Isle of Wight Heritage

Alexander Dabell (1809-1898) In the second of our series on Isle of Wight Chines, Island Echo examines Blackgang Chine - once a deep gaunt ravine but now little more than a shadow of its former self. 20th and 21st-century coastal...

Early 60s Mods A proposal to include a mods and rockers competition at Ventnor Park during a meeting of Ventnor Carnival Association provoked heated debate in the seaside town. Isle of Wight Mercury reported on 26th June 1964 that this...

Yafford Mill Yafford Mill was a quirky tourist attraction in the heart of rural West Wight - a little south of Shorwell - that closed over 20 years ago back in 2000. As well as the mill equipment - kept...

Of the 20 or so chines on the Isle of Wight, Shanklin is the most famous, historic, dramatic and spectacular. 'Chine' is a local word peculiar to Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. It derives from the Middle English...

An 18-year-old borstal boy was committed for trial at Hampshire Assizes on 14th June 1949 after stealing a plane at Bembridge Aerodrome and flying to Wales in an attempt to escape the Isle of Wight. Brynley Fussell first attempted to...

In the 2nd in our series of former Isle of Wight tourist attractions, Island Echo examines Seaview Wildlife Encounter - more commonly known as Flamingo Park. The family-run business - located off Oakhill Road - was run by Peter and...

Did you know that the Solent is the site of the only colony of seals in the whole of the South East of England? It is only comparatively recently that seals started breeding in the Solent, with the first 2...

In the 1st of our new series on former Isle of Wight tourist attractions, Island Echo examines the famous Osborn-Smith Wax Museum at Brading. The Wax Museum - situated in what is believed to be the oldest house on the...

East Cowes author, Magnus Wheatley, has uncovered one of the last great secrets of the America’s Cup in his new book: 'There is no Second'.  This is the definitive account of the first race around the Isle of Wight on...

In the 2nd edition of Isle of Wight Fauna, Island Echo examines deer, which were once plentiful here but are now only occasional visitors - or do we have some wild deer living among us? Both red deer and roe...