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100 Years on the Isle of Wight – 100 Discoveries, Disasters and News Stories
Some say that nothing interesting ever happens on the Isle of Wight. This post will hopefully prove otherwise. Over the years there have been several landslides, maritime disasters, historic discoveries and juicy scandals on the Isle of Wight.
We’ve picked out one news story or interesting piece of history for each year from the last century. There’s a particular focus on the Isle of Wight’s coastline and things that you can still see remnants of today.
There are a few years missing, which we plan to add in once we find something worthy of inclusion. Suggestions for missing years are welcome, please send us an email or find us on social media.
We’ve picked out one news story or interesting piece of history for each year from the last century. There’s a particular focus on the Isle of Wight’s coastline and things that you can still see remnants of today.
There are a few years missing, which we plan to add in once we find something worthy of inclusion. Suggestions for missing years are welcome, please send us an email or find us on social media.
The 1920s on the Isle of Wight
1924 – A severe storm hits the Isle of Wight, leading to houses in Seaview being under ‘3 feet of water’. Cowes High Street was badly flooded. Not the most entertaining start to our guide, perhaps we should have started with the more recent stuff...
1925 – The first recorded donkey rides on the beach take place in Ryde and Appley. The exact date isn’t clear, but the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary suggests 1925. Donkey rides continued on the Isle of Wight until the 1970s. Nowadays, you can visit the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary for free in Whitwell and ride a paddleboard instead.
1926 – Newport Roman Villa is discovered in a housing estate in Shide by workmen digging a new garage. You can still visit it today. It’s a lot smaller and isn’t open as often as Brading Roman Villa, but you could justifiably call it a hidden gem (see our guide to Isle of Wight attractions you haven’t seen).
1927 – Puckpool Battery underwent disarmament. It was one of several Palmerston forts built around the Island in the 1860s, to fend off those pesky French invaders. Today, French visitors are very welcome to visit Puckpool (in Ryde) where they can play Le Minigolf or enjoy Le Playground. It’s also a nice place to park and then walk through to the beach at Appley. The Battery was used again in the World War II as a training facility. See our guide to attractions in Ryde.
1928 – A huge landslide occurs at Gore Cliff in the South Wight, moving about 140,000 tonnes of rock, according to news reports. You can read more in our history of Blackgang Chine.
1929 – A bus driver called Charlie Wheeler finds his brakes have failed as he heads down the steep hill of Union Street in Ryde. By the time his bus reaches what was then Pier Street, it is travelling at 30mph and it turns onto its side. Two people of the six people onboard die in the crash. I’m afraid there is a fair amount of death and disaster in this guide.
In the same year, the poet Alfred Noyes moved to Lisle Combe in the South Wight. You can still stay at Lisle Combe.
1925 – The first recorded donkey rides on the beach take place in Ryde and Appley. The exact date isn’t clear, but the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary suggests 1925. Donkey rides continued on the Isle of Wight until the 1970s. Nowadays, you can visit the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary for free in Whitwell and ride a paddleboard instead.
1926 – Newport Roman Villa is discovered in a housing estate in Shide by workmen digging a new garage. You can still visit it today. It’s a lot smaller and isn’t open as often as Brading Roman Villa, but you could justifiably call it a hidden gem (see our guide to Isle of Wight attractions you haven’t seen).
1927 – Puckpool Battery underwent disarmament. It was one of several Palmerston forts built around the Island in the 1860s, to fend off those pesky French invaders. Today, French visitors are very welcome to visit Puckpool (in Ryde) where they can play Le Minigolf or enjoy Le Playground. It’s also a nice place to park and then walk through to the beach at Appley. The Battery was used again in the World War II as a training facility. See our guide to attractions in Ryde.
1928 – A huge landslide occurs at Gore Cliff in the South Wight, moving about 140,000 tonnes of rock, according to news reports. You can read more in our history of Blackgang Chine.
1929 – A bus driver called Charlie Wheeler finds his brakes have failed as he heads down the steep hill of Union Street in Ryde. By the time his bus reaches what was then Pier Street, it is travelling at 30mph and it turns onto its side. Two people of the six people onboard die in the crash. I’m afraid there is a fair amount of death and disaster in this guide.
In the same year, the poet Alfred Noyes moved to Lisle Combe in the South Wight. You can still stay at Lisle Combe.
Puckpool Battery is now home to a playground, as well as remains of the military base
The 1930s on the Isle of Wight
1930 – A group of off-duty policemen from Ryde lark around on the Isle of Wight. Is this the most exciting event of the year? Probably not. However, there is a rather entertaining recording of it available on the BFI website, so it’s worth including.
1931 – After the bus crash of 1929, the council purchase the Pier Hotel and demolish it. This allowed them to redesign that part of town to make it less of an accident blackspot.
1932 - St Catherine's Lighthouse is redesigned after cracks appear. You could go inside the lighthouse for tours until about 10 years ago, but that isn't possible any more. However, it's a lovely spot for wandering along the coast and onto Watershoot Bay, as seen in our YouTube video.
