Over 8,900 records and primary sources exploring the history of the Isle of Man — its people, its places, its laws, its language, and its culture.

Historically Manx is a growing digital heritage resource, built from the archive photographs, documents, and research behind Steve Babb’s books on Manx history.

Whether you know the Island or are discovering it for the first time — start exploring through the sections below.

Stories from Manx History

Steve Babb’s books tell the story of the Isle of Man and its people — the system they built, the compacts that held everyone accountable, the loyalties that were tested, and the forces that changed the Island forever. Drawn from years of archival research and primary sources, each book brings a different chapter of the Island’s past to life.

     Lords, merchants, rebels,

and the people who lived it

This is a story told through people. George Moore, the merchant whose letter books survive as the richest account of eighteenth-century Manx life. Illiam Dhone — Brown-haired William — who surrendered the island to save it, and was executed for his trouble. The institutions they built and the families whose stories span centuries.

Over a thousand years of history

It was a place with its own folklore, its own language, its own traditions. A legal system that worked because the people who ran it considered it their duty. Music sung in a language that had been spoken on these shores for a thousand years.

Packed full of wonders

A unique island, its harbours, its hills, its castles, its parishes — and the places beyond its shores that changed its story.

The running trade, the customs,

and the laws of an island

Goods flowed through Manx ports at a fraction of British duties, and the merchants who ran it were the most prominent men on the island. The laws that governed them were older than anything at Westminster, administered by men who considered it their duty.

Resources for schools,

families, and lifelong learners

Materials for Key Stage 2 and 3, family activities, and independent learners. Whether you’re a teacher bringing Manx history into the classroom or a parent looking for something to explore together — there’s something here for you.

About This Site

Historically Manx is a digital heritage resource bringing the story of the Isle of Man to life — the people, the places, the laws, the culture, and the events that shaped them. Built alongside Steve Babb’s books on Manx history, this site connects thousands of records and primary sources into a single, explorable narrative.

Learn more →

To learn more about the Isle of Man please visit Manx National Heritage or Culture Vannin.