Museums, archives and heritage in Isle of Wight

Wight, Isle of, in the English Channel, and in the county of Hants [until 1890], from which it is separated by Spithead and the Solent; greatest length, E. and W., from Bembridge Point to the Needles, 23 miles; greatest breadth, N. and S., from Cowes to St Catherine’s Point, 13 miles; area, 93,341 acres, population 73,633. From E. to W. the island is divided into two parts by a range of downs, which form excellent sheep walks; the northern part is wooded, and the soil is generally a stiff cold clay, while the southern part has far less timber, and the soil is a fertile sandy loam. From S. to N., again, the island is divided by the river Medina into 2 liberties of nearly equal extent, called respectively East Medina and West Medina, the former comprising 14 and the latter 16 parishes. The Isle of Wight was invaded, A.D. 43, by the Romans, who retained possession of it till 530, when it was reduced by Cedric the Saxon. The Conqueror conferred on William Fitz-Osborne the lordship of the island, which continued to be governed by its independent lords till 1293, when the regalities were purchased by Edward I. Since that time it has been governed by wardens, appointed by the Crown, but the office has now become honorary. Cement is manufactured, and largely exported. The mildness of the climate (especially in the district known as the Undercliff), and the beauty of the scenery, have made the Isle of Wight a great resort of invalids, and a favourite place of residence. Newport is the chief town, Cowes is the principal port, and Ryde and Cowes are important yachting centres. The other places of note are Bembridge, Brading, Fresh-water, Sandown, Shanklin, Ventnor, and Yarmouth. The most interesting antiquities are Carisbrooke Castle and the remains of Quarr Abbey. Osborne is a royal residence.

– John Bartholomew, Gazetteer of the British Isles (1887)

Appuldurcombe House – English Heritage

Isle of Wight PO38 3EW

01983 852484

goo.gl/eejnbz

The shell of Appuldurcombe, once the grandest house on the Isle of Wight and still an important example of English baroque architecture: the 1701 south front has now been restored. It stands in ‘Capability’ Brown-designed grounds.

Bembridge Windmill – National Trust

High Street

Bembridge PO35 5SQ

01983 873945

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/bembridge-windmill

This grade I listed building is the only surviving windmill on the Isle of Wight, and is one of its best known landmarks. Built around 1700, its original machinery is still intact.

Brading Roman Villa

Morton Old Road

Brading PO36 0EN

01983 406223

www.bradingromanvilla.org.uk

Brading Villa is an unusual maritime villa sited at the eastern end of the Isle of Wight.

Carisbrooke Castle – English Heritage

Newport PO30 1XY

01983 522107

www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/carisbrooke-castle

Visit Carisbrooke Castle and enjoy over 800 years of history. The Isle of Wight’s royal castle is remarkably complete, with battlements to march across, a keep to climb and a museum to explore. Discover why it was famous as a royal prison to Charles I; see the room from which he tried to escape – twice.

Carisbrooke Castle Museum

Carisbrooke Castle

Newport PO30 1XY

01983 523112

www.historicimages.co.uk

The museum was founded by Princess Beatrice in 1898 in memory of her husband, Henry, as a museum of Isle of Wight history. It is an independent charitable trust which occupies the former great hall and Governor’s residence at Carisbrooke Castle.

Collections: Material on the history of Carisbrooke Castle, including excavated items, and objects and documents relating to King Charles I’s imprisonment Local and social history material (now restricted to post-1500) Topographical pictures.

Classic Boat Museum, The

The Classic Boat Museum, The Quay, Newport Harbour

Newport PO30 2EF

01983 533493

www.classicboatmuseum.org

This collection of classic boats started in 1976 with the purchase of the river launch Flying Spray., but really began to progress with the arrival of the first racing yacht, the Dragon, Mistress, in 1988. Displays include photographs, films, tools, artefacts, models, books and many other items associated with the history of boating and associated industry in the Solent, over the past century. The museum is spread over two sites – the boat collection can be found in Albany Road and other archives and photographic collections can be seen in the Gallery, on Colombine Road, East Cowes PO32 6AA.

Cowes Maritime Museum

Cowes Library, Beckford Road

Cowes PO31 7SG

01983 293394

The museum has a small exhibition area that introduces the rich maritime history of Cowes. The museum has an off site archive of photographs and plans depicting yachting and the shipbuilding industry in Cowes; please make an appointment to view. The museum is situated within Cowes Library, which also houses a collection of maritime related books.

Dimbola Museum & Galleries

Dimbola Lodge, Terrace Lane

Freshwater Bay PO40 9QE

01983 756814

www.dimbola.co.uk

Dimbola Museum and Galleries is housed within the former home of Julia Margaret Cameron, the noted Victorian portrait photographer. Dimbola is not only where Cameron began and carried out most of her acclaimed work, but was also a centre of Victorian culture.

Dinosaur Isle

Culver Parade

Sandown PO36 8QA

01983 404344

www.dinosaurisle.com

Discover, Experience and Encounter – Dinosaur Isle is the first purpose built dinosaur attraction in the country where a walk back through geological time takes you to the lost world of the dinosaurs a 120 million years ago. Discover the skeletal remains as they are found by fossil hunters, encounter our palaeontologists working on the latest finds, experience the sounds and smells the dinosaurs may have encountered.

