Front of Spittal's House, Douglas, Isle of Man, 1932-34 (b/w photo)

On the back of this photograph John James Frowde writes, "The most it was posssible to get of the front of Spittal's house, and that from the extreme rear of the Square. On centre to left, the large house, mansion actually, No.4 S.Barnabas' Square. This house must have had a history, but I have not met anyone with any knowledge of it. Above the drop-spout next to Spittal's there will be noted, under the roof, a water-catchment. This is a heavy lead piece of considerable size, and a fine bit of workmanship. It has, fairly incised in the lead, the 'legend' [drawn in a square] M.B. 1782. It would be interesting to know who M. B. was a man of some 'tonnage' evidently in 1782 one would think. [Pencil note] 'I thought 'M.B. might be a signatory to a legislative enactment & went through that period in 'Lex Scripta'; but drew a blank."