Isle of Wight Heritage
Island Echo dives into the Isle of Wight's history, exploring all manner of topics from the railways to famous faces, local inventions to natural wonders and plenty more in between. You can expect a new heritage article every Sunday.
RYDE TO VENTNOR RAILWAY LINE OPENED IN 1866 AFTER BLASTING THROUGH ST BONIFACE DOWN
Location of Ventnor Railway Station The Ryde to Ventnor railway line was opened on 10th September 1866 at a cost of upwards of £300,000: over £25 million in today's money. After several failed attempts to build a railway to Ventnor,...
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FIRST PRIME MINISTER OF NEW ZEALAND – HENRY SEWELL – WAS BORN IN NEWPORT IN 1807
On this day in 1807, Henry Sewell - the first ever Prime Minister of New Zealand - was born in Newport. Henry Sewell was the 4th son of Thomas Sewell - a solicitor - and his wife Jane. He was...
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THE GRIM TALE OF MICHAL MOREY – THE MURDEROUS WOODCUTTER
A skull once believed to be that of Michal Morey In the first of our series on Isle of Wight villains, Island Echo looks at the stories and myths surrounding Michal Morey - the murderous woodcutter from Arreton who was...
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THE HISTORY OF VENTNOR ESPLANADE’S MYSTERIOUS GNOMON – AND ITS CONNECTION TO AUSTRALIA
The Gnomon A vertical sundial that has stood on Ventnor Esplanade for 171 years - known as the gnomon - remains mysterious to many, with its connection to the Australian city of Brisbane somewhat unknown. A gnomon (from Ancient Greek γνώμων 'one that knows or...
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THE CURIOUS TALE OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT’S MOST ISOLATED HOUSE: BRICKFIELDS COTTAGE
Location of Brickfields Cottage Do you know the location of the Isle of Wight’s most isolated house, Brickfields Cottage? Brickfields Cottage lies on Elmsworth peninsula, 2 miles from the nearest dwellings on Elmsworth Lane, and was last occupied in 1954....
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‘ORDINARY’ EAST COWES SEMI IS WORLD’S OLDEST SURVIVING SOLID CONCRETE HOUSE
A pair of unassuming semi-detached houses located on York Avenue in East Cowes have been revealed as 2 of the Isle of Wight's most revolutionary properties. The Grade II listed buildings - 201 and 203 York Avenue - were one...
Read moreDetailsST HELENS’ FEMME FATALE SOPHIE DAWES – WHO FOUND FAME AND FORTUNE IN FRANCE – DIED IN 1840
Sophie Dawes (Waxworks museum) Impoverished St Helens fisherman's daughter Sophie Dawes - who became the mistress of wealthy French aristocrat Duc de Bourbon and inherited a considerable fortune - passed away on this day in 1840. The life of this...
Read moreDetailsVICTORIAN ROGUE JABEZ BALFOUR WHO BUILT THE RAILWAY TO BEMBRIDGE
Jabez Balfour Island Echo examines the colourful career of Jabez Spencer Balfour, whose Liberator company enclosed Brading Haven before he fled to Argentina and was imprisoned in Parkhurst for a multi-million pound fraud. Did you know that the man who...
Read moreDetailsTHE FOUR ANCIENT INNS OF THE HISTORIC TOWN AT THE MOUTH OF THE YAR
Island Echo examines the 4 current licensed premises in Yarmouth - the settlement with the highest density of pubs per person in the whole of the Isle of Wight. The population of Yarmouth (according to the 2011 census) is just...
Read moreDetailsMEW LANGTON BREWERY – WHO SOME HAVE CLAIMED PRODUCED WORLD’S FIRST CANNED BEER
Mew Langton - probably the Isle of Wight's most famous brewery - had 144 pubs dotted around the Isle of Wight at its zenith, around 1 for every 1,000 inhabitants. It has even been claimed that Mew Langton produced the...
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