WISHING SEAT ROCK FORMATION SURVIVES BONCHURCH LANDSLIDE

The Wishing Seat at Bonchurch – feared to have been lost by last week’s devastating landslide – has survived unscathed. Photographs that have emerged online reveal that the stone structure remains intact, despite so much of the land around it having dramatically collapsed. It was on the evening of Sunday 10th December that a large section of The Landslip at Bonchurch gave way, completely changing the landscape forever. Homes were evacuated and the area was sealed off in the interest of safety. Despite warnings to stay away from the area, due to the risk of further landslides, keen explorers have been able to locate The Wishing Seat. The rock formation – also known as the Poet’s Seat and Lover’s Seat – has been a tourist attraction since Victorian times. Many a photograph has been taken on the rock for more than 100 years, and once the land has settled no doubt many more will be snapped – provided that more land doesn’t slip away over the coming months. The path further on has been lost. The Isle of Wight Council has this morning (Monday) reiterated its warning to stay away from the Bonchurch Landslide area. The area is still unstable and therefore dangerous. Islanders are being told not to go to the site of the landslide. Footpaths and rights of way remain closed. Last week the Isle of Wight Council said that it believed Devil’s Chimney had been lost. Although it has not been possible to physically check the area, due to safety reasons, an assessment of aerial footage and photographs has given an indication that the ‘chimney’ itself, the path connecting the chimney to the coastal path and the section of coastal path beneath the slip, have all been lost. The Isle of Wight Council says that a full inspection will take place in the future, but only when safe to do so. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JhDn4ZrB9M