Tower of Refuge, Stone refuge structure in Douglas Bay, Isle of Man
The Tower of Refuge is a small stone building on St Mary's Isle, a partially submerged reef in Douglas Bay on the Isle of Man. It has crenellated walls that resemble a small medieval castle, and it sits surrounded by water at high tide and by wet rock at low tide.
The tower was built in 1832 at the initiative of Sir William Hillary, who had already founded the RNLI and had witnessed many shipwrecks in Douglas Bay. Construction was funded through public donations combined with a personal contribution from Hillary himself.
The tower sits on a reef in the middle of Douglas Bay and is clearly visible from the seafront promenade. Many locals associate it with the history of sea rescue, since Sir William Hillary, the founder of the RNLI, was behind the project.
The tower can be reached on foot across the exposed reef at low tide, but conditions can change quickly. It is worth checking tide times before visiting and paying attention to any warning signs posted along the seafront.
The tower was fitted with a bell and stocked with provisions like bread and water so that shipwrecked sailors could signal for help and survive while waiting. This makes it one of the few structures of its kind designed from the start as a working shelter rather than just a marker.
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