The cellar of the old Grammar School, Douglas, Isle of Man, 1932-34 (b/w photo)

On the back of this photograph John James Frowde writes, "In my wanderings around this, the oldest part of old Douglas, I have often looked into the cellar of the old Grammar School when the door in the W gable might happen to be open. Of late years it was used by joiners (who had a workshop on the upper floor) for storage of timber, and I always had the idea that the cellar would be divided from the first floor by an area of boardcovered joists. While this demolition was proceeding I had not been along Fort St for several days, and the day this film was exposed, I found to my amazement, that the cellar was as remarkable, in structure and extent, as that under no 1 Fort St. more about the Durie House, in the Fairy Ground section (R III)." Additional note: "Extract from the Will of Mr William Marrey AD 1756, 'And whereas there is an arrear of money due to me on the building and finishing of the School-house and vault in the said town of Douglas, amounting to one hundred and fifty odd pounds; I do therefore altogether acquit and discharge the said arrear, and do order that the said vault now in my possession be given up into the hands of the Rev Phil. Moore, Chaplain of the town, and his successors, for the uses and purposes mentioned in the original Deed of Gift.' Thwaites' I of Man, 1863, p 173."