Gleanings from Isle of Wight History
By Alan Champion.
Ventnor, Isle of Wight.
2006.
Being further interesting facets of local history
gathered from written sources.
You may wish to read
Champion, Isle of Wight, enthusiast,.
for background and as an introduction to some of the Island stories published in 2000.
This journey through time will be made on a Time Line,
by 'Philo Vectis' in a book called
‘The Isle of Wight Tourist and Companion at Cowes’
published in 1830 by Robert Moir.
Frontispiece.
CHRONOLOGICAL MEMORANDA OF THE MORE REMARKABLE EVENTS WHICH HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN THE ISLE OF WIGHT, FROM ITS FIRST DISCOVERY TO THE PRESENT TIME.
A.M.
Discovery- of the island supposed to have taken place at the
some time with the peopling of England, from Gaul, about 3004.
Phoenicians said to have traded here for Cornish tin, about 3504The Greeks of Marseilles reported to have succeeded them in the traffic, about
3800 .
The Tin trade
A.D.
The Roman standard planted in the Island by Vespasian 43 Vespasian.
Unsupported tradition fixes the first erection of a fortress at
Carisbrooke about the same time 43
Staple of tin removed from the island to London, about 44
Island said to have remained in much peace,
under the Roman government for about 400 years.
Roman
Wight
The Saxon conquest of Britain, made by Cerdic and Henric in 495
Cerdic took Carisbrooke fortress 530
The Island bequeathed by Cerdic to his nephews, Stuff and Withgar and most of
the natives murdered. 534
The Island first subdued and laid waste, by Wulfer, King of Mercia, and then
given
by him as a pious present to Edelwalch King of the South Saxons, his baptismal
sponsor 661
Edelwalch destroyed, and the Island after being ravaged by Caedwalla, a descendent of Cerdic,
was resumed by him as his inheritance 686
Christianity, or at least something bearing
its name, introduced into the Island, under
the sanction of Caedwalla, wino first murdered 900 families of the poor idolatrous
natives, arid then placed the remaining 500
under Bishop Wilfred, who had prevailed
on him to spare them, if they would submit to baptism. 686.
Boucher James
Part of the present Carisbrooke Castle, including the keep built 692
Brading church built 720.
Brading Church.
Island surprised by Danish pirates 787
Danish pirates plundered the Island, but were afterwards overtaken, and punished
by Alfred 897
Repeated attacks of the Danish pirates, from 998 to 1001
Newtown, (or Werrow, a large hamlet near Thorley) burned by the Danes , 1001
Earl Godwin made a descent on the Island , 1052
Carisbrooke Church erected, 1062
Tosti, Godwin son, again attacked the Wight, 1066
Island bestowed by William the Conqueror, on William FitzOsborn, after the
battle of Hastings, in 1066
Norman I.O.W.
Inner area of the present fortress of Carisbrooke Castle built, and the priory of
Carisbrooke, founded by FitzOsborn, about 1068
Roger de Brittenville,* Earl of Hereford, third son of FitzOsborn, succeeded
to lordship of the Island, 1070.
*Britteville or Breteuil in Eure,France
Roger, offended with the King for opposing the marriage of his sister, conspired
with his friends to depose him, but was taken,
tried, and sentenced to perpetual imprisonment, with the forfeiture of his
lands, 1078
He died in prison, after resisting some peaceful overtures from William, 1086
Part of Newchurch church built before the Doomsday survey , which was made 1086.
Newchurch Church
The Lordship of the Island alter this, continued in the crown, until Henry I,
granted it to Richard FitzGilbert (Riparis anglisised to
Redvers de Redvers, or Rivers , a Norman of high descent, 1100.He died in 1107
The lords of the Island allowed their own courts of judicature for the trial of
all other crimes, except treason and murder, about 1120. The priory of St Cross,
in Newport was founded Baldwin de Redvers as a daughter house of the
monastery of Tiron, near Chartres..
St Cross
Quarr Abbey founded by Baldwin de Redvers , afterwards Lord of the Island, 1132 Baldwin succeeded to the lordship, in, 1135 and being a partisan for the Empress Maud, against King Stephen, he, fortified his castle arid the Island for her. They were however taken, and he was obliged to fly the Kingdom with his wife and family, 1135. On the accommodation between Maud and Stephen, Baldwin was restored , and at length died at Quarr and was there buried, 1155.
An alien Priory of Cluniac monks existed at St. Helens, before 1155
Newport Church built, about 1155
Richard 11. de Redvers succeeded to the lordship of the Island, and added to his father's provision for the abbey of Quarrera. he
died, 1162
Baldwin II. de Redvers, succeeded his father;
Richard 111. de Vernon, succeeded him and both dying without issue, the Island devolved to William de Vernon, 1184
William de Vernon, was the second son of
the 1st Earl of Devonshire. He called himself Earl
of the Isle of Wight. William among the other barons, suffered from the extortion of King John, who fearful of his resentment obliged him to deliver his grandson as hostage for his fidelity. King John retired to the island, to mediate revenge after the forced concessions of Magna Carta, 1215
William de Vernon died and was succeeded by his daughter Joan, wife of the famous Robert de Burgh, Earl of Kent, 1216
On her dying without issue, Baldwin III. and after him Baldwin IV. were lords of the Island, the later died about 1240
Yarmouth received its first Charter of franchises from Baldwin V
in the reign of Henry III, about 1250
After the death of Baldwin, 1261 who is said to have died of poison, given him at the table of his kinsman, Peter de Savoy, the succession devolved on Isabella de Fortebus
who lived in great state at Carisbrooke Castle, 1283.