1933 – A major fire hits Ryde Town Hall, with the most likely culprit being the sun overheating the zinc roof. The hall is saved but the Town Hall organ and two paintings are destroyed.
1935 – the name Red Funnel is used for the first time. The Isle of Wight Royal Mail Steam Packet Company had been in existence since 1820 but someone decided a rebrand was needed.
1937 – an Italian steamship called the Luigi Accame runs aground off St Catherine’s Lighthouse in bad fog. The 29 people onboard are rescued by a local lifeboat.
1938 – a radar station is built in Ventnor, as part of a chain of 20 that stretched across Great Britain. It was bombed in 1940 and became operational in 1941. It was later turned into a nuclear bunker. You can’t visit the bunker but you can watch a video by someone who did! The bunker was used for all-night raves in the 1990s, which Alan Partridge would not have approved of.
1939 – the first of almost 50 ships are built for the navy in the J Samuel White shipyard. Cowes and East Cowes became a ‘major shipbuilding and aircraft industry’ throughout the Second World War. 6000 people worked at a factory in East Cowes making amphibious aircraft.
1931 – After the bus crash of 1929, the council purchase the Pier Hotel and demolish it. This allowed them to redesign that part of town to make it less of an accident blackspot.
1932 - St Catherine's Lighthouse is redesigned after cracks appear. You could go inside the lighthouse for tours until about 10 years ago, but that isn't possible any more. However, it's a lovely spot for wandering along the coast and onto Watershoot Bay, as seen in our YouTube video.
1933 – A major fire hits Ryde Town Hall, with the most likely culprit being the sun overheating the zinc roof. The hall is saved but the Town Hall organ and two paintings are destroyed.
1935 – the name Red Funnel is used for the first time. The Isle of Wight Royal Mail Steam Packet Company had been in existence since 1820 but someone decided a rebrand was needed.
1937 – an Italian steamship called the Luigi Accame runs aground off St Catherine’s Lighthouse in bad fog. The 29 people onboard are rescued by a local lifeboat.
1938 – a radar station is built in Ventnor, as part of a chain of 20 that stretched across Great Britain. It was bombed in 1940 and became operational in 1941. It was later turned into a nuclear bunker. You can’t visit the bunker but you can watch a video by someone who did! The bunker was used for all-night raves in the 1990s, which Alan Partridge would not have approved of.
1939 – the first of almost 50 ships are built for the navy in the J Samuel White shipyard. Cowes and East Cowes became a ‘major shipbuilding and aircraft industry’ throughout the Second World War. 6000 people worked at a factory in East Cowes making amphibious aircraft.
The Red Funnel name appeared in 1935. Are you interested? Perhaps not, but it's the best we found for that year
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St Catherine's Lighthouse was redesigned in 1932
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THE 1940S ON THE ISLE OF WIGHT
1940 – a German pilot called Horst Hellriegel crash lands his plane on Bowcombe Down after suffering damage during a dogfight. He then has a pint at the Blacksmiths Arms near Calbourne before having lunch with a family in Gunville. He is later held as a prisoner of war. The story is recounted in the Isle of Wight County Press. The Island Echo reports that there were 66 plane crashes on the Isle of Wight during World War II, including 32 during 1940.
1941 - the Portsmouth to Ryde ferry – the SS Portsdown - hits a mine just outside Portsmouth. Twenty people are killed. Another not particularly cheery one for you, I'm afraid.
1942 – Cowes and East Cowes are heroically defended from Luftwaffe attack by a Polish Navy ship, which was undergoing a refit in a local shipyard. The crew of the ORP Błyskawica is remembered with an annual commemoration in Cowes. There is also a monument in the town (try the Cowes Treasure Trail if you are interested in local history).
1943 – The guns at the Battery at The Needles ‘engaged a number of German torpedo boats’. It was one of several bases that protected Portsmouth. You can visit the National Trust's Old Battery and New Battery. The latter is free for anyone, the former is free for National Trust members.
In the same year, three lighthouse keepers at St Catherine's Lighthouse were killed during a bombing raid. There is a plaque at the lighthouse.
1944 – pipes are laid for Operation Pluto, a vital operation to pump fuel across to France to help the Allies. Some pumps are hidden in what is now Wildheart Animal Sanctuary and another is hidden in an ice cream hut. You can see the remains of a pipe in Shanklin Chine and there is a plaque on the seafront.
1945 – the end of the war is celebrated with a series of VE Day street parties. Yes, I know this isn’t exclusively an Isle of Wight event, but it’s notable enough to give it a mention don’t you think? In the same year, the Royal Army Service Corps takes over Golden Hill Fort in Freshwater to turn it into a base for waterborne troops. The fort is now private homes and holiday lets (see our quirky places to stay) but the surrounding area of Golden Hill Country Park has a big willow structure that you can walk around.
1947 – A film star called Jean Simmonds stays at the Grand Hotel in Yaverland. She is not to be confused with the similarly named guy from KISS. The hotel is the derelict one next to Wildheart Animal Sanctuary, with terrific seafront sea views. It is one of those that you look at and wonder why on earth it isn’t open and raking it in.
