St Mary's Isle: The Tower of Refuge

A Lifesaving Vision Born from Tragedy

St Mary's Isle stands as a monument to compassion and foresight in the face of maritime peril. Prior to the 1830s, the partially submerged reef known as Conister Rock claimed numerous lives as ships foundered upon its hidden dangers. The tragedy reached a turning point when Sir William Hillary, the visionary founder of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, recognised that survivors struggling in the waters of Douglas Bay faced an impossible swim to shore. Hillary petitioned for a sanctuary to be constructed on the reef itself—a place where the desperate and shipwrecked could find shelter and await rescue. In 1832, the Quane family, who owned the rock, granted permission for this ambitious project to proceed.

The Castle That Saved Lives

The Tower of Refuge was designed by local architect John Welch, who crafted it to resemble a small castle, making it both a functional shelter and a distinctive visual warning to approaching vessels. The first stone was laid by Lady Hillary on Easter Monday, 23 April 1832, marking the beginning of a new era of maritime safety in Douglas Bay. The tower was stocked with provisions including bread and fresh water, and originally housed a bell that could be rung to summon help from the shore. Sir William Hillary personally contributed a substantial portion of the construction costs, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to the cause. Since its completion, not a single accident has been recorded at the site—a remarkable testament to its effectiveness as both a refuge and a navigational marker.

The Reef's Perilous History

The waters surrounding Conister Rock have witnessed dramatic maritime incidents that underscore the tower's vital purpose. One notable rescue involved the vessel St George, which became trapped between the rocks during a violent storm in November. The lifeboat crew found themselves hemmed in by the wreck, the Conister Rock itself, and treacherous outcrops of stone, with the rigging of the fallen mast blocking their escape route. Through extraordinary effort and resourcefulness, the crew cut away the rigging with knives and axes, freed the cable, and used the rock's sheltered lee to navigate safely toward shore. Such harrowing episodes illustrate why Hillary's vision proved so essential to the safety of those who ventured into these waters.

A Landmark Transformed and Preserved

The Tower of Refuge has evolved from a simple emergency shelter into one of Douglas Bay's most iconic landmarks. In the early 1980s, the eastern portion of the reef, known as the Conister Shoals, was partially blasted away to accommodate the construction of a new harbour breakwater, altering the reef's geography but not diminishing its historical significance. The tower underwent extensive restoration in 2008, when the exterior was repointed and modern lighting was installed, ensuring its preservation for future generations. Today, the structure remains instantly recognisable, its castle-like silhouette a familiar sight to residents and visitors alike.

Access and Tidal Rhythms

The reef's accessibility is governed entirely by the tides. At spring high tides, the rocks become fully submerged, rendering the tower inaccessible from the shore. However, during spring low tides, a brief window of opportunity opens, allowing visitors to reach the reef on foot—a fleeting experience that requires careful timing and awareness of tidal schedules. The reef's proximity to the ferry terminal and the promenade makes it a convenient destination for those exploring Douglas, though its tidal nature demands respect and planning. The custody of St Mary's Isle has been held by successive presidents of the local lifeboat association since its creation, ensuring that Hillary's legacy of maritime rescue continues to be honoured.