The Secret 1800s Bank Vault Discovered in the Isle of Man

Castletown was home to the inventor and playful genius, George Quayle, whose brilliant security inventions will be known to anyone who has visited the Manx Nautical Museum. But next door in his former home is perhaps his most ingenious invention; a bank vault which was only rediscovered in the 1940s.
Charles Guard takes us on a tour of the ingenious locking mechanism inside the vault of Quayle Isle of Man of the early 19th Century.
This video was used for the Manx History App:
www.manxhistory.com/app/
Filmed by Culture Vannin.
Culture Vannin exists to promote and support all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man. We develop innovative, inclusive and exciting projects that promote and support all aspects of Manx culture.
Website: www.culturevannin.im
Twitter: / culturevannin
Facebook: / culturevannin

[@rogerdodger3278]

What a shame more isn’t being done to preserve such brilliance, referring to his vault mechanism. Clearly an incredible man who was ahead of his time. They called him eccentric, I call him a man who thought for himself, who wasn’t influenced by society into doing what everyone else is doing, a free thinker. I wish I’d known him.

[@antonyward9060]

Don't know how I got here, but it's of interest.

[@kathrynhamblin6479]

@scratch quatro

[@davehoward22]

Bellissimo.

[@benjaminperry7068]

bro

[@chrisgaskin3772]

I agree started watch in gold rush haha

[@Mr1bigbaddaddy]

I was watching rare car videos 😂🤷‍♂️

[@praveenb9048]

George Quayle "raised the bar" for bank security technology.

[@hankaustin7091]

LOL!!!! clever!

[@AA-xk7gy]

*Laughs in cursive”

[@joekenorer]

Now I have to change my security system, thanks for spreading this everywhere.

[@fireballninja01]

The camera crew for this has done an amazing job

[@gormenfreeman499]

lol there was a cameraman waiting in each room as he entered through the door.

[@matt.baller]

The whole thing is of course amazing, but regarding the boat: how does something like that get sealed up and forgotten?? History is awesome.

[@marcuswardle3180]

Matt Haliadex During WWII the prisoners of Colditz built a glider in the roof. To hide it they put up a false end wall behind which the glider sat. They didn’t finish it by the time the war ended and so left it there. The castle was used as a lunatic asylum after WWII. When the iron curtain came down the survivors of the prison camp went back to have a look and found the glider still sitting behind its fake end wall!

[@magnvss]

Those times when you couldn't trust your bank with your money.... oh wait...

[@markdunbar8219]

😂.......😱

[@NakedManiac]

Same in sweden...

[@chalkfarmcarsquadso1664]

Now thats funny👍👍🤣🤣🤣

[@howardwayne3974]

@@chalkfarmcarsquadso1664 back when in the south old farmers didn't trust banks so they would hollow out a gate post in their front yard and put their money down inside it for hard times . they could sit on the front porch and keep an eye on their "bank ".

[@user-cs3zs6jn1d]

@@howardwayne3974 that's basically what I was going to say. Except it wasn't just a gate post. Anything around the front yard (depending on your chill spit) would do fine

[@banevil2211]

The cannonball actuator with all the ramps and pullies kinda reminds me of 1960s-70s board game called Mouse Trap

[@Actingskint]

Ban Evil my thoughts excactly

[@mr.m7791]

I miss that game.

[@UNPOCOLOCO444]

That game was still around in the 90’s. I remember watching the commercial on 📺 but I never actually played the game.

[@nonofyourbusiness7631]

I miss that game haha

[@michaelfedorsha8147]

That was the first thing that came to my mind also. 🐁🐁

[@chasduran4160]

Now we know who constructed One-Eye-Willy's cave network in The Goonies.

[@alternativeperception6949]

Haaaaaa haaaaaaa yes 👍

[@AB-gz9yb]

lol brilliant

[@alboengland3017]

lmao exactly what i was thinking!

[@ibtgb2]

Lol, classic

[@fogyfos]

I worked in Bridge House many years ago, and the company I worked for gave the Manx Museum (as was) unlimited access to the vault, with the idea of getting it restored, and moving it to either the castle or the boathouse next door. I have never understood why the museum only photographed the mechanism, and left it there ....especially as the company were willing to part-finance the restoration and move. Thanks for showing it to the world, Charles.

[@davidchurch3472]

Far better to restire in-situ than move it out of context. They need a similar 'eccentric' to get the project going. I would love to have a go - used to create mechanisms like that in school using marbles! Let's get that boat out too while we are at it! - or at least open up a window to the sea.

[@kerryboyce4150]

You can’t come in until you do the truffle shuffle.....

[@achunable]

Hey you guys!!!!

[@hopedontmope4999]

@@achunable I'm suddenly craving a Baby Ruth right now.

[@get-the-lead-out.4593]

gotta be Goonies, right

[@chowderslut2205]

What comes up most go down

[@renegade5130]

This comment wins 😂😂 😂

[@markorollo.]

That replica ships cabin bit, I used to dream my bedroom was like that I would have loved it...