1948 – Two new ships enter service for the company that eventually became Wightlink. They were called Southsea and Brading and cost about £160,000 each. The Southsea needed to use its new radar equipment on its first day when fog filled the Solent.
In the same year, the author JB Priestley moved into Brook Hill House. You can't visit it, but you can get a good view of it in the West Wight as it sits on a hillside.
1949 – A family has a nice holiday on the Isle of Wight. Again, this isn’t the biggest news event of the year, but there is a rather lovely video available from 1949. Highlights include a wander round Newport Town Centre, Chale Bay and the railway at Havenstreet. There’s also a shot of God’s Providence House, which is still a café in St Thomas’ Square. God’s Providence House apparently got its name as it was the only house where none of the residents died in the plague.
1941 - the Portsmouth to Ryde ferry – the SS Portsdown - hits a mine just outside Portsmouth. Twenty people are killed. Another not particularly cheery one for you, I'm afraid.
1942 – Cowes and East Cowes are heroically defended from Luftwaffe attack by a Polish Navy ship, which was undergoing a refit in a local shipyard. The crew of the ORP Błyskawica is remembered with an annual commemoration in Cowes. There is also a monument in the town (try the Cowes Treasure Trail if you are interested in local history).
1943 – The guns at the Battery at The Needles ‘engaged a number of German torpedo boats’. It was one of several bases that protected Portsmouth. You can visit the National Trust's Old Battery and New Battery. The latter is free for anyone, the former is free for National Trust members.
In the same year, three lighthouse keepers at St Catherine's Lighthouse were killed during a bombing raid. There is a plaque at the lighthouse.
1944 – pipes are laid for Operation Pluto, a vital operation to pump fuel across to France to help the Allies. Some pumps are hidden in what is now Wildheart Animal Sanctuary and another is hidden in an ice cream hut. You can see the remains of a pipe in Shanklin Chine and there is a plaque on the seafront.
1945 – the end of the war is celebrated with a series of VE Day street parties. Yes, I know this isn’t exclusively an Isle of Wight event, but it’s notable enough to give it a mention don’t you think? In the same year, the Royal Army Service Corps takes over Golden Hill Fort in Freshwater to turn it into a base for waterborne troops. The fort is now private homes and holiday lets (see our quirky places to stay) but the surrounding area of Golden Hill Country Park has a big willow structure that you can walk around.
1947 – A film star called Jean Simmonds stays at the Grand Hotel in Yaverland. She is not to be confused with the similarly named guy from KISS. The hotel is the derelict one next to Wildheart Animal Sanctuary, with terrific seafront sea views. It is one of those that you look at and wonder why on earth it isn’t open and raking it in.
1948 – Two new ships enter service for the company that eventually became Wightlink. They were called Southsea and Brading and cost about £160,000 each. The Southsea needed to use its new radar equipment on its first day when fog filled the Solent.
In the same year, the author JB Priestley moved into Brook Hill House. You can't visit it, but you can get a good view of it in the West Wight as it sits on a hillside.
1949 – A family has a nice holiday on the Isle of Wight. Again, this isn’t the biggest news event of the year, but there is a rather lovely video available from 1949. Highlights include a wander round Newport Town Centre, Chale Bay and the railway at Havenstreet. There’s also a shot of God’s Providence House, which is still a café in St Thomas’ Square. God’s Providence House apparently got its name as it was the only house where none of the residents died in the plague.
The Needles Old Battery - well worth a visit if you like sea views (if you don't like sea views, visit Northampton instead)
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Remains of the Pipeline Under The Ocean at Shanklin Chine
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The 1950s on the Isle of Wight
1950 – a secret mission begins to build rockets at the headland overlooking the Needles, as the UK attempts to enter the space race. The Black Knight was tested on the headland in 1957 and the Black Arrow was developed in the 1960s. As mentioned earlier, you can visit an exhibition about it at The Needles New Battery.
1951 – A passenger ferry called TSMV Shanklin goes into service, linking Portsmouth to the Isle of Wight. It stopped serving the Isle of Wight in 1980 – and then sunk a year later in 1981 off the Gower Peninsula with 450 people on board. Everyone onboard was saved but one person died of a heart attack on the beach, shortly after being rescued.
In the same year, Seaview's suspension pier is destroyed by a storm. It had lasted for 71 years and was about 275m long - about twice the length of Totland Pier. It was used as a stopping point for ferries with passengers carried down the pier by pony and trap.
1952 - British Railways begins closing many of the Isle of Wight’s railways stations including “Ventnor West (1952), Bembridge (1953), Freshwater (1953) and between Newport and Sandown (1955)”. Many of the former railway lines have been turned into cycle tracks – see our guide to cycling on the Isle of Wight for car-free routes. You can also visit the Isle of Wight Steam Railway, which keeps part of the remaining line going.
1953 – A short film is made called ‘A letter from the Isle of Wight’. This probably isn’t the most interesting thing that happened all year, but it’s one of the best pieces of archive footage I’ve seen. Highlights include two young children rowing a boat out to the Needles lighthouse and inviting themselves in for tea. Please don't attempt to do this on your holiday.