Isabella founded a cell of Benedictine monks at Appuldercombe, but it said not-withstanding her benevolence, to have nobly resisted the encroachment of the monks. From this Countess, Newport received its charter of Franchises.
There was a priory of canons at Barton, now the farm, near Whippingham, in 1284
The Island was sold by Isabella to the crown, for 6000 marks, or four thousand pounds sterling, and the deed signed on her dying bed, in 1293.
Isabella, married William de Fortibus, Earl of Albermarle and surviving him was the Countess of Albermarle and Devon And Lady of the Isle of Wight. did not become Lord of the Island until her mother, Amica, died in1284.
Yarmouth, and Newport, sent members to Parliament, in 1295
Edward I. retained the lordship in his own hands, but appointed wardens to defend the Island, against Philip of France, about 1295
Edward II. gave the custody of the Island to his favourite, Piers Gaveston, 1307
On the remonstrances of the nobility, he took it from him, and gave it to his own son, afterwards Edward III. 1308
Hermitage at Chale, known, by the registry of Winchester Churches, to have been standing in 1312
A small chapel built on St. Catherine's hill, by Walter de Godyton, 1323.
Sir John Oglander says that there were above a hundred churches, chapels, abbeys, priories, nunneries, and oratories in the Island, 1337
The Islanders, who were inclined to leave, from the danger of a French invasion, compelled by Edward III. to remain, on pain of forfeiting their property, about 1340
Only three ports allowed in the Island, and none out licensed boats allowed to land, except those of Sir Bartholomew de Lisle, Robert de Pimeley, and the Abbot of Quarr, 1340
Node Hill, Newport, rendered famous as the burial place of French invaders, who were here slain by an ambuscade placed in defence of Carisbrooke Castle. They were called by the natives ' noddia' or 'noddies' from whence the present name. 1378
The Lordship of the Island granted by Richard II to William Montacute, Earl of Salisbury, 1386
On the death of William in 1397, Thomas Holland, Earl of Kent, and afterwards Duke of Surrey, had a grant of the custody of Carisbrooke Castle, with I s. fees for his life. He was beheaded, 1399.
Edward , Earl of Rutland, and afterwards Duke of York, obtained a grant of the Island. He was degraded by Henry IV. and inconsequently entered into a conspiracy to kill the King at Windsor on the twelfth night, but disclosing the plot, was pardoned and reinstated in his lands. He afterwards obtained leave to lead the van at the battle of Agincourt but 'being a fat man was thrown down, and smothered in the throng' 1415
Philippa, Duchess of York, obtained a grant of the island on his death, 1415.,
French landed for the purpose, as they said, of 'keeping Christmas", but met with sorry reception and were repulsed, 1418
Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, sometimes called the good duke, succeeded to the lordship 1439
Henry de Beauchamp, Duke of Warwick, crowned King of the Island by Henry VI 1445..Henry de Beauchamp
Richard Plantagenet, Lord of the Island, 1449.
Edmund , Duke of Somerset, obtained a grant of this of the Island, by the parliament, and respectfully received by the gentlemen and principal farmers who assembled at Cowes, for this purpose, October 3rd , 1642. He died at the first Battle of St Albans. He was succeeded by his son, Henry Duke of Somerset. He became a Yorkist then returned to the king side He was captured by Yorkists at the Battle of Hexham and was beheaded.
Anthony de Wydeville, Lord Schales, became Lord of the Island in1467. After the death of Edward IV in 1483, he was seized by the Duke of Gloucester and beheaded in Pontefract Castle.
Sir Edward Wydeville, Anthony's brother was made Captain of the Island and probably given the Lordship He led an expedition to France to assist the Duke of Brittany against the French King All the Island contingent of40 gentlemen and 400 soldiers were killed, except for one boy who brought the bad news to the Island
Colonel Hammond was appointed governor of the Island, and received, (at first as his guest), King Charles I at Carisbrooke Castle, November 12th, 1647.
Attempt made by King Charles to escape from the window of what he now discovered to be his prison, December 24tth, 1647.
After making some other fruitless attempts to escape, Charles met the commissioners of the Parliament at the Free School, Newport, at various times from September 18th to November 25th., 1648.
The King seized by the army, and conveyed to Hurst Castle, November 29th, 1648
Colonel Sydenham succeeded Colonel Hammond, 1649.
Elizabeth, second daughter of Charles I.
Elizabeth died at Carisbrooke, September 8th, 1650.
Isle of Wight Militia raised, and charged, in case of invasion 'to raise the gare , ring the bells and send about the hoblers to give alarm', 1651.
West Cowes Chapel of Ease built, 1653.
Lord Culpepper appointed governor, on the re-establishment of the regal power in England , 1660.
