Isle of Wight Local Customs

  Carisbrooke Castle around 1700
by budapest8
 
  • Carisbrooke Castle around 1700
      Carisbrooke Castle around 1700
    by budapest8
  • Driving on the Military Road towards Freshwater
      Driving on the Military Road towards...
    by budapest8
  • Freshwater street
      Freshwater street
    by budapest8
  • Freshwater Bay 2006
      Freshwater Bay 2006
    by budapest8
  • Freshwater Bay beach 2006
      Freshwater Bay beach 2006
    by budapest8
 

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Origin of pub signs

by LouiseTopp

Fighting Cocks:Years ago lots of houses were bases for the fashionable, though cruel sport of cockfighting: & the name Fighting Cocks was routine. Totally rebuilt today, this inn lies amid Sandown & Newport. This is the lushest valley of the Isle of Wight - the spirit of the market gardening trade - & the inn is quieter than its name.The White HorseThe Wight Horse was a fecundity sect of the Belgae - a tribe who engaged much of S.E. England between 50 BC & 50 AD. It is one of the first names given to public houses & this is one of the oldest pubs on the island. A charming village inn - a thatched roof, a beautiful garden - it has lots of old-world charm.Royal StandardOften established in the days when regiments going to war carried standards to bring people round together, this exacting name dates back to the Crusades.Horse & GroomA very fashionable local pub in the heart of a farming...

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Rock - what is it?

by Spincat

When I think about a 'stick of rock' I think about a very old-fashioned english sea-side scene: grey skies, donkey rides, naughty postcards, bucket and spade ... rainy days on the English beach. Rock is, traditionally, a stick of hard 'candy' coloured brightly on the outside, with a white centre. It often has writing through ihe centre of the stick: a message with a souvenir function, such as "welcome to The Isle of Wight" . Nowadays, it comes in all shapes and sizes: even horrid shapes, like rock dentures! Rock is made from sugar and glucose, isoften coloured a particularly livid pink, and is pulled into shape when nearly cool. Flavour is added - frequently mint. I am not sure how the letters 'get into it'!I haven't seen rock in other countries (probably, other countries are too sensible!), though I have seen an American 'barber's pole' stick which I think forms part of a Christmas...

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Isle of Wight History timeline

by budapest8

1650e---Charles I's daughter, Elizabeth, dies at Carisbrooke Castle aged 14 1650x__Flintlock gun developed 1655e---Sir John Oglander dies 1661e__Monarchy restored: Charles II 1664e---Castle Inn Newport built 1665e---Charles II visits to confer knighthood on Edward Worsley 1666e__Great Fire of London1673e---Earliest record of an Island postmaster 1675e---Charles II forced ashore at Puckaster Cove in rough seas 1680e---Newport's first municipal library opened 1695c__Press freedom established 1696e---Island 'flint' glassworks recorded - whereabouts unknown 1697e---Calbourne Mill purchased by John Dillington of Knighton 1699e---Present Newtown town hall built 1700c---Cowes shipbuilding yards established 1700c---Bembridge windmill in operation 1703e---Violent storms demolish trees and houses 1710e---Appuldurcombe House built by Robert Worsley 1711c---Paper mill operating at Clatterford ford...

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Isle of Wight History timeline

by budapest8

1352c---The Black Death diminishes population and leaves deserted villages 1362e__English becomes the country's official language 1375e---Crown threatens to take land from gentry fleeing French invasion 1377e---French plunder northern towns and lay siege to Carisbrooke Castle 1377e---Population 4,733 1378e---Roud recorded as having seventy two taxpayers 1379e__Poll Tax raised to fund wars with France 1379e---Newport still uninhabited following destruction by French 1381e__Peasants' Revolt under Wat Tyler 1381e---French incursion reaches Newport 1395e---Ninety clothmakers recorded: IW a major 'Kersey' centre 1402e---French land 1700 men and rout some villages 1404e---French raiding party claims locals fled to the hills 1413c---First mention of 'Cows' (sandbanks), origin of Cowes 1415e__Henry V defeats French at Battle of Agincourt 1418c---St Helens Priory (alien) lands given to Eton...

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Isle of Wight History timeline

by budapest8

1867e---Golden Hill Fort built 1868e---Broadlands lace factory closes 1869e---Parkhurst becomes general prison for male offenders 1872e---Ventnor pier built 1875c---American grain imports lower prices and bankrupt many farms 1875c---Typically, parish doctor walks from Newport to treat Porchfield patients 1876e---Yarmouth pier built 1877e__Alexander Graham Bell demonstrates his telephone invention 1878e---Sandown pier built 1879e---Railway between Sandown and Newport crosses the Medina 1880c__Electric light bulb invented 1880c---Smallpox vaccination stations now established throughout IW 1880e---Ryde canoe lake built 1880e---Railway takes trains to Ryde Pier Head 1881e---Seaview pier built 1882e---Railway linking Bembridge and Brading over completed embankment 1884e---IW County Press published - first Island wide newspaper 1884e---'White' family shipbuilding unifies into one company under...