1954 – Sandown Zoo opens in a former military battery. It gains a bit of an iffy reputation, with the Sunday Times calling it Britain’s Slum Zoo. It later improves greatly and becomes Isle of Wight Zoo and then Wildheart Animal Sanctuary. The exact year that this happened is hard to pin down – let us know if you can confirm it was 1954.
1955 – Queen Victoria’s bedroom at Osborne House finally opens to the public, after being preserved as a shrine for 54 years. The Queen spent much of her time at Osborne before her death in the bedroom in 1901. I can confidently say that it's one of the Isle of Wight's top 10 death beds, although I haven't yet written that guide. The whole of Osborne is well worth a visit and is free for English Heritage members. See our guide to planning a visit to Osborne.
1956 - Jacquetta Hawkes starts excavations at The Longstone, which are two lumps of prehistoric stone near Brighstone. She is the first woman to complete a degree in archaeology and anthropology, as well as the daughter of a Nobel prize winner and the wife of author JB Priestley. Read about our visit to The Longstone.
1957 – A plane called The City of Sydney crashes and kills 45 people at Shalcombe Down, in the West Wight. The Aquila Airways Solent aircraft suffered a problem with its propeller and crashed whilst trying to return. There is a plaque in St Mary's Church in Brook and a monument at the site of the crash.
1958 - A major public meeting is held in Sandown to campaign against plans to put a nuclear power station in Newtown. Today, Newtown is a nature reserve full of wading birds, which is managed by the National Trust.
1959 – Red Funnel starts operating the Isle of Wight’s first purpose built car ferry. The vessel is called (rather confusingly) Carisbrooke Castle, which must have led to people saying things like "hey look, there's Carisbrooke Castle floating across the Solent!". In the same year, the ‘first practical hovercraft’ had its first run. It was built by East Cowes company Saunders Rowe.
1951 – A passenger ferry called TSMV Shanklin goes into service, linking Portsmouth to the Isle of Wight. It stopped serving the Isle of Wight in 1980 – and then sunk a year later in 1981 off the Gower Peninsula with 450 people on board. Everyone onboard was saved but one person died of a heart attack on the beach, shortly after being rescued.
In the same year, Seaview's suspension pier is destroyed by a storm. It had lasted for 71 years and was about 275m long - about twice the length of Totland Pier. It was used as a stopping point for ferries with passengers carried down the pier by pony and trap.
1952 - British Railways begins closing many of the Isle of Wight’s railways stations including “Ventnor West (1952), Bembridge (1953), Freshwater (1953) and between Newport and Sandown (1955)”. Many of the former railway lines have been turned into cycle tracks – see our guide to cycling on the Isle of Wight for car-free routes. You can also visit the Isle of Wight Steam Railway, which keeps part of the remaining line going.
1953 – A short film is made called ‘A letter from the Isle of Wight’. This probably isn’t the most interesting thing that happened all year, but it’s one of the best pieces of archive footage I’ve seen. Highlights include two young children rowing a boat out to the Needles lighthouse and inviting themselves in for tea. Please don't attempt to do this on your holiday.
1954 – Sandown Zoo opens in a former military battery. It gains a bit of an iffy reputation, with the Sunday Times calling it Britain’s Slum Zoo. It later improves greatly and becomes Isle of Wight Zoo and then Wildheart Animal Sanctuary. The exact year that this happened is hard to pin down – let us know if you can confirm it was 1954.
1955 – Queen Victoria’s bedroom at Osborne House finally opens to the public, after being preserved as a shrine for 54 years. The Queen spent much of her time at Osborne before her death in the bedroom in 1901. I can confidently say that it's one of the Isle of Wight's top 10 death beds, although I haven't yet written that guide. The whole of Osborne is well worth a visit and is free for English Heritage members. See our guide to planning a visit to Osborne.
1956 - Jacquetta Hawkes starts excavations at The Longstone, which are two lumps of prehistoric stone near Brighstone. She is the first woman to complete a degree in archaeology and anthropology, as well as the daughter of a Nobel prize winner and the wife of author JB Priestley. Read about our visit to The Longstone.
1957 – A plane called The City of Sydney crashes and kills 45 people at Shalcombe Down, in the West Wight. The Aquila Airways Solent aircraft suffered a problem with its propeller and crashed whilst trying to return. There is a plaque in St Mary's Church in Brook and a monument at the site of the crash.
1958 - A major public meeting is held in Sandown to campaign against plans to put a nuclear power station in Newtown. Today, Newtown is a nature reserve full of wading birds, which is managed by the National Trust.
1959 – Red Funnel starts operating the Isle of Wight’s first purpose built car ferry. The vessel is called (rather confusingly) Carisbrooke Castle, which must have led to people saying things like "hey look, there's Carisbrooke Castle floating across the Solent!". In the same year, the ‘first practical hovercraft’ had its first run. It was built by East Cowes company Saunders Rowe.
Queen Victoria's death bed opened to the public in 1955. You can still visit it today, if death beds are an interest of yours
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Newtown was being considered as the site of a nuclear power - but today it is a lovely nature reserve
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The 1960s on the Isle of Wight
1961 – The current Wightlink terminals at Fishbourne and Portmouth were significantly enlarged, leading to a 50% increase in traffic on that route.