Aluminous Spring discovered at Shanklin , by Dr. Frazer, Physician to Charles II. 1663.
The inhabitants complain to the King of Lord Culpepper, who though permitted by the King to continue governor, chose to resign soon after Admiral Sir Robert Holmes at Freshwater succeeded him .
King Charles II visited Sir Robert Holmes at his large house, now the George Inn, Yarmouth, 1671.
R. Blome A Mappe of the Isle of Wight. 1673.
From Richard Blome Britannia, or, A Geographical Description of the Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland. London 1673
Scale 5 miles/inch
The George Inn
John , Lord Coutts, made governor soon after the death of Sir Robert Holmes, 1693.
This Governor having disfranchised several burgesses of Newtown, and imprisoned a clergyman for several weeks in Cowes Castle, the gentlemen of the Island prepared a petition
to the House of Commons, complaining of his arbitary character, He was prudent enough to see, and to confess, that he had gone
too far, and having retraced his steps, became a popular Governortill his death, in 1706
Charles, Marquis of Winchester succeeded
Lord Cutts, and was afterwards assisted
by a lieutenant governor with a salary of 20s.per diem 1707
Appuldurcombe House begun, on the site of
a priory, by Sir Robert Worsley in 1710
Appuldurcombe
General Webb, governor, in 1710
William Lord Cadogan, in 1715
A new church built at St. Helens, and the remains of the old one left as a sea-mark, 1719
Charles, Duke of Bolton, governor, in 1726
John, Lord Lymington, succeeded in 1734
Ashey sea-mark, erected on the down 1735
Ashey Sea Mark
Chapel of Carisbrooke Castle, dated 1738
St Nicholas
Charles, Duke of Bolton, re-instated as governor 1742
John, Lord Lymington, Earl of Portsmouth, now became
again Governor of the island 1745
A quantity of gold dust being found mingled with the sands
in Chale bay, the inhabitants supposing there was a mine in the neighbourhood, expected to be made rich in a trice; but, Spanish dollars being also found they were at length reluctantly convinced that both came from the wreck of a Spanish vessel, 1750
Pieces of Eight
Gatcombe House ,built by Sir Edward Worsley, in 1750.
The Royal Lancastrian School at Newport
Instituted in January 1813
'The Coburg,' the first steam packet to the
Island commenced running from Southampton
To Cowes, 1817
Cattle market instituted at Newport, 1820
The Earl of Dysart, Wilbraham Tollemache died, 1821. Wilbraham Tollemache
Lord Henry Seymour received the honour of a
visit from his most gracious majesty,
George IV and on the day that His Majesty
dined at Norris Castle, the poor of the
Parish of Whippingham dined on the castle
grounds. This benevolent Nobleman thus evinced his regard for the 'rich and the poor,' in 1821
The Royal Yacht Club founded, about 1821.
The Royal Yacht Squadron
The Isle of Wight Philosophical Society formed, about, 1822
The barrows on Arreton and Shalcombe downs,
and the ancient graves on Chessel Down, opened,
and found to contain skeletons, partly-burnt bones, various weapons,
trinkets ,urns, etc. between 1817 and 1824,Anglo-Saxon Cemetery
The Mechanic" s Institution' at Newport commenced. 1825
Cowes parade enlarged, 1826
Fresh landslip, in the grounds of Surman, Esq. near Bonchurch, 1827.
The East end Landslip.
New church at Bembridge erected, 1827
The barque 'Melville Watson,' wrecked in Chale Bay, May 27th 1827
The 'Happy Return', loaded with tin, was
wrecked on Warden Ledge. The master had
put into Yarmouth to obtain assistance for
a female in labour on board, and the vessel
afterwards drifted on this dangerous bank.
Mr Wavell, of Newport, whose benevolent
ardour, in his profession, had led him to
visit this woman a second time, (contrary to the advice of the boatmen, fell a victim to his honourable assiduity, and was drowned; but most of the crew were saved, 1827.
A new church erected at Ryde, and the old one also rebuilt, 1828
Some time after the melancholy death of a
poor lad who was smothered in one of the
chimneys at the barracks, a society was
formed in the Island to superseded the
employment of climbing boys:- this attempt to abolish the practice of treating white boys worse than black slaves made in 1828
Valentine Gray
The Borough of Newport was represented in
Parliament by the Right Honourable George Canning, 1828
'The Carnbrea Castle', East India trader, wrecked off Brook Ledge, July 1829
The schooner 'Nightingale,' wrecked on the
shingles. The loss of this vessel was
rendered unusually affecting by the circumstance of its being left with a lieutenant of
the navy on board, who, being a maniac,
was on his way to a place of confinement.
He appeared to have recovered his reason
during the dangers of the voyage, but was unhappily drowned, 1829
Ryde paved, and converted from a village to a town, 1829
The New Road, Cowes by the shore, to Egypt Point formed. 1829
Great improvements in Cowes Castle, and the new landing place on the parade, made 1830
Extract from:- ‘The Isle of Wight Tourist and Companion at Cowes.’
By- Philo Vectis
Published by Robert Moir, 1830.
To Be Continued