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Isle of Wight History timeline

by budapest8

1771e__Arkwright produces first spinning mill 1771e---Population 18,700 1774e---Incorporation for the Poor established in the 'House of Industry' 1777e---Customs' William Arnold starts 23 year campaign against smuggling 1778c---Serious smallpox develops: beginning years of outbreaks 1780e---Upper and lower Ryde hamlets joined by Union St 1781e__The first commercial rotative steam engine to drive machinery 1781e---Richard Worsley publishes his 'History of the Isle of Wight' 1781e---John Wesley opens one of first IW Methodist chapels at Newport 1785x---Alum Bay white sand a major source for English and Irish glass Industries 1786e---Newport paving act passed: raised pavements 1786e---First Needles lighthouse built, on upper cliffs 1789c__French Revolution puts the wind up the English ruling classes 1790c---Island breed of pig developed 1790c---Wool exports require 40,000 sheep shorn per...

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Isle of Wight History timeline

by budapest8

1584e---"The majority of pirates in this country are between IW and Poole" 1585c---Newport Harbour beginning major development 1586c---Two shipwrecked catholic priests executed for their faith1588e__Drake battles with the Spanish Armada 1588e---A suggestion of Island shipbuilding 1590x__Glass windows appearing in domestic houses 1602e---Major refortification of Carisbrooke Castle in face of Spanish threat 1603c---Crown sales of Manors increases 'gentry' population 1607c---Quarr Abbey now in ruins 1607e---"The commodities of this place are but corne and wooll" 1607e---James I hunting in Parkhurst Forest 1609e---Sir Thomas Fleming acquires most of the ex Quarr Abbey estates 1611e---John Speed's map of IW published: Newport has 476 buildings 1613e---Newport regulates chimney height to limit fires 1620c---Post travelling by 'foot' between IW and London 1620c---Earliest record of Cowes...

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Isle of Wight History timeline

by budapest8

1528e---Accusations of witchcraft against two Newport residents 1531e__Reformation: Henry VIII recognised as Head of Church of England 1535c---Henry VIII instructs major fortification of Island coastline 1536e---Quarr Abbey dissolved 1537c---Defensive blockhouse forts built on Medina (one now RY squadron) 1538e---Henry VIII entertained by Richard Worsley at Appuldurcombe 1544e---John Cheke of Mottistone appointed tutor to Prince Edward 1545e---Mary Rose founders 1545e---French landings at Sandown, St Helens and Bonchurch 1545e---Yarmouth Castle built 1546c---IW Captain Worsley orders every parish to have a gun 1548e---IW boasts "no hooded priests; no lawyers; no wolves and no foxes" 1550x__Linen industry becoming established 1550x---Brewing and leather production main town industries 1558e__Queen Elizabeth I 1559e---Typical vacant dwellings: 25% at Arreton and 19% at St Helens...

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Isle of Wight History timeline

by budapest8

1220c---Rabbits introduced 1238e---Charter granted to Newtown by Bishop of Winchester 1250c---Quarr Abbey establish salt water fish ponds on the Medina 1256e---Charter for new settlement at Swainston 1262e---Isobella de Fortibus is Lady of IW 1269e---Typically, 166 cheeses and 16 stone of butter from a manor's summer dairy 1272e---Barton oratory built by rectors of Godshill and Shalfleet 1272e---Earliest record of 'East Shamlord', now East Cowes district 1280e---Isobella de Fortibus claims all wrecks of the sea 1282c---Isobella de Fortibus and Quarr Abbey in armed dispute over tithes 1285e---Edward I staying at Swainstone, with a view to acquisition 1293e---Isobella de Fortibus dies and Crown acquires IW 1294c---Defences and infrastructure improved at Crown's behest 1296e---Carisbrooke Castle reverts from IW Lords 'seat' to military centre 1296e---100 crossbow men imported to help defend...

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Isle of Wight History timeline

by budapest8

Pages from Isle of Wight History Centre0885e---First recorded settlement at Arreton - Eaderingtune 0889c__Vikings and Irish Danes raiding south west coast 0897e---King Alfred's forces battle with Viking ships off Brading Haven 0900c__England divided into shires, with county courts to safeguard civil rights 1001c---Danish raids on West Wight - leader 'Swein' for Swainston 1001e---Danes raid Newtown shore settlement 1013e---King Elthered 'The Unready' spends Christmas on the Island 1052e---Flanders fleet raids and plunders Island coast. 1066e__The Norman Conquest 1066e---William Fitz Osbern first Lord of the Island 1068c---Six churches granted to the Abbey of Lyre 1070c---St Boniface Old Church Bonchurch built by Normandy monks 1071e---William Fitz Osbern killed at battle of Cassel 1082e---William the Conqueror visits Carisbrooke Castle 1086e---Domesday Book records 24 watermills, 10...

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Local traditions and culture in Isle of Wight

Top 3 Hotels in Isle of Wight

The Channel View Hotel  Shanklin

 1 Review and 68 Opinions  We have just returned from a most excellent stay in this hotel, excellent in ALL respects. The... 

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Channel View Hotel  Sandown

 1 Review and 67 Opinions  Unfortunately I received a very nasty bout of food poisoning whilst staying at this hotel. I missed... 

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Lakeside Park Hotel  Ryde

 135 Opinions

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200 Hotels in Isle of Wight
 
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Reviews and photos of Isle of Wight attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Isle of Wight sightseeing.

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Local Customs: Cities in Isle of Wight
  1. Ryde Local Customs
  2. Freshwater Local Customs
  3. Cowes Local Customs

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Questions and Answers

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Q:  Hi All Has anyone ever cycled round the Isle of Wight? I've found a few routes and wondered if anyone had any suggestions. We... 

puerto_lover profile photo

A: IOW is a brilliant place to explore and especially out of school holiday season. I don't think it matters which way round you go as it is a circle and sooner or later you... 

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