Isle of Wight Heritage

Do you have a well known Isle of Wight surname and would like to know more about it? Most Island residents have surnames common enough throughout the rest of England. There are 1,778 Smiths, 1,065 Joneses and 988 Taylors living...

In the 5th edition of Isle of Wight cinemas, Island Echo examines the 3 cinemas that once graced the streets of the South Wight town of Ventnor. All Ventnorians know of the Rex Cinema. A replica of its art deco...

Michael Maybrick The famous singer and composer - and prime Jack the Ripper suspect - Michael Maybrick, who lived and was buried in Ryde, died on 26th August 1913. His death was described in the Portsmouth Evening News as: "More than...

The Isle of Wight was bracing itself for possible disruption as 11,000 Mods arrived on the Island for the August Bank Holiday scooter rally of 1983 - but thankfully things are much calmer nowadays. The previous year, Medina Borough Council...

Over 50 spectators - including members of the Government and the House of Lords - were thrown into Bembridge Harbour when a jetty collapsed during the village's Diamond Jubilee celebrations on 22nd August 1959. The spectators had been watching a...

Sir Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington In the 2nd of our series on Isle of Wight MPs, Island Echo examines the illustrious career of Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, who represented the County Town of Newport in 1807. Arthur...

An Isle of Wight-built seaplane became the 1st to sink a U-boat in the English Channel some 106 years ago on 18th July 1917. The seaplane - flown by Flt Sub-Lieut C S Mossop and Air Mechanic A F. Ingledew...

On the night of 13-14th August 1979 - the 3rd day of the Fastnet Race, which started from Cowes - a disastrous storm struck which claimed the lives of 19 sailors. The tempest that hit the 1979 race would have...

Sir Oswald Mosley A meeting of Oswald Mosley's British Union of Fascists was held in the Western Esplanade Gardens in Ryde on 13th August 1934. Earlier that day, 'the Blackshirts' had paraded around the town and attempted to hand out...

In the 4th edition of Isle of Wight cinemas, Island Echo takes a nostalgic look back at the 4 cinemas that once graced the streets of Cowes and East Cowes. There have been no cinemas in either Cowes and East Cowes...