Hidden amongst the rugged beauty of Glen Rushen lies Snuff the Wind. It’s a place that whispers tales of a bygone era. Snuff the Wind isn’t its official name. It’s a colloquialism, a nickname breathed into existence by the locals. The true name is Cross Vein Mine, or sometimes Cronk Vane Mine. This place once pulsed with the rhythm of industry. Miners toiled within its depths, extracting lead ore from the earth. The Isle of Man Mining Company orchestrated this operation, working the mine from around 1832 to 1881. They often worked it in conjunction with the larger Beckwith Mine, just a short distance away. Snuff the Wind and Beckwith Mine chased the same prize: a rich vein of lead ore that briefly yielded its bounty before fading. Two main shafts punctuated Snuff the Wind: the engine shaft and the whim shaft. The whim shaft earned its name from the horse-powered gin, or whim, used in its early operation. Today, only evocative ruins remain. These weathered structures offer a poignant glimpse into the island’s industrial past. The album cover of a local folk duo Shoh Slaynt! features a photograph of these ruins. The album, also titled “Snuff the Wind,” pays homage to the mine’s ghosts and memories. Its opening track is a dedication to the abandoned mine. Snuff the Wind may be silent now, but its story continues to resonate through music and the whispers of time. It stands as a reminder of an era when the Isle of Man’s fortunes were intertwined with the riches hidden beneath its soil.
The Curragh Nature Reserve
Wallabies in the Isle of Man? The Curragh Nature Reserve is full of surprises. This wetland area has a rich