Old House of Keys, National museum in Castletown, Isle of Man.
The Old House of Keys is a registered museum building in Castletown, on the Isle of Man, which houses the former debating chamber of the island's parliament. The chamber retains its wooden benches on either side and a central speaking platform, much as it looked during its working years.
The building was constructed in 1821 as a Georgian parliament house and served as the meeting place for the House of Keys until it relocated to Douglas in 1874. That move marked the end of Castletown's role as the political centre of the island.
The Manx name Shenn-thie y Chiare as Feed means "old house of the Four and Twenty", recalling the 24 Keys who sat here. Until 1866 the Keys were a self-elected body; after public pressure, notably from Isle of Man Times editor James Brown, they agreed to election by popular vote.
The building offers guided tours through the original rooms, and booking ahead is recommended as tours may have limited capacity. It is worth checking in advance which areas are open, as some parts of the building may be closed at times.
Until 1866 the House of Keys was a self-elected body; public pressure, notably from Isle of Man Times editor James Brown, led its members to accept election by popular vote, a change made while they sat in this building.
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