XAW023428 ISLE OF MAN (1949). General View, Laxey, Isle of Man, Isle of Man, 1949. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing North/West.

On a fine day in early May 2007, the writer made the trip up to Snaefell on the Snaefell Mountain Railway, from Laxey Station, before making the descent on foot into Laxey Glen. The trail included Snaefell Mine, the Woollen Mills, Monks Bridge and Laxey Harbour, as shown on some of the accompanying photos.

Laxey translates as "Salmon River" in old Norse and the village sprawls along the sides of a deep glen, running down from the mine workings to the tiny harbour. A former port and fishing village, the main activity in the area was concerned with the exploitation of minerals in the late 19th century: lead, silver,copper and zinc.

The unmissable Lady Isabella waterwheel is one of the largest in the world and was built in 1854 to raise water from 2,000 feet below ground.