The Return Of One Of The Isle of Wight's Best Benches

Don't panic folks, this Isle of Wight bench is back with a bang

Long time readers (hi Auntie Jayne!) will know that I am a fan of Isle of Wight benches with a sea view.

Last year, I even appeared on BBC Solent and South Today where I was captioned as a ‘Bench enthusiast’. I have asked my wife to include this on my gravestone.

Sally Taylor said she agreed with me on the value of benches. I then walked into the Dimbola café where someone said ‘hey, you’re the bench guy’.

It was a dizzy time. I finally knew how it felt to be a Kardashian or a Beckham.

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The Fishbourne SPinner

One of my original top ten is the curious bench at Fishbourne, which overlooks the Wightlink ferry. It boasts a full shelter and once provided a welcome refuge when we decided to have a picnic in January.

The only strange thing about it is that it is facing the wrong way, so you can only see the sea by looking out one of its side windows.

A fellow bench fan later explained to me that this bench had originally been designed to rotate round, presumably so users could enjoy the sun throughout the day or avoid the sideways winds.

You can imagine that this only added to my love for the bench.

I considered applying to the Heritage Lottery for a grant to get it spinning again but assumed it would probably cost at least £13m, based on the cost of HS2.

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Disaster at Easter

At Easter, we returned to the bench. I like the little beach at Fishbourne and often end up there for a few minutes when passing.

I was shocked then – nay, devastated – to find that the bench had been boarded up. Was this the end of one my top 10 benches? Would I need to update the guide?

We found the bench had been boarded up when we visited at Easter

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Testing out the alternatives

Over the next few weeks, I spent many sleepless nights trying to choose a replacement bench (Ed: really?). I walked and cycled past many great ones that hadn’t made my original list, including one overlooking St Catherine’s Lighthouse and another on the Tennyson Trail, where you get a view of Tennyson Down.

For your consideration, here are some alternatives that almost crept into the top 10:

This cracker of a bench is on the Tennyson Trail and looks towards Freshwater Bay

This bench overlooks St Helens Duver but sometimes suffers from high hedges

This bench in Ventnor either needs a hedge trim or a button on the side to raise it up

Extra marks were awarded to this bench in Castlehaven for design and flamboyance

This rustic beauty of a bench can be found on one of the walks at Quarr Abbey

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You'll want to sit down for this news

Last week, we revisited Fishbourne. I fancied a quick trip out on a lovely evening and child one was keen to join me.

To my delight, the boarding had been removed and the bench was back in business (see the photo at the top of the page). I am not sure if there was an official opening with a red tape and a giant pair of scissors. If there was, I am slightly offended that I wasn't invited.

I tentatively approached to see if the rotating feature had also been repaired. Surely not, I thought to myself.

Surely the boarding hadn’t been placed there to allow for a full renovation including the base?

No, it hadn’t been. That dream will have to wait for another day.