Historic Ryde Society

Ryde District Heritage Centre, Royal Victoria Arcade, Union Street

Ryde PO33 2LQ

01983 717435

www.historicrydesociety.co.uk

Ryde District Heritage Centre has been created and is run by Historic Ryde Society volunteers. Its aim is to ‘Give Ryde’s past to the future’.

Isle of Wight Archaeology & Historic Environment Service

61 Clatterford Road

Newport PO30 1NZ

01983 529963

Safeguarding the future of our Island’s past, the Isle of Wight County Archaeology and Historic Environment Service is based in the old infants’ school in Clatterford Road, Carisbrooke.

Isle of Wight Bus & Coach Museum

Newport Quay

Newport PO30 2EF

01983 533352

www.iowbusmuseum.org.uk

The Isle of Wight Bus & Coach Museum was established in 1997 and contains an impressive display of vintage buses and coaches, collected to show the Island’s transport heritage. The buses are housed in a former grain storage warehouse, on Newport Quay. They range from a 1889 tram car and a 1927 Daimler, to more recent vehicles.

Isle of Wight Family History Society

13 Britannia Way

East Cowes PO32 6DG

01983 289 599

www.isle-of-wight-fhs.co.uk

Members include people with island ancestry who live on the UK mainland or elsewhere in the world as well as those who live on the Isle of Wight but whose families came from elsewhere.

Isle of Wight Record Office

26 Hillside

Newport PO30 2EB

01983 823820

The Record Office preserves historical documents relating to the Isle of Wight and makes them available to the public for research. Our material spans the 12th – 21st centuries, and includes records of parish churches, estates, families, businesses, schools and local government.

Isle of Wight Shipwreck Centre & Maritime Museum, The

Arreton Barns Craft Village,

Arreton PO30 3AA

01983 533079

www.iowight.com/shipwrecks

The Shipwreck and Maritime Museum was founded in 1978, and had been an ambition of the owner, Martin Woodward, since he first started diving on shipwrecks in the 1960s. Martin, a professional diver by trade, has amassed a huge collection of artefacts personally recovered by him from under the sea, and he is still actively diving on wrecks and archaeological projects worldwide.

Isle of Wight Steam Railway

The Railway Station, Havenstreet

Ryde PO33 4DS

01983 882204

www.iwsteamrailway.co.uk

For the family and casual visitor, we offer a unique and exciting day out, as you step back to a bygone era when steam power was the order of the day. We are one of Britain’s Heritage Railways and a registered educational charity, but we’re also much more besides.

Museum of Island History

The Guildhall, High Street

Newport PO30 1TY

01983 823366

www.iow.gov.uk/council/departments/museums

A museum presenting the story of the Isle of Wight from the time of the dinosaurs to the present day. Discover the island through interactive displays.

Needles Old Battery & New Battery, The – National Trust

West High Down

Alum Bay PO39 0JH

01983 754772

The Old Battery, built in 1862 following the threat of a French invasion, is a spectacularly sited fort perched on the extreme westerly edge of the Island. It contains exhibitions about its involvement in both World Wars, plus two original gun barrels displayed in the parade ground.

Newport Roman Villa

Cypress Road

Newport PO30 1HA

01983 529720

Amongst the houses of suburban Newports stands a Roman villa. Visitors can see the extensive remains of hot and cold baths amidst reconstructed rooms.

Newtown Old Town Hall – National Trust

Newtown Old Town Hall

Newtown PO30 4AT

01983 531785

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/newtown-old-town-hall

17th-century town hall with a fascinating history. The small, now tranquil, village of Newtown once sent two members to Parliament and the Town Hall was the setting for often turbulent elections.

Osborne House – English Heritage

Osborne House, York Avenue,

East Cowes PO32 6JX

01983 200022

www.english-heritage.org.uk/osborne

Osborne, Queen Victoria’s family home, is one of the most popular tourist attractions on the Isle of Wight. After first visiting Osborne, England’s longest-reigning monarch wrote: ‘It is impossible to imagine a prettier spot’. Visit Victoria and Albert’s private apartments, their bathing beach and children’s play-cottage for an intimate glimpse of royal family life.

Sunken Secrets: Shipwrecks & Submerged Settlements

Fort Victoria

Nr Yarmouth PO41 ORR

01983 761214

www.sunkensecrets.hwtma.org.uk

Come to Sunken Secrets: Shipwrecks and Submerged Settlements at Fort Victoria to learn about our fascinating local maritime heritage. Hear about the unfortunate ships that have been claimed by the treacherous seas around the Island. Learn about the work of maritime archaeologists and the Lost Land that has been discovered beneath the Solent.

Ventnor Heritage Museum

11 Spring Hill

Ventnor PO38 1PE

01983 855407

www.ventnorheritage.org.uk

In addition to the items on view in the Exhibition Hall, the museum houses an extensive archive of many thousands of items relating to Ventnor and the surrounding area.

Yarmouth Castle – English Heritage

Quay Street

Yarmouth PO41 0PB

01983 760678

www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/yarmouth-castle

This last and most sophisticated addition to Henry VIII’s coastal defences was completed after his death in 1547, with the first new-style ‘arrowhead’ artillery bastion built in England. Displays inside the castle include atmospheric recreations of how the rooms were used in the 16th century, and an exhibition about the many wrecks which occurred in the treacherous stretch of sea which the castle overlooks.