Isle of Wight Heritage

2 Dutch treasure ships - the Campen and the Vliegende Draek - were lost in a storm off the Needles on 23rd October 1627. The 2 luckless ships had been part of the Dutch East India Company's autumn convoy that...

Did you know that JS White's - best known for shipbuilding - had an Aviation Department which produced 219 planes during World War I, mostly designed by Howard T Wright? The main claim to fame for these aircraft was the...

We take a look back at Isle of Wight news from previous decades for the week ending 21st October, including a giant octopus found in the River Medina 100 years ago. 30 years ago (1993) PENSIONER BURIED IN BACK GARDEN...

A medieval font believed to be more than 800 years old has been discovered during ongoing work to redevelop St Thomas’ Church in Ryde into a youth centre. The original font from the 1829 church survives and will be carefully...

In the 2nd edition of Isle of Wight forts, Island Echo examines The Needles Batteries - the Isle of Wight's westernmost fortified outpost. The Needles Batteries have 2 main claims to fame. In 1913, the 1st British anti-aircraft gun was...

A review of the news from past decades for the week ending 14th October from 30, 40, 60, 70, 90, 100 and 120 years ago. 30 years ago (1993) RADIO BUFF WINS NATIONAL AWARD 15-year-old Tim Munn from Ventnor won...

The Isle of Wight's county town was shaken by a massive explosion when the local gas works blew up at 04:15 on the morning of 13th October 1953. Around 200 cubic feet of gas in a holder caught fire, leading...

Vice Admiral Sir Thomas Hopsonn - otherwise known as 'Lord Snip' - was born in Shalfleet and died on 12th October 1717. He is famous for having risen from very humble origins to the position of Vice Admiral. He is...

2 prison guards were shot by the 8-year-old son of the Governor of Parkhurst Convict Prison, Major Noot, in October 1879. The accident had happened at around noon when the convicts had been marched in from various workshops and placed in...

Newspapers throughout the United Kingdom reported on the rescue of 19 sailors from the American ship Bainbridge at Atherfield on 8th October 1832. This date is important in the history of lifesaving at sea as this was the 1st time...