population-report-2023-updated-061123.pdf |access-date=11 July 2024 |website=Gov.im }}</ref> It has one of the biggest harbours on the Island, and has a prominent semi-derelict [[pier]], called the [[Queen's Pier, Ramsey|Queen's Pier]] (currently under restoration). It was formerly one of the main points of communication with [[Scotland]]. Ramsey has also been a route for several invasions by the [[Vikings]] and [[Scottish people|Scots]].

Ramsey is also known as "Royal Ramsey" due to royal visits by [[Queen Victoria]] and [[Albert, Prince Consort|Prince Albert]] in 1847 and by [[King Edward VII]] and [[Queen Alexandra]] in 1902.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/iln/n300802.htm|title = ILN 30 Aug 1902 - King's Visit to IoM|website=www.isle-of-man.com}}</ref><ref>''Ramsey Courier.'' Tuesday, 14.03.1905 Page:3</ref>

==History==

The name of the town derives from the [[Old Norse]] ''hrams-á'', meaning "wild [[garlic]] river",<ref>{{Citation |last=Broderick |first=George |title=Celtic culture: a historical encyclopedia |pages=679–681 |year=2006 |editor-last=Koch |editor-first=John T. |contribution=Place-names of the Isle of Man |publisher=[[ABC-CLIO]] |isbn=1-85109-445-8 |editor-link=John T. Koch}}</ref> More specifically, it refers to the plant known as ramsons, buckrams or wild garlic, in Latin ''[[Allium ursinum]]''.

The Isle of Man has been an important strategic location in conflicts between the Norse rulers of Man and the Isles, and the Scots and English. Smugglers and pirates were also common at many times in Manx history.

Ramsey was the landing place of the Viking warrior [[Godred Crovan]] around 1079: he was determined to subjugate the Island and make it his kingdom. On Sky Hill, {{Convert|2|mi|km|abbr=off|0|spell=in}} inland, an important [[battle of skyhill|battle]] was fought; this resulted in a period of Viking rule, influencing the development of the Manx nation and many of the traditions that continue today.

Godred's son, [[Olaf I Godredsson|King Olaf]], was murdered by his nephew Reginald near Ramsey harbour in 1154, and two years later the ''Chronicle of Man'' states that the ships of Somerled came to Ramsey during a conflict which would lead to the division of the kingdom of Man and to Somerled taking the Kingship of the Isles (the Hebrides).

On 17 May 1313 [[Robert the Bruce]] landed at Ramsey "with a multitude of ships" from the fleet of his friend, Angus Og Macdonald, Lord of the Isles,<ref>Crome, Sarah, Scotland's First War of Independence, 1999, at p. 110</ref> on his way to capturing [[Castle Rushen]].

Captain [[François Thurot]], a then-famous French privateer, and notorious scourge of the British fleet, was defeated off the north-west of the Island in February 1760. His badly damaged, captured ship was brought into [[Ramsey Bay]] after the battle. Thurot's actions had been part of a planned French invasion of Britain. In previous years Thurot had traded between Ireland and the Isle of Man and had been well liked by many Manx people, and regarded as an intelligent gentleman. Several cottages and bridges were built using timbers from the wrecked ship: hence Thurot Cottage and Thurot Bridge.

Pirate radio station [[Radio Caroline North]] was based in [[Ramsey Bay]] from 1964–68 and supplied with provisions from Ramsey.

During World War II, thirty boarding houses on the North Shore were requisitioned for the [[Mooragh Internment Camp]].

==Climate and geography==

Ramsey is in the sunniest area of the Isle of Man, with relatively low rainfall. This is because Ramsey is in a 'rain shadow' just to the north-east of the hills at North Barrule, on the edge of the northern plain of the Island. Rain clouds coming from the prevailing wind direction, the south-west, tend to lose most of their moisture over the hills before they reach Ramsey.

Ramsey is built mostly on sandy ground and has miles of sandy beaches. To the north of Ramsey the beaches run continuously to the north tip of the Island. On the southern edge of Ramsey, at the edge of the hills, are a network of woods and glens: Ballure Walk, Lhergy Frissel and Elfin Glen. The [[Millennium Way]] and other paths and roads lead up to and across the upland heath ('the tops' and 'the hills').

