Isle of Wight Heritage

Numerous reports were made in Isle of Wight newspapers of sightings of big cats in September 1983. A supposed sighting of what was described as a 'puma' was made by a Leslie Jelley of Yarmouth. The feline was spotted near...

In part 3 of Isle of Wight family surnames, Island Echo examines the final section of the alphabet from Scovell to Wheeler. Scovell Ray Scovell This surname is not particularly common, but there are certainly more Scovells on the Isle...

Rejection of a marriage proposal led to Flight Lieut C.V.A. Bucknall - from Ventnor - to shoot himself on 5th September 1923. At the inquest, witness Thomas Chapman said that 31-year-old Bucknall had conceived an affection for his daughter, Grace...

Lawrence, Thomas; William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne (National Portrait Gallery, London) In the 3rd edition of Isle of Wight MPs, Island Echo examines the career of William Lamb - the 2nd Lord Melbourne - who became the Member of Parliament...

Sea lion trainer Harry Schmitz was severely bitten by 1 of his charges after a performance in Ventnor some 90 years ago. It was on 3rd September 1933 that 2 sea lions were fighting in their tank at feeding time....

Frustrated motorists blockaded the terminal at Yarmouth after having been forced to sleep overnight in their cars due to ferry cancellations on the morning of Sunday 2nd September 1973. Police were called to make the motorists move after they had...

In the 2nd part of our Isle of Wight Surnames series, Island Echo examines long-established Island family names from the middle of the alphabet from Dyer to Rayner. Dyer There are 241 Dyers on the Isle of Wight - the...

Brading Town played their 1st ever Hampshire League game on 1st September 1973 - 50 years ago today. In their inaugural Hampshire Division 4 match against Sway, the Romans went a goal down before a 32nd-minute strike by Tony Grimwade...

Ferries operating between Portsmouth and Southsea and Sandown, Shanklin and Ventnor were ordered to cease operating on 31st August 1939. Just 4 days later, Britain declared war against Nazi Germany. The ferries were needed for the war effort. 3 Southern...

Bricklayers and labourers building the new Isle of Wight County Asylum at Whitecroft went on strike to demand higher pay on 28th August 1894. The bricklayers were asking for 8d an hour (£3.20 in today's values) and the labourers wanted 5d (£2...