Entrance from Quay to Bond Lane, Douglas, Isle of Man, 1932-34 (b/w photo)

On the back of this photograph John James Frowde writes, "In the seventies and eighties of the last century, the lower town posessed a large number of 'characters', hard cases all known by nick-names, and thorns in the sides of the police. These used to go out in shooting parties of four or five, hiring their guns at 2/- a day from Telley(?) on the S corner of Church St. and Great Nelson St., the little shop still there. Anything in feathers from a sparrow to a tame goose suited them. Among the list (I can remember many of them,) were:- 'Tommy the Wad' (Christmas caller for years with Archie Cuckoo, his fiddler,) 'Bishop' '?', 'Jim Boo', 'Bill the Rook', 'Red Roney', 'Pocket the Rat', 'Codlins', 'Billy Stinkey' (Mr Wm Skillicorn by his own account), 'Scud Newry', 'Mickey the Twins', 'Juan Goldfish', 'Keolia Twig' and his wife, whom I met at the foot of Bank Hill on a sledge, and 'Welsh the Bird Catcher'. There were others on my notes, but not to be set down here. Welsh, just mentioned, was a noted poacher, but ran a flourishing trade in rabbit skins. The coaches from outside areas that started and stopped outside his doors brought in huge quantities of the skins, and the curious building on the left was his home and place of business." Additional notes: "OK Sketchy. 'Tommy the Wad': Mr Marshall Creer thought his surname was Kewley. Jan/35 'Jimmy Roney', Peel Night watchman, said he believed it was Cringle. Juan Goldfish? Goldsmith yes."