Cronk Urleigh facts for kids

Cronk Urleigh is a special place on the Isle of Man. It's a stretch of road located at the 15th Milestone on the main A3 road. This road connects Castletown to Ramsey and runs through the parish of Kirk Michael. The name "Cronk Urleigh" comes from the Manx language and means "hill of the forecourt."

What is Cronk Urleigh?

Cronk Urleigh is a small hill near the A3 road. People traditionally believe this spot was where the original Tynwald courts met. The Tynwald is the parliament of the Isle of Man, one of the oldest in the world! These meetings happened here until the year 1422. Some people think the actual meeting place might have been at a nearby spot called Rhencullen in Kirk Michael.

Meaning of the Name

The older name for this area was "Reneurling." This name is also linked to the Tynwald court meeting in 1422. It means "division, point of the forecourt." The modern name, Cronk Urleigh, might have been incorrectly translated over time. Some people thought it meant "eagle hill," but that's probably not right.

In 1774, a local writer named Rev John Crellin wondered if the name Cronk Urleigh or Reneurling had a connection to ancient Roman Standards. These were special flags or symbols used by Roman armies.

Cronk Urleigh and Motor Racing

Cronk Urleigh is famous for its part in the Isle of Man's exciting motor-sport history.

Early Car Races

The Cronk Urleigh section of the A3 road was part of a race track called the "Four Inch Course." This course was about 37.50 miles long. It was used for the RAC Tourist Trophy car races held on the Isle of Man between 1908 and 1922.

The Famous TT Races

In 1911, the Four Inch Course was first used for the famous Isle of Man TT motor-cycle races. This included the Cronk Urleigh section, the 13th Milestone, and Westwood Corner (Ballalona Bridge). This course later became known as the 37.73-mile (60.70 km) Isle of Man TT Mountain Course.

Since 1911, the TT Mountain Course has been used for the thrilling Isle of Man TT Races. From 1923, it has also been used for the Manx Grand Prix races. These events are a huge part of the island's history and bring many visitors.

During the 1970 Lightweight TT Race, a Spanish motor-cycle racer named Santiago Herrero had a crash at the Westwood Corner section of the course. He was seriously injured in the incident.