==Transport and infrastructure==

===Shipping===
Ramsey is home to the second busiest port on the Island, handling a wide range of general cargo. The port was formerly used as an operating base by the [[Isle of Man Steam Packet Company]] for both cargo and passenger services. The company operated scheduled services to [[Liverpool]] and [[Whitehaven]] in addition to which during the summer months steamers would call at the Queen's Pier whilst en-route to [[Douglas, Isle of Man|Douglas]] from [[Belfast]] and [[Ardrossan]].

The port is the headquarters of the local shipping line Mezeron, as it was formerly for the Ramsey Steamship Company, until it ceased trading in 2014.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.seabreezes.co.im/index.php/news/coastal-commentary/1581-the-demise-of-ramsey-steamship-company| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191012181058/http://www.seabreezes.co.im/index.php/news/coastal-commentary/1581-the-demise-of-ramsey-steamship-company| archive-date = 2019-10-12| title = The Demise of Ramsey SteamShip Company}} </ref>

[[Star of India (ship)|Star of India]] is an iron-hulled sailing ship, built in 1863 in Ramsey, Isle of Man, as the full-rigged ship Euterpe.

===Buses===
Ramsey serves as the main terminus for the northern network of [[Bus Vannin]], providing local services to [[Andreas, Isle of Man|Andreas]], [[Ballaugh]], [[Jurby]], [[Sulby, Isle of Man|Sulby]] and [[Bride (parish)|Bride]]. In addition it provides an on-demand service to [[Ronaldsway Airport]] and main services to [[Peel, Isle of Man|Peel]] and to [[Douglas (Isle of Man)|Douglas]] via [[Laxey]].

===Rail===
At one time the town was served by both the [[Manx Electric Railway]] and the [[Isle of Man Railway]]. The first rail link was established by the Isle of Man Railway in 1879, transferring to the [[Manx Northern Railway]] in 1880. The line ran via [[Sulby, Isle of Man|Sulby]], [[Ballaugh]] and [[Kirk Michael]] to [[St John's, Isle of Man|St John's]], where it connected to the main Douglas – Peel line and with the [[Foxdale Railway]]. The railway was largely financed by the prosperity of the [[Foxdale Mines]] for which it was used to haul ore trains from [[Foxdale]] to the Ramsey quayside for shipment. Return trains would haul coal back to Foxdale to power the pumping houses of the mines.

Ramsey is also the northern terminus of the [[Manx Electric Railway]]. Initially linking Douglas to Laxey, the line from Laxey to Ramsey was opened on 2 August 1898<ref>{{Cite news |last=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=3 August 1898 |title=New Manx Electric Railway |work=Leeds Mercury |location=England |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000076/18980803/255/0010 |url-access=subscription |access-date=16 August 2018 |via=British Newspaper Archive}}</ref> by the Lieutenant Governor, [[John Henniker-Major, 5th Baron Henniker]]. At that date the line ran as far as [[Ballure, Isle of Man|Ballure]], on the outskirts of Ramsey. The final extension to the centre of Ramsey was opened on 24 July 1899.

===Air===
{{main|Hall Caine Airport}}
For a period between 1935 and 1937 [[Hall Caine Airport]] just outside the town operated scheduled air services to English, Scottish and Irish airports. Both Sir Thomas Henry Hall Caine's sons, [[Gordon Hall Caine]] and [[Derwent Hall Caine]], were particularly keen on the development of an aerodrome on the site, as they saw it as another memorial to their late father. They also wished to involve the Ramsey town commissioners in the project, as they felt the aerodrome would bring immense benefit to the town.<ref>''The Ramsey Courier.'' Friday 12 April 1935 p.&nbsp;9</ref> Hall Caine Airport officially came into being on 30 April 1935.
[[File:British Airways Hall Caine Schedule.png|thumb|right|alt=Photograph of British Airways' Hall Caine Schedule | [[British Airways Ltd]]'s Hall Caine Schedule, [[summer]] 1936]]
Scheduled services proved successful in 1935 and 1936, with [[Hillman's Airways]] and later [[British Airways Ltd]] and [[Northern and Scottish Airways]] providing scheduled services to [[Belfast]], [[Glasgow]], [[Blackpool]] and [[Liverpool]] where the passenger could connect with services to [[London]]. There was also an air link between Hall Caine and Ronaldsway Airport for air mail. The primary reason for the cessation of services from Hall Caine was a rationalization of services operated by Northern and Scottish. Northern and Scottish and [[Isle of Man Air Services|Manx Airways Ltd]] entered into an undertaking at Ronaldsway.<ref>''Mona's Herald''. Tuesday, 25 May 1937; p. 5</ref> This resulted in Manx Airways covering the schedules to Liverpool, Blackpool, Carlisle and Belfast which were formerly operated by Northern and Scottish, leaving only the Glasgow service being operated from Hall Caine.<ref>''Ramsey Courier''. Friday, 21 May 1937; p. 4</ref><ref name="Mona">''Mona's Herald.'' Tuesday, 25 May 1937; p. 5</ref> This was a severe blow to Ramsey, coming as it did at the beginning of the tourist season. Services from Hall Caine to Glasgow resumed in early June, aimed primarily at the increased traffic as a result of the [[Isle of Man TT|TT Races]] which continued throughout the month.

