Various - Pictures in Colour of the Isle of Wight
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Various >> Pictures in Colour of the Isle of Wight
[Illustration: _Totland Bay._]
TOTLAND BAY.--This charming resort has sprung into prominence and
grown very fast during the last few years. Many of the houses are
very picturesque and beautiful for situation, most of them with
red-tiled roofs, which when toned a little more by time will be
very beautiful among the trees. There is a pier, and during summer
a regular service of boats from Lymington, as well as excursion
traffic. The beach is steep and so you can bathe at any state of
the tide. A reading-room on the shore is much patronised. The Green
Cliff Walk is very delightful, and as the channel here is narrow
there is a never-failing interest in the ships that pass in and out
quite near. The front lacks shade in the hottest days of summer.
It has great interest for the geological student, being close to
Headon Hill and Alum Bay.
[Illustration: _Sandown, looking West._]
SANDOWN, LOOKING WEST.--Sandown is celebrated for its fine stretch
of sands which are easy of access, and forms an extensive pleasure
ground for the children. There is also a fine esplanade for promenading,
which in the season is well patronised. In this view the grounds
of Ferncliff can be seen behind the Arcade Bazaar, and there is a
cliff path to Shanklin on the top. The picturesque fishing village
lies under the cliff, slightly to the west. Sandown Railway Station
is a junction with the Isle of Wight and I.W. Central Railway.
Near the station is the celebrated Secondary School of the Isle
of Wight Education Authority.
[Illustration: _Tennyson's Avenue, Freshwater._]
TENNYSON'S AVENUE, FRESHWATER.--Leading from the main road, near
Stark's Hotel, is a lane giving access to the Downs and leading
to the Avenue, across which is a small wooden bridge connecting
Lord Tennyson's grounds. A quiet, secluded spot yet visited by
crowds of admirers of the late Laureate. Tennyson loved retirement,
and in scenes like these, surrounded with the loveliness of Nature,
the breathings of his genius found full and free expression. The
lane may be pursued under the bridge past the farm into the Alum
Bay Road.
[Illustration: _Freshwater Bay._]
FRESHWATER BAY.--To those who desire to escape from the noise and
traffic of the city, Freshwater Bay affords a delightful retreat.
During the bright days of summer the sea breaks in gentle murmur
on the sand and shingle of the beach, but in winter when lashed
by S.W. Gales "it tumbles a billow on chalk and sand." The roar
of the ocean can be heard for miles inland. The esplanade shown in
the picture has been destroyed by the breakers. Temporary repairs
have been effected, but a fierce controversy is still raging as
to the ultimate solution of the question, how to prevent further
encroachment, and the L.G.B. has been appealed to for help.
[Illustration: _Farringford, Freshwater, Lord Tennyson's Residence._]
FARRINGFORD, FRESHWATER, LORD TENNYSON'S RESIDENCE.--The residence
of the late Laureate is in the neighbourhood between freshwater
Gate and Alum Bay, secluded by trees almost to invisibility. The
front is covered with greenery, a fine magnolia growing round and
over the front door. From under the lateral branches of a fine
spreading cedar tree the Poet could look into Freshwater Bay and
yet himself not be seen. The park-like grounds are pleasant to
walk in, and are open to the inspection of visitors on Thursdays
at certain seasons. In his poem of invitation to Rev. F. D. Maurice
in 1854 he well describes it:
"Where far from smoke and noise of town,
I watch the twilight falling brown,
All round a careless order'd garden,
Close to the ridge of a noble down."
[Illustration: _Godshill Church._]
GODSHILL CHURCH.--Built in a striking and conspicuous situation,
Godshill Church is visible from many distant points of the surrounding
country--a good example of Early Perpendicular architecture, a
cruciform structure having two equal aisles of its whole length,
with a fine pinnacled tower and sancte-bell turret in the south
transept gable. The tower has been recently rebuilt, having been
shattered in a thunderstorm in January, 1904, when the clock face was
torn out and thrown out into the churchyard. It contains monuments
to the Worsley family and the tomb of Sir John Leigh; also a fine
painting, of the school of Rubens, of Daniel in the Lions' Den.
There are tea-gardens in the village for the accommodation of the
numerous visitors who throng there from Shanklin, Sandown, and
other places in the vicinity. There is also the old village inn,
the Griffon.
[Illustration: _Little Jane's Cottage, Brading._]
LITTLE JANE'S COTTAGE, BRADING.--This cottage still retains its
original appearance with thatched roof and diamond window-panes,
a real old-fashioned Isle of Wight cottage, many of which are fast
disappearing. The little forecourt and garden are well kept. The
greenery covering the front, of plants of great variety, from the
yellow jessamine to the red fuchsia, with flowers under and around
the windows, combine in completing a picture of great beauty. Here
Jane the young cottager lived when Rev. Legh Richmond was Vicar
of Brading in the early part of last century. Her tombstone is
at the back of Brading Church.