1962 – Just five years after the Aquila Airways crash, another plane crashes on the Isle of Wight killing 12 people. The plane was flying from Jersey to Portsmouth before it crashed into St Boniface Down overlooking Ventnor. The hill is the highest point on the Isle of Wight and a low cloud is believed to have hampered visibility.
The same year also saw the closure of four Isle of Wight cinemas, as television began to become more popular. The remaining cinemas are in Newport and Ryde. Both feature in our guide to rainy day activities on the Isle of Wight.
1963 – There is an exceptionally cold winter, starting in 1962 and continuing into 1963. The Portsmouth News has a photo of a hovercraft cutting through ice at Wootton Creek in January 1963.
1964 – The Royal National Hospital for Diseases of the Chest closes its doors in Ventnor. It had allowed people with tuberculosis to recover in the warmer climate of the Isle of Wight but was no longer required as medicine improved. By 1969 it was demolished and the site became a gardens in 1970 - (now Ventnor Botanic Garden, which is open to the public). In 2023, The Guardian wrote a long piece called ‘The Battle of the Botanic Garden’ (it’s a juicy read).
1965 – Queen Elizabeth II makes her first official visit to the Isle of Wight. The Queen and Prince Philip visited Carisbrooke Castle, Osborne, Ventnor Winter Gardens and Ventnor Park as well as seeing the first hovercraft and the Black Knight rocket. In the same year, Hovertravel was established and a man was hospitalised after eating a domino.
1966 – the Shanklin to Ventnor railway line closes, as part of cuts across the country. It was the final leg of the only remaining modern trainline on the Isle of Wight, which goes from from Shanklin to Ryde Pier Head. The closed section includes a long tunnel that goes underneath St Boniface Down.
1967 – The World’s Largest Hovercraft – the SRN4 – makes its first public appearance, in East Cowes. If you are visiting the Island with Red Funnel, you will see a huge Union Flag on the side of a building, which is the one featured in this video about the SRN4.
1968 – The first Isle of Wight Festival takes place near to Godshill. About 10,000 people attend, with Jefferson Airplane headlining. You can stay at Ford Farmhouse, where it was held. It also appears in our guide to quirky places to stay on the Isle of Wight. See our history of the Isle of Wight festival.
In the same year, a huge chunk of the cliff at Freshwater Bay separates from the Island to form the Mermaid Rock.
1969 – Bob Dylan performs at the Isle of Wight Festival in front of about 150,000 people at a site near Wootton. You can now stay at Woodside Coastal Retreat, which is nearby. Read more in our guide to the unforgettable Isle of Wight Festival moments.
Also in 1969, Robin Hill opens at Downend. Much less has been written about the early days of Robin Hill, unlike Blackgang Chine! It was bought by Vectis Ventures in the 1990s (see our Blackgang Chine timeline for more on that). In the same year, Fort Victoria became a Country Park.
1962 – Just five years after the Aquila Airways crash, another plane crashes on the Isle of Wight killing 12 people. The plane was flying from Jersey to Portsmouth before it crashed into St Boniface Down overlooking Ventnor. The hill is the highest point on the Isle of Wight and a low cloud is believed to have hampered visibility.
The same year also saw the closure of four Isle of Wight cinemas, as television began to become more popular. The remaining cinemas are in Newport and Ryde. Both feature in our guide to rainy day activities on the Isle of Wight.
1963 – There is an exceptionally cold winter, starting in 1962 and continuing into 1963. The Portsmouth News has a photo of a hovercraft cutting through ice at Wootton Creek in January 1963.
1964 – The Royal National Hospital for Diseases of the Chest closes its doors in Ventnor. It had allowed people with tuberculosis to recover in the warmer climate of the Isle of Wight but was no longer required as medicine improved. By 1969 it was demolished and the site became a gardens in 1970 - (now Ventnor Botanic Garden, which is open to the public). In 2023, The Guardian wrote a long piece called ‘The Battle of the Botanic Garden’ (it’s a juicy read).
1965 – Queen Elizabeth II makes her first official visit to the Isle of Wight. The Queen and Prince Philip visited Carisbrooke Castle, Osborne, Ventnor Winter Gardens and Ventnor Park as well as seeing the first hovercraft and the Black Knight rocket. In the same year, Hovertravel was established and a man was hospitalised after eating a domino.
1966 – the Shanklin to Ventnor railway line closes, as part of cuts across the country. It was the final leg of the only remaining modern trainline on the Isle of Wight, which goes from from Shanklin to Ryde Pier Head. The closed section includes a long tunnel that goes underneath St Boniface Down.
1967 – The World’s Largest Hovercraft – the SRN4 – makes its first public appearance, in East Cowes. If you are visiting the Island with Red Funnel, you will see a huge Union Flag on the side of a building, which is the one featured in this video about the SRN4.
1968 – The first Isle of Wight Festival takes place near to Godshill. About 10,000 people attend, with Jefferson Airplane headlining. You can stay at Ford Farmhouse, where it was held. It also appears in our guide to quirky places to stay on the Isle of Wight. See our history of the Isle of Wight festival.