The Ramsey Ratepayers Association petitioned the [[Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man]], [[Montagu Sherard Dawes Butler|Sir Montague Butler]], with a view to his intervening to preserve commercial air operations from Hall Caine.<ref>''Isle of Man Examiner.'' Friday, 28 May 1937; p. 14</ref> The cancellation by Northern and Scottish Airways also led to a special meeting of the Ramsey Commissioners. It was hoped that Railway Air Services would have commenced operations from Hall Caine, but any hope proved unfounded.<ref name="Mona" /><ref name="Ramsey Courier p. 4">''Ramsey Courier.'' Friday, 21 May 1937; p. 4</ref>

Piloted by [[Pilot in command|Capt.]] McGeow, the final commercial flight from Hall Caine Airport departed at 4:15&nbsp;pm on Saturday, 2 October 1937.<ref>''Mona's Herald.'' Tuesday, 5 October 1937; p. 3</ref><ref>''Isle of Man Examiner.'' Friday, 8 October 1937; p. 14</ref>

==Sights==
[[File:Feltons Ironmonger Ramsey in the evening ~ June 2016.jpg|thumb|right|Felton's Ironmongers, Ramsey]]
[[File:Ramsey Courthouse, Isle of Man.jpg|thumb|right|Ramsey '[[Courthouse]]']]
[[Ramsey (Plaza) tram station]] is the northern terminus of the [[Manx Electric Railway]], and Ramsey is the start of the mountain section of the [[Snaefell Mountain Course]] used for the annual [[Isle of Man TT]] and [[Manx Grand Prix]] [[motorcycle]] races. A popular vantage point is [[Ramsey Hairpin]], where enthusiasts gather to watch the racers. Another popular spot is Parliament Square in the middle of town. There are also opportunities for walking, cycling, kayaking, and other outdoor activities.

The [[Millennium Way]] footpath ends {{convert|1|mi|km|abbr=on}} from the centre of the town on the [[A3 road (Isle of Man)|A3 road]] at the foot of Sky Hill.

Mooragh Park, on the north side of the Sulby river, is a 19th-century park with a large boating lake where boats (canoes, pedaloes etc) are available for hire. It was originally part of a salt marsh but was purchased and developed by the town to encourage visitors. Mooragh Park has a small water park, two cafés, a BMX club, skate park, tennis courts, basketball area, outdoor exercise equipment, and a children's playground. The park is mostly on the level and has disabled toilets.

