Peel 2011 – ten years on

There’s a common misconception that nothing changes in Peel… Ever! But of all the businesses we photographed more than a quarter were new, and if we discount the civic organisations like police, Commissioners, swimming pool etc which are not likely to change, then the percentage is even higher.

There is a clear shift towards the service sector. Of the 44 new businesses, many were in the health & leisure sector. There are two new bicycle repair shops, two gyms and a Pilates space and four new beauty salons. Three art gallery/studio/workshops and two tattoo artists. There are many new restaurants/cafes and a micro pub makes its first presence on the high street. Read more about about my experience of photographing Peel and discovery of some green shoots of change.

No less than 10 businesses had moved premises in the ten year gap, mostly in and around Michael Street, but also in the Industrial area.

There was a significant number of businesses that had the same name or sold the same goods and services, but were under new ownership since 2011. These include EVF in place of Total, and a re-juvenated Kiosk cafe on the Promenade, which, with the help of a covered area, now stays open longer and in (not quite) all weathers!

In most cases I photographed different people to represent the businesses to those in 2011. But for 10% of all organisations I had the privilege to photograph the same people. Special thanks go to those brave people who agreed to be photographed for a second time.

We can’t have new businesses without losing old ones, although there has been a little expansion. Many of the businesses that have closed now have new activity in place, but others have left behind vacant premises for the moment. Isle of Man Bank is a big loss of amenity and employment in the town and its prominent building on Athol Place is vacant and sad looking (except for being lit up for Christmas this year!). Lloyds Bank has gone too (though not photographed as it has been replaced by residential dwellings). Although more hidden away from view, the loss of the Corrin Home is also widely felt in the town, having been an important feature in the lives of many since 1956. In other cases business activity has been replaced rather than lost, for example a new independent butcher’s on Michael Street replacing City Butchers on Douglas Street.

The photos below are only the ones remaining vacant at the time of the survey.

For the majority of businesses and organisations, it was the same business in the same location, with the same or similar business activity over the ten year period, although in most cases new people were photographed. Some have been in situ a very long time, The Central, one of the first pubs on the Island from the 17th Century is by far the oldest. Move forward more than 200 years for the opening of Moore’s Kipper Yard (1882) and the Ward Library (1907). Other businesses with real longevity include: Muffins bakery on Michael Street (1979), Paradise and Gell furniture shop also Michael Street (1972).