In the same year, a huge chunk of the cliff at Freshwater Bay separates from the Island to form the Mermaid Rock.
1969 – Bob Dylan performs at the Isle of Wight Festival in front of about 150,000 people at a site near Wootton. You can now stay at Woodside Coastal Retreat, which is nearby. Read more in our guide to the unforgettable Isle of Wight Festival moments.
Also in 1969, Robin Hill opens at Downend. Much less has been written about the early days of Robin Hill, unlike Blackgang Chine! It was bought by Vectis Ventures in the 1990s (see our Blackgang Chine timeline for more on that). In the same year, Fort Victoria became a Country Park.
The 1969 Isle of Wight Festival took place near this holiday resort and beach
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Robin Hill first opened in 1969 and later created Japanese themed gardens
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The 1970s on the ISle of Wight
1970 – The third Isle of Wight Festival takes place, but this time in Afton near to Tapnell Farm. Vast numbers of people turn up, although no-one knows an exact figure. Some estimate 600,000 – 700,000, whilst others say 200,000 - 300,000. The lineup features Jimi Hendrix and The Doors. You can see an exhibition about it and a statue of Jimi Hendrix at Dimbola in Freshwater Bay. See our guide to the history of the Isle of Wight Festival. It causes such a hoo-haa that large gatherings are banned on the Isle of Wight.
In October of the same year, the Pacific Glory oil tanker crashes into another tanker called Allegro, about six miles off St Catherine's Point. Thirteen people die and a huge plume of smoke can be seen from the Island. Firefighters take three days to put it out. Reports say that '500 men gathered on the bay armed with 8000 gallons of detergent' to stop crude oil from reaching the Island. A tug boat sent to help crashes into Culver Cliff.
1972 – Five people are killed when a hovercraft travelling from Ryde to Southsea overturned in high winds. Remarkably, a coastguard was sat in his car watching the hovercraft arrive so was able to raise the alarm quickly. Twenty-two people were saved.
In the same year, Blackgang Chine’s original carbon-fibre dinosaurs are flown in by helicopter, which is shown on Blue Peter. Some of the original dinosaurs are still at Blackgang Chine.
1973 – A passenger ferry crashes into Ryde Pier, causing a taxi to drive off the Pier and into the sea. The taxi driver survived. It was one of three occasions that that TSMV Shanklin had hit the pier but was the most serious.
1974 – Prince Philip’s uncle, Louis Mountbatten is made the first Lord Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight. He was murdered five years later by the Provisional IRA when a bomb blew up on his boat. The story was told (with some artistic licence) on The Crown in series four.
1975 - The National Trust buys The Needles Headland as part of a coastal fundraising campaign.
1976 - A powerboat race off Cowes ends in disaster when a 34ft powerboat takes off as it reaches 70mph. The captain - Alf Bontoft - was thrown from the craft and died. The rest of the crew tried to grab the controls, but the boat ended up on the beach as crowds looked on.
1977 - A four year old girl and four adults are rescued from a 48ft yacht by Bembridge Lifeboat. The yacht's engines had caught fire, leaving it drifting. Bembridge's lifeboat station is often open to the public and they also hold test launches that you can go and watch. See our guide to things to do in Bembridge.
1978 - A major landslide at Blackgang sends two houses, a holiday cottage and an entire naturist camp into the sea. It affects 30 acres and is described as the Island's biggest landslide for 50 years.
1979 – The Fastnet yacht race from Cowes ends in disaster due to a force 11 storm. Fifteen yachtsmen are killed as well as six others who were on yachts watching the race. The rescue operation is the ‘largest ever’ in peace-time. There is a memorial at Holy Trinity Church in Cowes, which is one of the stopping points on the Cowes Treasure Trail.
In October of the same year, the Pacific Glory oil tanker crashes into another tanker called Allegro, about six miles off St Catherine's Point. Thirteen people die and a huge plume of smoke can be seen from the Island. Firefighters take three days to put it out. Reports say that '500 men gathered on the bay armed with 8000 gallons of detergent' to stop crude oil from reaching the Island. A tug boat sent to help crashes into Culver Cliff.
1972 – Five people are killed when a hovercraft travelling from Ryde to Southsea overturned in high winds. Remarkably, a coastguard was sat in his car watching the hovercraft arrive so was able to raise the alarm quickly. Twenty-two people were saved.
In the same year, Blackgang Chine’s original carbon-fibre dinosaurs are flown in by helicopter, which is shown on Blue Peter. Some of the original dinosaurs are still at Blackgang Chine.
1973 – A passenger ferry crashes into Ryde Pier, causing a taxi to drive off the Pier and into the sea. The taxi driver survived. It was one of three occasions that that TSMV Shanklin had hit the pier but was the most serious.
1974 – Prince Philip’s uncle, Louis Mountbatten is made the first Lord Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight. He was murdered five years later by the Provisional IRA when a bomb blew up on his boat. The story was told (with some artistic licence) on The Crown in series four.
1975 - The National Trust buys The Needles Headland as part of a coastal fundraising campaign.
