Parliament Square

Gazing upon Parliament Square, can you hear the echoes of roaring engines and cheering crowds? This isn’t just a crossroads in Ramsey. It’s a pivotal point on the legendary Snaefell Mountain Course, the very track that has tested the mettle of racers since 1911 during the Isle of Man TT and from 1923 for the Manx Grand Prix. Parliament Square, also known as Kerrin y Valley or Market Square, stands at the junction of the A3, A9, and A2 roads, a meeting point of journeys across this beautiful isle. But its story goes back even further. Long before the thunder of motorcycles, this square witnessed the dawn of motorsports. Between 1904 and 1922, it was part of the Highland Course and Four Inch Course, challenging daredevil drivers in the Gordon Bennett Trial and Tourist Trophy car races. Imagine the vintage automobiles navigating the turns, the smell of oil and gasoline hanging in the air. In those early days, Parliament Square formed the edge of the Sandygate Loop, a thrilling section of the Highroads Course, and even housed a refuelling stop during the 1904 Gordon Bennett British Eliminating Trial and the 1905 Tourist Trophy race. The course evolved, the Sandygate Loop was eventually abandoned in favor of a different route in 1906. Yet, Parliament Square remained, a constant witness to the island’s racing history. The course continued to be refined, and by 1923, it incorporated a private road connecting Parliament Square to May Hill, shortening the track and solidifying the Square’s importance in the race. So, as you stand on Parliament Square, remember, you’re not just at a crossroads. You’re standing on a piece of racing history, a place where legends were made and where the spirit of speed lives on.