Ramsey's original swimming pool in the town centre was converted into a [[Ten-pin bowling|ten-pin bowling alley]] in 2010.<ref>[http://www.isleofman.com/news/article.aspx?article=35650 "New bowling alley in Ramsey to open" 6 May, 2011]</ref>
The new Northern Swimming Pool opened in January 2009 on the Mooragh Promenade.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ramsey.gov.im/default.aspx/categories/132/Swimming-Pool/ |title=Ramsey Town Commissioners website Northern Swimming Pool |access-date=18 June 2012 |archive-date=22 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121122064403/http://ramsey.gov.im/default.aspx/categories/132/Swimming-Pool/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The [[The Albert Tower|Albert Tower]] was built to commemorate the royal visit of [[Albert, Prince Consort|Prince Albert]] on 20 September 1847. Queen Victoria's [[HMY Victoria and Albert (1843)|Royal Yacht]] anchored in the bay, when heavy seas made it impossible to enter [[Douglas, Isle of Man|Douglas Harbour]]. Recovering from seasickness, Victoria remained on the yacht, leaving Prince Albert to venture ashore. He climbed to the top of the hill, from where he viewed the town of Ramsey and the northern plain. The hill was renamed Albert Mount and a year later the tower's foundation was laid. The tower is made of [[granite]] and rises {{convert|45|ft|m}} high. It is a landmark not only for the town of Ramsey, but also for the north of the Isle of Man.<ref>[http://www.isleofman.com/heritage/ePedia/History/Sites/towers/albert-tower.aspx The Albert Tower] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522131340/http://www.isleofman.com/heritage/ePedia/History/Sites/towers/albert-tower.aspx |date=22 May 2011 }}</ref> There is a public path leading up the hill for people to visit the tower.

Another distinctive landmark of the town is the Queen's Pier, an iron pier which was built in 1886. It is about 650 metres or 700 yards long. As well as recreational purposes, the pier had a landing stage for visiting ships. It has been closed for many years due to health and safety concerns, although subject to many re-opening appeals. It had its own [[Queen's Pier Tramway|tramway]]. The Queen's Pier has had significant renovation work, and is open for visitors on Sunday afternoons in the summer. The lease has been taken on by the Queens Pier Restoration Trust, who aim to restore it gradually.

The Grove Museum of Victorian Life (Manx National Heritage) is located in the northern suburbs on the A9 (Andreas Road).

==Leisure amenities and sport==

Among the various leisure venues in Ramsey are a swimming pool, bowling alley, a rural museum (the Grove Museum of Rural Life), and Milntown House at the western edge of the town.

There are several sports clubs, including a [[Ramsey R.U.F.C.|rugby club]], a [[Ramsey F.C.|football club]] and [[Ramsey Youth Centre and Old Boys F.C.]], a [[field hockey|hockey]] team, a [[Gaelic football]] team, Ramsey Ravens swimming team and a golf club. There is an active sailing club, the Manx Sailing and Cruising Club, which promotes an annual Round the Island sailing race as well as regularly scheduled dinghy and cruiser races. Ramsey Angling Club holds regular sea angling competitions.

==Health and education==

Ramsey has a modern junior school, a secondary comprehensive school, and the [[Ramsey Cottage Hospital]].

==Places of religious worship==

The town has a number of churches, including:  [[Our Lady, Star of the Sea & St Maughold Church]] and [[St Paul's, Ramsey|St Paul's]].

==Industry and commerce==

Ramsey has an active shipyard and industrial workshops. The main street has a range of independent shops, including a butcher, ironmonger, and shops selling clothes, gifts and homewares. There are several pubs, cafes, restaurants and a Farmers' Market every Saturday. The town's Mooragh Park area has a 3-star hotel.

The harbour is used by fishing and small leisure boats, and small freight boats from the Mezeron shipping company. There is a [[swing bridge]] for pedestrians and vehicles, built in 1892, that crosses the harbour.

==Wildlife and nature==

Wildlife around Ramsey reflects the mix of landscape: with sandy coast and [[estuary]] at Ramsey, wooded [[glens]] and rocky coasts just to the south-east, and hills and moors to the south-west, plus [[Ballaugh Curragh]] (wooded swamp) and productive farmland inland, and isolated sandy shores and dunes to the north.

[[Ramsey Bay]] was the Island's first Marine Nature Reserve, set up to protect fisheries and marine wildlife. The protected area acts as a 'nursery area' for fish and other creatures and plants, which can then move out to restock surrounding areas.

Ramsey shore and estuary provide a feeding area for birds, including [[Eurasian oystercatcher|oystercatcher]], [[Common redshank|redshank]] and [[Common ringed plover|ringed plover]] on the shore, and geese, swans and ducks in the harbour. The inner harbour footpath (toward Mooragh Park) is a scrap of rich original [[saltmarsh]] habitat plus many land plants (also a sun trap). There is a big patch of salt marsh in Poyll Dooey park up the harbour.

