Isle of Wight Holiday, Day 5

Freshwater Bay looking west towards Tennyson Down

Near Freshwater Bay, looking west

The Needles and the Old Battery

Yarmouth Pier from the castle

Today, a trip around the western extremities of the I.O.W. courtesy of an open-top 'bus. The small town of Yarmouth was visited, followed by a pleasant ride through the countryside, ending up at the Needles Old Battery for an excellent view of the rocks, lighthouse and coastline; it was a dry but very blustery day, though as on previous days, the sunshine broke through in the afternoon. I alighted the 'bus at Freshwater Bay where, surprise surprise, I bumped into a fellow researcher by the name of Ruth who gave me a lift back to the bungalow in her van.

Isle of Wight holiday - Day 4

Julia Margaret Cameron's studio at Dimbola Lodge

Ruth Butler "at work", Dimbola Lodge

A scene from J.M.C's bedroom, Dimbola Lodge

The day was spent on researching the family ancestors of Rachel, Countess of Dudley, who, as a young girl, visited her maternal relatives at Freshwater Bay on the Isle of Wight. Time was spent hunting around the cemetery at All Saints Church followed by a visit to the local library and on to Dimbola Lodge. Finally we were invited to meet the eighty-plus year-old Mrs. Elizabeth Hutchings, a local historian of a somewhat eccentric, though very approachable disposition, who regaled us with stories of the old families for over an hour before we headed back to base in the late afternoon.

Isle of Wight holiday - Day 3

Alum Bay landing stage with The Needles and lighthouse in the background

The Needles lighthouse

Chair-lift returning up the cliff face at Alum Bay

A short distance away from our holiday accommodation is Alum Bay from where a chair-lift ride takes the visitor down to the shingle beach. From here I took a small boat out into coastal waters on a short trip to The Needles chalk outcrops and the famous lighthouse, these days unmanned and automatically controlled from the shore. The remains of the old and new gun-battery emplacements are located on the cliff-tops. 

Isle of Wight holiday - Day 2

Marble bust of Alfred, Lord Tennyson in All Saints Church, Freshwater

All Saints Church, Freshwater

Dimbola Lodge, Freshwater Bay with sculpture featuring Jimmi Hendrix

Today we explored the western extremity of the Isle of Wight on foot - we walked nearly ten miles around Freshwater, Totland and the surrounding area. Highlights of the day included All Saints Church and Dimbola Lodge, the former home and studio of the pioneering Victorian photographer Julia Margaret Cameron who was the great-aunt of Rachel, the Countess of Dudley. After a rather poor start weather-wise, the afternoon brightened up nicely.

Isle of Wight holiday - Day 1

Crossing the Severn Bridge

Boarding the ferry at Lymington

At around 10.30 a.m. today, Ruth, Mike and myself set off from Llandrindod Wells on the journey to Lymington, Hampshire, where we boarded the ferry to the Isle of Wight. We then drove the short distance from Yarmouth to Cliff End where we had booked our accommodation, a small bungalow overlooking Colwell Bay near Totland.

Stewarding at the church

This afternoon I was duty steward as a result of a colleague being unavailable, and would I be able to fill-in for her. An average number of visitors with around eighty people through the door. It seemed to be a day for people losing things. The 'phone rang; it was E.H. to say that someone had left their bag in the church and could I find it and hand it back to the owner. Find it I did, and a very grateful gentleman dropped a fiver into the donations tin. Perhaps they could all lose their belongings ? Another 'phone call from Ian Holland who had left his keys on a pew, but I had already found them - panic over. Nancie Stansfield remarked that they had been very busy at the tea-room. Off to the Isle-of-Wight this coming weekend for a fortnight's holiday; watch out for my blogs as they will be coming thick and fast.

Poseidon Fountain Restoration Society, A.G.M. 2nd June 2011.

As was the case last year, this year's A.G.M. was held at the English Heritage visitor centre at Witley Court, courtesy of site operations manager Spencer Trickett, to whom we are most grateful in allowing this facility, and for the privilege of a firing of the Poseidon fountain for our exclusive view. Around sixteen members attended on a glorious early summer evening, including several new people. After our wanderings around the court, society business was conducted in the education services room, where I was elected as society secretary, taking over from Rod Sproat who already has many other commitments, and wished to be relieved of his duties in this respect. Rod will continue as editor of the society journal, and as treasurer, with Mark Brown being re-elected as chairman. Many thanks to all who attended a most pleasant evening's entertainment.