In the 1st of our new series on former Isle of Wight tourist attractions, Island Echo examines the famous Osborn-Smith Wax Museum at Brading.
The Wax Museum – situated in what is believed to be the oldest house on the Isle of Wight – has now been closed for almost 15 years. It is very fondly remembered by tourists and Island residents alike.
The story of the Wax Museum begins shortly after World War II when Graham Osborn-Smith purchased the Elizabeth cottages (as they were then known) from his father with the intention of renovating them and selling them at a profit. However, a preservation order in 1951, followed by a Closure Order as being unfit for human habitation in 1956, made his project nigh on impossible.
Graham – an amateur archaeologist – then started taking up the floorboards and tearing down old walls and partitions in search of he knew not what. Graham’s work attracted the attention of the then Lord Mottistone – an architect.
They discovered that Elizabeth cottages were a hitherto undiscovered architectural gem dating back to the early Tudor period. It was a genuine timber-framed building with walls made from a combination of cow dung and hazel.
The house had a history dating back over 1,000 years. Beneath the floorboards, there were flagstones. Under the flagstones, they found 16th century coins and further items from this period. Delving deeper, they discovered an Anglo-Saxon fireplace and pottery left by the Romans.
Searching through deeds and documents, it was found that the present structure had been erected around 1499. It was first a Guild House, then a brew house and after this a coaching inn called The Crown, which served seafarers from Brading Haven. Brading had been a port until the late 19th century.
The most famous former occupant of the building – while it was a brew house – was German Richards, Vice-Admiral of the Isle of Wight. The British fleet had frequently lain at anchor at Brading Haven, and he had made his fortune supplying the sailors with beer.
In 1964, the grim discovery of human remains of considerable antiquity was made by workmen. The bones were believed to have been those of a hapless Frenchman: Louis de Rochefort. His sad tale has been told in the following Island Echo article. His ghost is said to still haunt the building.
The Wax Museum opened its doors in July 1965. Its exhibits included a range of the historical, the horrific and the titillating. Historic figures to be found in the museum included wax figures of Henry VIII, Queen Victoria, Lord Mountbatten and George Bernard Shaw.
The ones most likely to be remembered by Islanders are the sad sight of little Newport sweep Valentine Gray peering up a chimney, and the voluptuous figure of fisherman’s daughter Sophie Dawes, who found fame and fortune as a courtesan in Paris.
There was much in the Chamber of Horrors to terrify visitors. These included the Instruments of Torture from the Royal Castle of Nuremberg. There were severed heads, man traps, the spiked cradle, the whipping wheel, the infamous iron spider and more.
The most memorable ‘horrific’ waxwork exhibit was that of the corpse of a young lady emerging from a coffin while a skeleton played Toccata and Fugue in D Minor by JS Bach on the organ.
The best remembered ‘salacious’ exhibit was that of the skivvy in the attic. There was also an Animal World exhibition connected with the Wax Museum. As well as the usual exhibits of baboons and lions, there was also Professor Copperthwaite’s fabulous Exhibition of weird and freaky mutations. These included a 2-headed lamb.
The Isle of Wight Wax Museum was sold by the Osborn-Smith family and became Brading the Experience. In 2001 – when the attraction was acquired – visitor numbers were over 60,000 a year. However, by 2010, anticipated visitor numbers had fallen to around 25,000. The attraction had made severe financial losses over the last 4 years of its operation.
It closed for the last time on 3rd January 2010. What became of the exhibits? Those from animal world went up for auction in Dorchester in 2010. The bizarre collection of taxidermy raised an estimated £100,000.
Some wax figures from the Chamber of Horrors have been put on display at the Castle Inn in Sandown.
In 2018, further exhibits returned for an exhibition at a micro museum in Rectory Mansion – site of the former wax museum, in part curated by Island Echo’s editor, Darren Toogood.
As to the wax museum building itself, it has recently been sold at auction for £185,000. The building will be used as business/retail units, with the upper 2 floors converted for residential use.
Did you go to the Isle of Wight Wax Museum as a child? What was your favourite (or most terrifying) exhibit? Let us know in the comments…
In the next edition of Former Isle of Wight Tourist Attractions, we shall reminisce about a further much loved former attraction no longer with us: Seaview Wildlife Encounter.
I worked summer seasons at the Wax Museum and Animal World, great memories.
An excellent article. Thanks for rekindling some happy memories of this place.
I was fascinated by the tiny Shrunken head exhibit. It had a large magnifying glass as being small, needed to show the intriguing detail.
Can’t believe it would ever had not been profitable as with wet, cold Summers and ever more visitors with bored kids, assumed it a gold mine.
At one period the cashier taking the money did so with a hideous pus blistered hand making us drop the change.
Sad that cash, frightening customers and no lcd screens now seem almost distant memories.
Likely more attractions gone than current as building is where money is made now.
PS Warren Whitmore, did you know that back in the late 50’s or maybe early 60’s there was a pathetic attempt by someone to make a Zoo down Apply Lane Ryde, opposite the Nunnery and above where the cafe is.
They opted for a shit pump and parking
It was a sad day when this attraction closed down, it was one of the islands best.
We first visited in 1968 and, when Dad paid, the lady in the kiosk put out a large horrific hand to cover the cash and pull it towards her!! Scared the life out of me and i would never pay followingthat.