Just south-east of Ramsey, in [[Maughold]], are rugged wooded glens open to the public, and rocky coasts, headlands and beaches, with much of the area accessible by road, footpath, and electric tram.

Inland wildlife areas include Sulby Glen (a rugged grassy glen full of bluebells in spring) and [[Ballaugh Curragh]]: a wildlife-rich patchwork of semi-wilderness, swamp, woodland and agriculture, continuous since the last Ice Age.

===Wildlife hotspots around Ramsey===

'''Maughold Head'''

Seals, cormorants, chough, wildfowl and seabirds, coastal wildflowers.

'''The Ayres/[[Point of Ayre]]'''

Lichen heath, sand-dunes, [[little tern|little terns]], [[Arctic tern|Arctic terns]], winter migratory geese, divers, [[northern gannet|gannets]], other wildfowl, [[basking shark|basking sharks]], [[Pinniped|seals]], lizards, various butterflies and moths. Includes the [[Manx Wildlife Trust]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mwt.im/ |title=Homepage &#124; Manx Wildlife Trust |publisher=Mwt.im |date= |accessdate=2022-04-11}}</ref> Ayres Nature Discovery Centre and Nature Trail, and the Manx BirdLife Point of Ayre National Reserve which includes areas of open water.

==Music, culture and events==
[[File:2013 Isle of Man TT 7.jpg|thumb|2013 TT races through Parliament Square]]
Ramsey has been a centre for the revival of Manx traditional music and culture. 'Shennaghys Jiu' ("Tradition Today") Celtic music festival runs in springtime, usually late March. There are two separate live folk music nights at the Mitre Hotel, on Thursdays (singaround) and Fridays (Irish session).

The busiest times of year are Shennagys Jiu in March, Cyclefest in May, TT fortnight in late May / early June, (especially Ramsey Sprint Day, when thousands of biking fans visit to watch motorbike drag sprints on Mooragh Promenade), Manx Grand Prix/ Manx Classic motorbike race fortnight in late August, Ramsey National Week in early July, with many music and culture events, and 'Ramsey Rocks' held on the Quayside one Friday in summer.

==Politics, civic authority and local government==
[[File:Ramsey Town Hall and Library - geograph.org.uk - 1415754.jpg|thumb|[[Ramsey Town Hall, Isle of Man|Ramsey Town Hall]]]]
The local authority is the Ramsey Town Commissioners. Ramsey is also a [[House of Keys Constituencies|House of Keys constituency]] electing two [[Member of the House of Keys|MHK]]s. As of 2021, these were [[Alex Allinson]] (independent) and [[Lawrie Hooper]] (Liberal Vannin). [[Ramsey Town Hall, Isle of Man|Ramsey Town Hall]] was completed in 2002.<ref>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=ozXtnQEACAAJ |title=An Introduction to the Architecture of the Isle of Man|first= Patricia|last= Tutt |year= 2013|page=335|publisher=Lily Publications|isbn=978-1907945106}}</ref>

===MHKs and Elections===

This information is incomplete.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Election !! Turnout !! Candidates
|- 
!1867
|rowspan="3"|General Election
|rowspan="3"|

|rowspan="3"|
*Rev [[William Bell Christian]], elected
*?
|- valign="top"
!1875
|- valign="top"
!1881
|- valign="top"
![many years]
|
|Mr. Cowell elected (ca. 1900 moved to Red Deer, Alberta)<ref>Edmonton Bulletin, July 24, 1906, p. 8</ref>
|
|- valign="top"
!1901
|
By-Election
|
?
|
*[[Thomas Henry Hall Caine|Sir Hall Caine CH KBE]], 458 votes, elected
*[[Philip Kermode]], 191 votes
|- valign="top"
!1903
|
General Election
|
?
|
*Sir Hall Caine CH KBE, 503 votes, elected
*P M C Kermode, 291 votes
|- valign="top"
!1929
|
General Election
|
?
|
*[[Albert Teare]]
*William Alcock, elected
*?
|- valign="top"
!1934
|
General Election
|
?
|
*?
*William Alcock
|-
!1946
|rowspan="2"|
General Election
|rowspan="2"|?
|rowspan="2"|
*Spencer Kelly (elected)
|- valign="top"
!1951
|-
|colspan="4"|2 MHKs now elected for Ramsey.  Had been 1 since first election in 1867.
|- valign="top"
!1956
|
General Election
|
?