[@littlemy1773]

I went on a school trip there as I live on the island. in that cabin room the wood panels in one area can pull out. I can't recall if it leads to smuggling tunnels or not but Castletown does have them under some of the old houses and buildings. There were some under the building my mum used to work in there . only certain people are allowed to go down and check on them now tho cos of health and safety, some areas have collapsed in on themselves

[@Sorme1001]

Simply outstanding, what an amazing place. I would have never have known about this man without you sharing this. Thanks!

[@Linda-9037]

WOW That's amazing !!! Brilliant !! Thank you so much for taking the time to show this and thank you to the building owner and renters for allowing you access...I found that to be jaw dropping !!! You were so cool to go down it and show it !!

[@blipblip88]

Very interesting! Wouldn't it be easy though, to obtain an appropriately-sized cannonball to re-create live how the whole thing worked? I would love to witness this! Regardless, thanks for the informative post.

[@sedsworld1672]

Sir, this was absolutely fascinating. Your lovely presentation and charming personality, was matched well with this superior design. Thank you for sharing. ♥️🇺🇸💙

[@campbellmorrison8540]

OMG you wouldn't want the mechanism sticking and the ball rolling off into the corner without setting this contraption open. Love it

[@seabeckon]

He is ahead of his time sort of designed a modern lift system but to serve altogether different purpose here to open a door.it should be certainly restored.

[@geowynleda4641]

I love the Isle of Man and have visited Castletown several times, this is the first time I have heard of this secret bank vault.

[@DM-hp7ct]

This is utterly fascinating. Thank you for posting.

[@nickfanthorpe8500]

Thanks, one of the most interesting and engaging things I've seen for a while!

[@anthonycamaratta7709]

Absolutely beautiful work on the house and even the vault.

[@jnetwork7159]

Looks like banking was the only thing he failed at. What an engineer & craftsman

[@corvuscrow5485]

"Welcome to my underground LAAAAIIIIIRRRRR." That was great.

[@pauldean8638]

The ball set off triggers that released counterweights, the ball didn't weigh enough to rotate the cam to open the door ,the little flap triggers will of pulled pegs to release counterweight, the pulleys are set to move a large wieght using as a little weight by distance of the drop .I would of presume he had a specially weighted ball so noone could use any ball to activate the mechanism, to small it drops through a trap and to big and it won't fit into the desired hole to need to operate the mech

[@another1commenter770]

With the complexity I assume it requires 2 or more balls of differing attributes to release the triggers, Maybe iron ball vs lead ball and varying sizes or something. I suspect there was a sorting mechanism in the roof that is now missing that connected to the locking hammer, Also I suspect the stringing of the current drive basket is just for show and would have originally been setup to driver the main wheel once successful release of the hammer had occurred.

[@suzannehaigh4281]

Absolutely fascinating, thank you

[@sanddabz5635]

Now that is inventive engineering!! Would be awesome to see how it works and it in action.

[@richardtherien5162]

Thanks for the video. I enjoyed it very much!

[@ConnieM777]

Fascinating, well done video. How amazing seeing the vault and its secret locking system. Enjoy your voice.

[@colinbateman8233]

I’m curious to know if anyone has built a model of the locking system it’s fascinating

[@MyRonnierocket]

Fantastic,I would love to find something like that.

[@gcprost]

Thanks for sharing this extraordinary story and vault.

[@debbieboring3422]

So cool. Make me think of the movie National Treasure. Rube Goldberg and Heath Robinson would have loved Mr. Quayle.

[@rhodesianwojak2095]

isn't it quail?

[@HannibalFan52]

@@rhodesianwojak2095 No. The spelling of his name is given in the notes above the comments.

[@Chr.U.Cas2216]

Fantastic. An ingenious inventor. Also able to do excellent craftsmanship!

[@arthurwagar6224]

Thanks for good stuff.

[@rcxcole7271]

This was a very interesting video, and I'm glad that it was in my recommenced videos.

[@MrAshura17]

This is nifty. Love seeing this sort of thing.

[@reimagine207]

Robert Shannon I love that you said nifty 🤪🤙🏻

[@doltbezoar]

Wonderful! Love anything IOM.

[@southerndigest8996]

Genius! Fascinating. Thank you for sharing it with us.

[@toecutter8002]

Amazing when i was a kid i loved trapped doors and secret passage ways i would love to have these sory of things in my house to protect my treasures

[@niceguy235uk1]

Absolutely brilliant!

[@reason5591]

Nothing less than fascinating! What a find!

[@markshaggy7914]

That’s so cool. Incredible genius.

[@peachbottomparanormal3587]

neat, love old buildings with hidden nook and crannys..

[@paulcondie2520]

Awesome! Love old stuff like this! Smart man!!!

[@stonedbatman2067]

Fascinating

[@branon6565]

Absolutely incredible

[@XLseattle]

It’s a Rube Goldberg Machine! It looks like they had to break in through the top of the iron door. I hope the mechanism is restored some day.

[@wt1236]

Fantastic .....thanks for sharing

[@michaelcrouch8783]

Amazing. Thanks

[@cassiefriedman8685]

I LOVE HISTORY SO MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR SHOWING THIS TO US😘😘😘

[@gordonbradley3241]

Fascinating !