Lots of familyholidays on the Islad in the 1970s. These always included a visit to Osborn-Smith’s Waxworks. Loved it.
I used to visit the Wax Museum frequently witb my grandmother when she came to take me out fur the day as I was a pupil at Upper Chine school in Shanklin. I was between the ages of 10 and 17.
I’ll never forget the curious horror of seeing the coffin slowly creak open to the tune of the Toccata and the hand come out! Also the shrunken head and instruments of torture on display..My grandmother would always buy me a ring on the gift shop!
I was very ssd when I took my own children on holiday there many years later and found the museum had closed. It was an icon. Of the Isle of Wight.
I remember being taken there as a young kid. Gorey exhibits in a wonderfully atmospheric old building. Such a shame it closed down. 50 years on I walked into the Castle pub in Sandown during Halloween and it all came flooding back.
I’m the proud owner of the wooden skeleton sign that hung above the skeleton in the courtyard. So many amazing memories.
No mention of their bright yellow Barris/Bat mobile replica they used to drive around to promote it?
Such a shame when it closed, loved it as a kid.
I managed the cafe there in 1970 for Lyons Maid, when it was hot the wax figures started to melt so out came the fans to keep them cool
It was a wonderful attraction, especially for a child. I was taken there on a school trip from the mainland in the 70s and, along with everyone else including the teachers, nearly jumped out of my skin when a stuffed owl unexpectedly popped out of a trap door in the ceiling and hooted loudly. I revisited several times as an adult. Such a shame it closed.
Does anyone else remember the Batmobile driving around the Island with the advert for the Wax Museum on it? Loved seeing that!
Does anyone remember the skeleton playing the organ used to.scare the hell oit of me and.also the figure in the dungeons that looked like Frakie Howard lol
visited every year when on holiday,loved it,was the highlight of my holiday,so sad my grandkids wont see the fun it brought x
I used to work for Robin Hill and when wax works closed I had to go down there and get alot of the torture figures and take them back to Robin Hill. Never did find out what they was going to do with them. Prob still in the carpenters workshop
I remember visiting the waxworks as a Bishop Lovett Middle School pupil circa ’74. The class went with Mr. Ellis, the History teacher. I can see his face now, looking white with fear, when I told him about a man standing behind him, wearing ‘old-fashioned medieval clothing’. The rest of the class thought I was bonkers (still do), but I thought the bloke was either a waxwork or a member of staff dressed up in costume.
A similar thing happened at Arreton Manor when I saw a young girl sitting in the upper window. The tour guide went pale, too. Again, I found out later her brother had murdered her so he could gain the heir to riches.
Stefan have you ever visited or had any experiences with the Knighton Gorge site? You seem to be gifted with sixth sense, or, as you say, bonkers!
Did the figures move or simply disappear?
My cousins used to spend a few weeks of the summer with us in Portsmouth from Yorkshire. We’d come over to IoW and stay in a caravan for a week. To be completely honest the wax works traumatised me as a six year old in 1970’s the boy down the chimney, I couldn’t look over the top, I thought he was going to grab me and take me away! I loved Queen Victoria though, if I’m not mistaken didn’t you press a button, she’d tap her foot and wave her fan and say I’m not amused? Oh memories, I’ve just looked out some photos ofvus at Black gang chine too, warm and fuzzy memories of when times were so much more simple.
I really enjoyed wandering around the museum with the kids, Simple pleasures ,probably would not be interesting enough for todays youngsters, sad
I think I must have visited in the 1970s as a child on holiday on the IOW .Just remember the tableux of Louis de Rochfort , it was quite unnerving at the time.Also I remember the the ticket office ladies had a a scary monster hand that they surprised you when
when you collected your tickets
I remember my mum taking me there and the lady or man used to give you your change with a horrible hand, that grabbed you
I was on holiday with my mum & Dad late 60s
Remember pressing the button and the organ started playing and the coffin opened, scary for me as a young kid, but fond memories, went back a few more times when we had more holidays on the island .
When I visited with my wife (I had been before and remembered the pay kiosk) I stood back as my wife paid, suddenly a large hairy hand grabbed hers. She was mortified whilst I and the cashier were in tears of laughter. Despite other visits she never fell for it again. Fond memories
Brading waxworks was such an amazing place.
My grandmother would often take me to visit & my favourite exhibit was the skeleton playing Tocata , while the coffin lid slowly lifted revealing the young girl inside…
It was unique & fascinating at the same time.
Absolutely loved going there! Great memories. The building itself made it more eerie. Chamber of Horrors was my fave. Should never have closed.
My father was born in their in 1924 in an original booklet purchased in the gift shop it showed a list of all previous owners and rectors.
My maiden name was Carley
Remember going there a couple of times as a kid, while on holiday in the early 1970s. Very atmospheric. I remember a man was there with a guide dog, and there was part of the building upstairs the dog would not go. The Louis de Rochefort tableau kept me awake at night for a few weeks. The creaking door, the figure behind, the sound of the wind, with a branch tapping the window. This was when he had the sword, rather than the pistol in later photos. Still remember it vividly. Visited in 2007 with my wife, but the extension and things in it seemed a bit dull and down at heel. Maybe I just got old 🙁