Isle of Wight Heritage

Ventnor’s traditional Anglo-Catholic Church of St. Alban, known as the late Poet Laureate Sir John Betjeman’s 'favourite Island church', celebrates its centenary this month. Founded in September 1889 under the Curate-in-Charge of the Parish of Godshill Rev. Richard Ussher, the...

The 1st scheduled train chugged its way from Cowes to Newport on this day some 161 years ago. On 14th June 1862, a Precursor locomotive - hauling 3 laurel and bunting bedecked carriages - made the 1st ever scheduled railway...

In the 3rd edition of Isle of Wight pubs, we examine the varied history of some of the drinking establishments of Cowes. Today, Cowes is best known as an up-market sailing venue. In the 19th century, the reputed health-giving benefits...

The SR-N1 left the Columbine Works in East Cowes for a 20-minute flight across the Solent 64 years ago today - on 11th June 1959. The then-revolutionary craft was described in contemporary press reports as: "shaped like a doughnut and...

An inquest was held at the Gem Inn in Ryde on 8th June 1872 touching on the extraordinary case of the sudden death of a Captain Stellard, aged 72. The previous October, Stellard had married a 24-year-old woman - 48...

Today marks the 90th anniversary of the near destruction of Ryde Town Hall in a calamitous fire. Fire broke out at Ryde Town Hall at around 13:00 on 6th June 1933, when the sun's rays are thought to have overheated...

In the 3rd part of the Isle of Wight Place Names series, Island Echo takes a further look at where the names of our many villages come from. Today, we'll look at the villages from the 2nd half of the...

German aircraft wreaked havoc across the South Wight village of Niton on this day some 80 years ago. The Undercliff Hotel, St Catherine's Lighthouse (machinery room) and a private house all took direct hits, with their lethal cargos just missing...

Charles I made his 2nd escape attempt from Carisbrooke Castle on 29th May 1648 - 375 years ago today. King Charles I arrived on the Isle of Wight in 1647 having escaped from house arrest in Hampton Court. He had...

This bank holiday Monday, Island Echo takes a brief look at the often neglected culinary traditions of the Isle of Wight. Did you know that some claim the doughnut was invented on the Isle of Wight? Or that the local...