[@blakemiller7685]

I love it! Just so facinating great find!

[@jamesburton1050]

Fascinating!!

[@1346crecy]

Fabulous!!!

[@robn2377]

Amazing and amazing work ethic

[@RDDPro]

Not sure how I got here, but that's quite an interesting tale of one man's quest to create by himself a hidden vault of which only he could open. Seeing his cleverness makes me ponder what else exists out there in ancient castles, churches, places of great importance and also most hidden places where no one would ever look. What else is might hide just beneath the surface or behind a false wall? Imagination is perhaps our greatest trait as a species... for without it what a dull world it would be indeed.

[@teresavogt5977]

Certainly a Rube Goldberg predecessor and student of ancient temples that used heated steam to move heavy stone doors. I have long collected Isle of Man Cat coins... Certainly this bank was never robbed !! Thank You for a touch of genius on a small Island.

[@gabilang8407]

Faszinierend !

[@abdulrasheeddanwar2023]

Extremely amazing

[@percivalhowell7516]

Host reminds me a bit of the old Dad on the U.S. show 'Frasier'

[@mr.imtoogoodtocallorwritem5196]

From DIY Perks to this, thanks youtube👍🏼👍🏼

[@gren509]

Whoever did the lighting was a genius, not a dark patch or shadow to be seen !

[@RedneckHillbilly-ho9md]

Awesome! We are gonna need cool things like this again here in the future the way this world is going.

[@timwright1563]

Thank you

[@balrajsingh-zp4wq]

Very very nice and wonderful video thanks

[@louiscypher7090]

I love stuff like this.

[@Kazzas73]

Wow wow wow! So interesting!!

[@sumowan]

Just fascinating..

[@too9489]

Nice interesting find & story, I will attempt to go and visit the outside if not the in the next time I visit the IOM

[@daakrolb]

Outstanding

[@WApnj]

Ok. So this mechanism is a preserved ruin? Why not restore it and make it functional? Would be facinating to watch it work.

[@brentbarnhart5827]

He said they were not quite sure how it actually worked. I am a system engineer, and I would love to figure it out. I know I could it.

[@christophertucker4917]

@@brentbarnhart5827 enquire about it

[@Lyle-xc9pg]

Hell No! You would destroy most of the original

[@amanduswestin9211]

You could probably try to conserve the original for future research and make a functioning replica.

[@jon9087]

Best way to figure it out would be to photograph all the parts filing how they move and reverse engineer it without dismantling then build a mini working model 😀

[@SickaydaMars]

BRAVO!

[@alioffski45]

I absolutely love that. I do wonder if everytime he dropped a ball down the pipes he hoped it didn't somehow get stuck !

[@conmanumber1]

Hi from Oamaru New Zealand. Can you show us George's photo and grave please?.

[@robertramirez9579]

That is freaking krazy, And ingenious! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@davidsnyder9661]

Amazing

[@shiddy.]

very good - greetings from Minnesota, US

[@ariaseebold1485]

This video has more than ten times more views than that of the population of the Isle of Man

[@mearlbrown316]

This is the best thing I’ve ever seen

[@concernedcitizen5885]

I had the pleasure of working with a ship builder company from the Isle of Man years ago in Galveston Texas.

[@fraserconnell21]

Cool as ice this one! 👍👍👏

[@TheAcademicHorse]

Really helpful tutorial! This is gonna look great in my Minecraft world

[@Tazz7859]

Wow, remarkable

[@dchiffy]

Brilliant

[@rossspenser8314]

Very interesting .Thank you

[@MrDanHatton]

Incredible history, I would love to see this restored and watch a cannon ball drop drown and lift the bar !

[@jackspink7181]

Thanks for this informative and interesting video. But what I would have like to have seen you demonstrate is how he LOCKED the vault.

[@PlanetImo]

OMGosh that's astonishing!

[@AmanAdv.]

Perfect video brilliant person yar

[@mvblitzyo]

Amazing !

[@ParkerDD]

That moment when a rope breaks, and you can’t get into your own vault 😭😭

[@Bart-Did-it]

Parker through the wall easy if you know the vault is there bk then

[@shadowjack8]

Or out.

[@eirin099]

Thank god i can axe myself through this iron door or thick stone walls

[@Ritzi66]

Or out

[@SqueakyCricket]

Fascinating...

[@trampslikeus3575]

How would you re-set the locking bar?

[@michelleevans5531]

This was fascinating. I always wondered why we barely hear or read anything about Isle of Man. Thank you! It's sad that not many give it any attention at all like they do about the other British countries. I always wondered about that.

[@celticstar5049]

Very interesting, lovely History.

[@szabib2144]

Wow, amazing

[@MOOSEDOWNUNDER]

Brilliant. What a fascinating fella.

[@robot7759]

Sir, why do you carry a cannonball in your pocket? It's the key to my secret vault. Eccentric. 😸

[@emirtradinginvestmentfirms5230]

Exquisite vault.