Isle of Wight Heritage

An invasive species of gigantic Japanese seaweed appeared set to engulf the seaside resorts around the Isle of Wight 50 years ago. The weed - sargassum muticum - is capable of growing an inch a day up to a length...

Prince Henry and Princess Beatrice at their wedding Princess Beatrice - the youngest child of Queen Victoria - married the dashing Prince Henry of Battenberg at Whippingham Church on 23rd July 1885. Beatrice was known to the royal family as...

In our 6th and final edition of Isle of Wight pubs, Island Echo examines a few of the once plentiful hostelries of the seaside town of Ventnor. As Ventnor grew in population and popularity over the course of the 19th...

Portrait of a mathematician (possibly Robert Hooke) Robert Hooke - 1 of Britain's greatest scientists, natural philosophers and architects - was born in Freshwater on 18th July 1635. He was the son of an Anglican curate. He grew up in...

In the 2nd edition of Isle of Wight Cinemas, Island Echo examines the 5 cinemas (and 1 cartoon cinema) that once graced the seaside resorts of Sandown, Lake and Shanklin. The Rivoli (Station Avenue, Sandown) This beautiful art deco cinema...

Robert Loraine West Wight residents were astounded to see a biplane emerge from a heavy rainstorm and land on Tennyson Down at around 15:45 on 16th July 1910 - 113 years ago today. This was the 1st ever plane to...

The 1st train departed from Ryde Pier Head bound for Ventnor on 12th July 1880 - 143 years ago today. The steam train disappeared in clouds of smoke into the newly-built tunnel just beyond Ryde Esplanade station then remerging out...

The village of Carisbrooke - which now has just 2 pubs - once had as many as 8. At one time, Carisbrooke was the centre of the temperance movement for the Isle of Wight with many Temperance fetes and parades...

Watson beating wife to death The Reverend John Selby Watson - otherwise known as the Stockwell Murderer - died in Parkhurst Prison on 6th July 1884. The Stockwell murderer was a highly educated man. Watson was a clegyman, author, translator...

50-year-old clerk Richard Shortas Fleming Lackey pleaded guilty to bigamously marrying Ryde woman Lilian Mabel Unwin at Hants Assizes in Winchester on 5th July 1923. The amorous Mr Lackey had form for this particular offence: this was the 2nd time...