1976 - A powerboat race off Cowes ends in disaster when a 34ft powerboat takes off as it reaches 70mph. The captain - Alf Bontoft - was thrown from the craft and died. The rest of the crew tried to grab the controls, but the boat ended up on the beach as crowds looked on.
1977 - A four year old girl and four adults are rescued from a 48ft yacht by Bembridge Lifeboat. The yacht's engines had caught fire, leaving it drifting. Bembridge's lifeboat station is often open to the public and they also hold test launches that you can go and watch. See our guide to things to do in Bembridge.
1978 - A major landslide at Blackgang sends two houses, a holiday cottage and an entire naturist camp into the sea. It affects 30 acres and is described as the Island's biggest landslide for 50 years.
1979 – The Fastnet yacht race from Cowes ends in disaster due to a force 11 storm. Fifteen yachtsmen are killed as well as six others who were on yachts watching the race. The rescue operation is the ‘largest ever’ in peace-time. There is a memorial at Holy Trinity Church in Cowes, which is one of the stopping points on the Cowes Treasure Trail.
Blackgang Chine is home to lots of dinosaurs, some of which appeared in the 1970s
The 1980s on the ISle of Wight
1981 – an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Yarmouth leads to comments in parliament and hundreds of cattle being destroyed.
1982 – a former Sandown High School student called Jeffrey Allen goes missing. The Isle of Wight County Press reports that he mentioned ‘going camping on the mainland’. In 2005, his mother issued a fresh appeal but he remains missing today.
1983 – the Isle of Wight Garlic Festival is founded. It continues to bring in a crowd of thousands every year, who line up to have perfectly decent things like beer and ice cream ruined with the taste of garlic.
1984 – the Isle of Wight is the setting for a TV series called Annika. This isn’t particularly interesting in itself, but it’s a good chance to plug our guide to TV and films that were made on the Isle of Wight.
1985 – Ventnor’s Pier is damaged by a fire. It had been closed since 1981 but the arcade at the shore end was still in use when the fire broke out. It was finally dismantled in 1993. The entrance to the pier is now a large circular building on the seafront and a bandstand from the pier now lives in Ventnor Park.
1986 - Level 42 reach number three in the UK singles charts with Lessons In Love. It is their highest chart rating and they are nominated for a Brit Award two years later. The band first formed on the Isle of Wight in 1979.
1987 – Shanklin Pier is destroyed by a hurricane that is apparently so strong that instruments can’t accurately measure it. A pier to pier swim still takes place each year between Sandown and Shanklin, despite only one of them actually having a pier.
1988 - Red Funnel's Shearwater 3 Hydrofoil crashes into a family in a small wooden boat whilst they were on a fishing trip. One man is killed, whilst two others are rescued from the sea. Meanwhile, Princess Diana met crowds in Cowes whilst launching a new ship.
1989 – Sandown Pier is damaged by a fire over the August Bank Holiday. The cost of the repairs are apparently as much as £2 million. The pier remains as one of four on the Isle of Wight but is the only one to offer the traditional pier amusements.
1982 – a former Sandown High School student called Jeffrey Allen goes missing. The Isle of Wight County Press reports that he mentioned ‘going camping on the mainland’. In 2005, his mother issued a fresh appeal but he remains missing today.
1983 – the Isle of Wight Garlic Festival is founded. It continues to bring in a crowd of thousands every year, who line up to have perfectly decent things like beer and ice cream ruined with the taste of garlic.
1984 – the Isle of Wight is the setting for a TV series called Annika. This isn’t particularly interesting in itself, but it’s a good chance to plug our guide to TV and films that were made on the Isle of Wight.
1985 – Ventnor’s Pier is damaged by a fire. It had been closed since 1981 but the arcade at the shore end was still in use when the fire broke out. It was finally dismantled in 1993. The entrance to the pier is now a large circular building on the seafront and a bandstand from the pier now lives in Ventnor Park.
1986 - Level 42 reach number three in the UK singles charts with Lessons In Love. It is their highest chart rating and they are nominated for a Brit Award two years later. The band first formed on the Isle of Wight in 1979.
1987 – Shanklin Pier is destroyed by a hurricane that is apparently so strong that instruments can’t accurately measure it. A pier to pier swim still takes place each year between Sandown and Shanklin, despite only one of them actually having a pier.
1988 - Red Funnel's Shearwater 3 Hydrofoil crashes into a family in a small wooden boat whilst they were on a fishing trip. One man is killed, whilst two others are rescued from the sea. Meanwhile, Princess Diana met crowds in Cowes whilst launching a new ship.
1989 – Sandown Pier is damaged by a fire over the August Bank Holiday. The cost of the repairs are apparently as much as £2 million. The pier remains as one of four on the Isle of Wight but is the only one to offer the traditional pier amusements.
Sandown Pier lives on, despite incidents such as a fire in 1989
The 1990s on the Isle of Wight
1990 – Another major storm - this time one reaching Hurricane Force 12 – caused problems on the Solent. According to Portsmouth News, the 9am ferry from Fishbourne hits a sea wall at HMS Vernon (now Gunwharf Quays). The hull is damaged, but above the waterline. Meanwhile, one Lymington car ferry crossing takes nine hours and ends up in Portsmouth instead of Yarmouth.
