B18 (Ellenbrook - Orrisdale)

This article is about the original B18, now A25.
For the current B18 in Port St Mary, see B18 (Isle of Man).

The A25 (former B18) at Oakhills

The original B18 followed Old Castletown Road from the edge of Douglas south along the coast. It started on the A6 at Ellenbrook and ran south west through Oakhill and past Crogga to ultimately reach the A5 at the railway bridge near Orrisdale, probably. However, the official text description from 1926 seems to suggest something slightly different, and completely unprecedented for the Isle of Man. The route outlined above is approximately 5 miles, but the original route list states just over 6 miles, and appears to include three spurs. The route description starts the route at 'Nunnery', which is a short distance east of Ellenbrook on the A6, and therefore can be assumed to mean the same place. However, the opposite end seems to give three destinations, while not specifically reaching the A5.

The first named end point of the route is at Port Grenaugh, the bay at the southern end of the current B25. However, it also seems to suggest that the route goes to Ballacurry, which presumably means Ballachurry at Santon at the northern end of the current B26. It then states that the route includes Oatland Road, which is presumably the current B24 further east. These last two both terminate on the A5. The total mileage of these 'spurs', excluding the southern part of Old Castletown Road is just under 6 miles today. Unfortunately, no mapping evidence has so far been identified to help with this confusion.

Whatever the original position, the mainline of the route was subsequently upgraded to become the A25, running right through to the A5, with the 'spurs' being renumbered as above.

The Manx Government Circular 1131 of 25/02/1926 defines this route as: Nunnery to Port Grenaugh and Ballacurry (including Oatland-road)