A new feature could be installed along East Cowes seafront to mark a lesser-known historical figure who played a big role in the town. An archway is proposed at the entrance to Bell’s Landing on East Cowes Esplanade to raise the profile of Robert Bell, who once owned Norris Castle and a very large part of the town. The Isle of Wight Council now owns the landing but said Mr Bell’s significance to the town is not well known or celebrated in the town so is seeking permission to install the archway. It could be made of galvanised steel and painted black to match existing archways across the river in Cowes, at the Royal Yacht Squadron and Trinity pontoons. The archway would also match the railings at the nearby Victoria Barracks. Mr Bell, a 19th-century newspaper tycoon who was also a member of the Royal Yacht Squadron, owned much of East Cowes, including the space along the Esplanade and built the mile-long seawall. He also gave part of his land away — which is now Albany Green — with the proviso that nothing is built on it.S The tidal landing stage — now used as a public launch for kayaks and canoes — is also thought to be where a telephone line came into the Island so Alexander Graham Bell could demonstrate the telephone to Queen Victoria. 
In January 1878, the 1st long-distance calls were made from Osborne House to London, Cowes and Southampton. The archway will go over the current opening to Bell’s Landing in the seawall, near the former public toilets and Albany Green, to improve and emphasise the landing point, the council says. A solar light could be put on top of the archway for night-time use. You can view the plans, 23/01769/FUL, on the Isle of Wight Council’s planning register. Comments can be submitted until 8th December. The area is part of the levelling up bid which has seen buildings, businesses and public space improved under £5.8 million from government to become a marine hub. The archway could be a further improvement to the area, the council has said.
BRAND NEW LANDMARK COULD SEE ROBERT BELL RECOGNISED IN EAST COWES
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Hang on, this is a council bleating it has no money and having to draw several million quid down from it’s reserves to plug it’s financial black hole and it now wants to spend public money to build an arch to commemorate a wealthy landowner from the past that no one remembers or cares about. perhaps the council should stick a blue plaque up if he is that important and spend the money for the arch on services people need. If the people of East Cowes want a grand commemorative arch, do it the old fashioned way and raise the money and pay for it themselves.
Ex-Mason ??
I trust that it is not intended for the landing to be made inaccessible by having the gates locked. Why would they be included in the illustration if not? Money would be better spent on clearing the landslip that has prevented access to Old Castle Point for years.
Bell’s Life is now best known as a racing paper but it began life as an anti-establishment general newspaper aimed at the working class. From around 1830, it gave increasing coverage to racing and this soon comprised more than a third of the paper. For 30 years, it remained the principal source of racing news while its general news with its acid comment, full coverage of scandal and cartoons provided an entertaining picture of Victorian Britain. Bell’s problem was that it was aimed at both the literate poor and the general sporting public who fall into all classes, and this led to its demise.
Repair the wall before bulding a gate. The pointing is in a terrible state and the wall will collapse with further neglect. But really, what a ridiculous waste of money. No one remembers Bell. He ran a horse racing newspaper and got fairly rich. He was in the yacht club and that is where this silly idea has come from. Sorry, but the plebs don’t want memorials to rich toffs.