|
*Spencer Kelly (elected)
|- valign="top"
!1962
|
General Election
|
?
|
*Spencer Kelly (elected)
*[[Henry Sugden (MHK)|Sir Henry Sugden]] (elected)
|- valign="top"
!1981
|
General Election
|
?

|
* Charles A Cain (elected)
*Dr Hugo Douglas Teare (elected)
|- valign="top"
!1984
|
By-Election
|
?
|
*[[Allan Bell]] (elected)
|- valign="top"
!1986
|
General Election
|
66%
|
*[[Allan Bell]] (1212 votes, elected)
*[[Brigadier]] Norman Butler (755 votes, elected)
*SL Morrey (397 votes)
*PJ Quirk (212 votes)
*RC Cowley (140 votes)
*[[Paul Lebiedzinski|PA Lebiedzinski]] (113 votes)
*JE Skinner (68 votes)
|- valign="top"
!1991
|
General Election
|
70.6%
|
*Allan Bell (1023 votes, elected)
*[[Terry Groves]] (909 votes, elected)
*RB Quine (744 votes)
*WJ Irving (185 votes)
*SJ Quigley (178 votes)
*FJA Hughes (145 votes)
*OD Hibbert (99 votes)
|- valign="top"
!1996
|
General Election
|
66.5%
|
*[[Leonard Singer]] (2059 votes, elected)
*Allan Bell (2056 votes, elected)
*Terry Groves (1763 votes)
*[[Ray Kniveton]] (1702 votes)
*Richard Leventhorpe (1372 votes)
*David Quirk (1143 votes)
*Ellis Killey (775 votes)
*Mark Kermode (559 votes)
|- valign="top"
!2001
|
General Election
|
66%
|
*Allan Bell, 2260 votes, elected
*Leonard Singer, 2048 votes, elected
*[[Annie Craine]], 1794 votes
*Brian Beattie, 564 votes
*Joseph Rooney, 116 votes
|-
|colspan="4"|Following the elevation to the [[Legislative Council (Isle of Man)|Council]] of Leonard Singer.
|- valign="top"
!2003
|
By-Election
|
66.5%
|
*Annie Craine, 1509 votes, elected
*Kevin Mayne, 752 votes
*Myles Hardman, 634 votes
|- valign="top"
!2006
|
General Election
|
|
*Annie Craine, 1969 votes, elected
*Allan Bell, 1768 votes, elected
*Leonard Singer, 1621 votes
*[[Captain (naval)|Captain]] Nigel Malpass RN ([[Liberal Vannin Party|Liberal Vannin]]), 673 votes
|- valign="top"
!2011
|
General Election
|
|
*Allan Bell, 1988 votes, elected
*Leonard Singer, 1911 votes, elected
*Annie Craine, 1817 votes
*Linda Bowers-Kasch (Liberal Vannin), 427 votes
*Lawrie Hooper, 310 votes
*John McDonough, 243 votes
|}

==Election results since 2016==
In 2014, [[Tynwald]] approved recommendations from the Boundary Review Commission which saw the reform of the Island's electoral boundaries.