[Illustration: _The Sundial, Brading._]
THE SUNDIAL, BRADING.--When clocks and watches were not common,
a sundial was of great service to the public. This old dial, with
its well-worn steps, is situated in the churchyard at the back of
the Church, close to the footpath leading to the Vicarage. The
view from the churchyard across to Bembridge Down is very pleasing.
[Illustration: _The Pier, Sea View._]
THE PIER, SEA VIEW.--This pretty little watering-place is rapidly
rising into prominence as a fashionable resort. The Pier is an
elegant structure suspended from piles, and affords an easy and
rapid approach from Portsmouth and Southsea by steamboat, and during
the summer there is a regular service of boats, as well as excursion
traffic. There are also many coach and motor excursions from various
parts of the island. Sea View is three miles from Ryde. Many pretty
villas have recently been built to accommodate the increasing number
of visitors.
[Illustration: _View in Ventnor Park._]
VIEW IN VENTNOR PARK.--The acquisition by the town of the site
of the Park was a wise and good thing. The differences of level
afford many advantages: those who like the sea breezes can walk
on the upper promenade green where enchanting views of sea and
land meet the eye at every point. Quiet nooks like that of the
picture can be found in the lower and more sheltered grounds. The
visitor can choose shade or sunshine at command. Alongside of careful
culture of flowers and shrubs, wild nature also asserts itself,
not having been ruthlessly suppressed.
[Illustration: _Monk's Bay, Bonchurch._]
MONK'S BAY, BONCHURCH.--This quiet retreat is at the Ventnor end
of the Landslip and within a short distance of Old Bonchurch. The
two thatched cottages are almost grown in, and the bright red cliff
which forms the prominent feature consists of the topmost beds
of the lower Greensand. The lower beds behind the cottage are of
geological interest from the diversity of colour in the beds. The
sands are white and firm, and there are rocks and pools where children
love to play. Close by is the path leading through the Landslip to
Shanklin.
[Illustration: _The Downs, Ventnor._]
THE DOWNS, VENTNOR.--The elevation of the Downs above Ventnor affords
an opportunity of enjoying most romantic and charming scenery, and
of being refreshed with health-giving breezes. There are paths
leading to Wroxall, also to Shanklin, unfolding a succession of
views it would be difficult to rival. When the golden gorse and
purple heather are in bloom it presents a glorious prospect to
the vision. The footpath leading to the Downs is by the railway
station, or access may be had from near the Cemetery. The prospect
from the slopes of the Down toward the town and sea is very extensive
and impressive.
[Illustration: _The Cascade, Ventnor._]
THE CASCADE, VENTNOR.--It was a happy thought when the town acquired
the triangle which includes the Cascade, the water of which once went
to supply Ventnor Mill. By the planting of creeping plants, of monkey
musk and a number of other beautiful flowers, this neglected corner
has been turned into a garden of loveliness. It is like a little
corner of Switzerland, and all within sight of a busy thoroughfare.
The band plays on the green below to the sound of falling water.
In the heat of summer the very sound of it is refreshing.
[Illustration: _Shanklin Esplanade from Rylstone._]
SHANKLIN ESPLANADE, FROM RYLSTONE.--This favourite view, which shews
nearly the whole of Shanklin Pier, also includes in the distance the
Culver Cliff. Taken from the Garden of Rylstone, overlooking the foot
of the Chine, it forms a most attractive scene. The cliff pathway
on the green to the right, the winding road and broad esplanade,
with the wide expanse of sands, furnish a characteristic view of
the principal features of Shanklin front. The level sands form a
safe and pleasant bathing-ground when covered by the sea. Boating
too is popular, it being within easy reach of beautiful bays in
the direction of Luccombe.
[Illustration: _The Old Church, Bonchurch._]
THE OLD CHURCH, BONCHURCH.--In addition to the beautiful situation
and the essential loveliness of the subject, Old Bonchurch has many
associations of attraction. It is no longer used for services,
except an occasional funeral. In the churchyard John Sterling's
grave and the grave of the Rev. J. Adams, author of the "Shadow
of the Cross," interest a great many visitors, the latter having
a raised horizontal cross, which casts a shadow on the stone when
the sun shines. The old porch is an object of beauty, crowned with
roses and honeysuckle, the red tiled roof relieved with thick masses
of ivy, while over it the tall elm-trees stand, as though to shelter
it from every stormy blast.