{{Election box begin no change |title=[[2021 Manx general election|General election 2021]]: Ramsey<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.im/media/1374591/ramsey-notice-of-result.pdf|format=PDF|title=Notice of Results for the General Election to the House of Keys 2021 (Ramsey)|website=Gov.im|accessdate=9 March 2024}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
 | party      = Liberal Vannin Party
 | candidate  = [[Lawrie Hooper|Lawrie Lee Hooper]]
 | votes      = 1657
 | percentage = 26.3
 }}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
 | party      = Independent politician
 | candidate  = [[Alex Allinson|Alexander John Allinson]]
 | votes      = 1557
 | percentage = 24.7
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 | party      = Independent politician
 | candidate  = Robert Douglas Cowell
 | votes      = 679
 | percentage = 10.8
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 | party      = Independent politician
 | candidate  = Luke Parker
 | votes      = 664
 | percentage = 10.5
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 | party      = Independent politician
 | candidate  = Simon Edgar Mann
 | votes      = 555
 | percentage = 8.8
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 | party      = Independent politician
 | candidate  = Erica Lesley Spencer
 | votes      = 438
 | percentage = 7.0
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 | party      = Independent politician
 | candidate  = Leonard Ian Singer
 | votes      = 405
 | percentage = 6.4
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 | party      = Independent politician
 | candidate  = Jonathan David Kinrade
 | votes      = 345
 | percentage = 5.5
 }}
{{Election box total no change
 | votes      = {{#expr:1557+345+1657+664+679+555+405+438}}
 | percentage = 
}}
{{Election box total ballots
 | votes      = {{val|fmt=commas|3367}}
 | percentage =
}}
{{Election box rejected no change
 | votes      = {{val|fmt=commas|4}}
 | percentage =
}}
{{Election box turnout no change with votes
 | votes      = {{val|fmt=commas|3371}}
 | percentage = {{#expr:100*3371/6288 round 1}}
}}
{{Election box registered electors no change
 | reg. electors = {{val|fmt=commas|6288}}
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change |title=[[2016 Manx general election|General election 2016]]: Ramsey<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.im/media/1353347/2016-general-election-results-and-turnout.pdf|format=PDF|title=Isle of Man Election Results 2016|website=Gov.im|accessdate=9 March 2024}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
 | party      = Independent politician
 | candidate  = [[Alex Allinson|Alexander John Allinson]]
 | votes      = {{val|fmt=commas|2946}}
 | percentage = 47.1
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
 | party      = Liberal Vannin Party
 | candidate  = [[Lawrie Hooper|Lawrie Lee Hooper]]
 | votes      = {{val|fmt=commas|1471}}
 | percentage = 23.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 | party      = Independent politician
 | candidate  = Leonard Ian Singer
 | votes      = {{val|fmt=commas|886}}
 | percentage = 14.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 | party      = Independent politician
 | candidate  = Nicholas Lyndon Crowe
 | votes      = {{val|fmt=commas|716}}
 | percentage = 11.4
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 | party      = Independent politician
 | candidate  = John David McDonough
 | votes      = {{val|fmt=commas|236}}
 | percentage = 3.8
}}
{{Election box total no change
 | votes      = {{val|fmt=commas|6255}}
 | percentage = 
}}
{{Election box total ballots
 | votes      = {{val|fmt=commas|3485}}
 | percentage =
}}
{{Election box rejected no change
 | votes      = {{val|fmt=commas|15}}
 | percentage =
}}
{{Election box turnout no change with votes
 | votes      = {{val|fmt=commas|3500}}
 | percentage = {{#expr:100*3500/5726 round 1}}
}}
{{Election box registered electors no change
 | reg. electors = {{val|fmt=commas|5726}}
}}
{{Election box end}}

== Notable people ==

* [[William Gill (sea captain)|William Gill]] (1795 in Ramsay – 1858 in Douglas) was a Manx merchant navy officer who served as commanding officer of numerous [[Isle of Man Steam Packet Company]] vessels. Gill was the first recognised captain of the line, retiring with the rank of Commodore
* [[Andrew Roche]] (born 1971), road cyclist
* [[Beckii Cruel]] (born 1995), businesswoman, [[YouTuber]], singer and dancer

==See also==
* [[54 Air-Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit RAF]]
* [[Ramsey Grammar School]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

== External links ==
{{Commonscatinline}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20121108113021/http://www.gov.im/lib/docs/treasury/economic/census/census2011reportfinalresized.pdf Isle of Man Census Report 2011 ]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090210041741/http://www.gov.im/lib/news/cso/workinggroupbegi.xml IOM Govt Council of Ministers Working Group]
* [[BBC Domesday Reloaded]] - [https://web.archive.org/web/20120129194438/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/domesday/dblock/GB-242000-494000 Domesday Reloaded - Overview of Ramsey.]

{{Isle of Man}}
{{House of Keys constituencies}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Ramsey, Isle of Man| ]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 11th century]]
[[Category:Towns in the Isle of Man]]
[[Category:Ports and harbours of the Isle of Man]]
[[Category:Constituencies of the Isle of Man]]