1991 – Red Funnel launches two hi-speed catamarans to replace the Hydrofoils. At the same time, its vehicle ferry service to West Cowes comes to an end. In the same year, the Sealink name disappears with Wightlink taking over.
1992 – The Arch Rock at Freshwater Bay collapses during a storm. It was one of three rocks in the bay, the others being the Stag Rock and Mermaid Rock. You can still see the stumps of the arch at low tide. You might even like to stay in our holiday apartment with a view of Freshwater Bay?
1993 – The lighthouse at the Needles switches to electricity rather than a glass lantern. It is finally automated a year later, after being built in 1859. You can take a boat out to get a closer look (although you can’t go inside) or get a good view from the Needles New Battery (free) or Old Battery (paid National Trust attraction). See our blog post with photos inside the lighthouse.
1994 – A massive landslide destroys two houses at Blackgang Chine. An exhibition about the landslide was later added to the theme park at Blackgang Chine, complete with a shaking floor. Blackgang Chine theme park lives on, but a lot of attractions have been moved over the years to allow for the changing coastline.
In the same year, an animal rights protestor called Barry Horne carries out arson attacks on a number of shops including Boots in Newport, causing about £3m of damage.
Also in 1994 (a rather eventful year), Brading Roman Villa is flooded. The floors are 'submerged under water contaminated with agricultural fertlizer'. This led to the building of the villa's swanky new home that opened in 2004.
1995 – Three prisoners escape from Parkhurst Prison with a plan of stealing a plane from Sandown airport. The plan didn’t take off (and neither did the plane). There then began a blame game, which famously led to Home Secretary Michael Howard refusing to answer questions on Newsnight from Jeremy Paxman.
In February of the same year there was a huge landslide near to the Devil's Chimney between Luccombe and Bonchurch. About 1.5 million tonnes of earth moved, making it the largest landslide in that area for nearly two centuries.
1996 – A teenager called Damien Nettles disappears. He was last seen on a night out in Cowes and his story has been covered by national press many times over the years, including a 2016 BBC documentary.
1997 – The English Patient wins nine Oscars. Onstage, its director, Anthony Mingella declares that ‘It’s a great day for the Isle of Wight’. Minghella was born in Ryde. He died in 2008 but his family continue to sell Minghella ice cream on the Isle of Wight. His brother Dominic created the TV series Doc Martin and gave the lead character the surname of Ellingham, an anagram of Minghella. In 2023, Anthony’s daughter Hannah won an Oscar as a producer on The Boy, The Mole, the Fox and the Horse.
In the same year, St Catherine's Lighthouse is automated and is now controlled from Essex. You can now stay in the lighthouse keepers cottages, which feature in our guide to quirky places to stay.
A giant multicoloured 'koan' appears outside St Marys Hospital. It features in our Isle Spy game.
1998 - Blackgang Chine begins a change of direction with the addition of a waterslide called Water Force. It costs £60,000 and is opened by a Spice Girls tribute act. The park adds a few more rides over the next 25 years, whereas previously it was mostly about imaginative play. Don't worry though, some of the carbon-fibre favourites are still there. Read our guide to visiting Blackgang Chine.
1999 - Blackgang Chine's sister park Robin Hill Country Park unveils its new ride - The Time Machine. It is a 28-seater simulator with a selection of short films. It is later rebranded as the 4D Cinema. The park spent the first of its life with a big range of animals and called itself a zoological and adventure park at one point. It later shifted away from animals and focused on its gardens, rides and events.
1991 – Red Funnel launches two hi-speed catamarans to replace the Hydrofoils. At the same time, its vehicle ferry service to West Cowes comes to an end. In the same year, the Sealink name disappears with Wightlink taking over.
1992 – The Arch Rock at Freshwater Bay collapses during a storm. It was one of three rocks in the bay, the others being the Stag Rock and Mermaid Rock. You can still see the stumps of the arch at low tide. You might even like to stay in our holiday apartment with a view of Freshwater Bay?
1993 – The lighthouse at the Needles switches to electricity rather than a glass lantern. It is finally automated a year later, after being built in 1859. You can take a boat out to get a closer look (although you can’t go inside) or get a good view from the Needles New Battery (free) or Old Battery (paid National Trust attraction). See our blog post with photos inside the lighthouse.
1994 – A massive landslide destroys two houses at Blackgang Chine. An exhibition about the landslide was later added to the theme park at Blackgang Chine, complete with a shaking floor. Blackgang Chine theme park lives on, but a lot of attractions have been moved over the years to allow for the changing coastline.
In the same year, an animal rights protestor called Barry Horne carries out arson attacks on a number of shops including Boots in Newport, causing about £3m of damage.
Also in 1994 (a rather eventful year), Brading Roman Villa is flooded. The floors are 'submerged under water contaminated with agricultural fertlizer'. This led to the building of the villa's swanky new home that opened in 2004.
1995 – Three prisoners escape from Parkhurst Prison with a plan of stealing a plane from Sandown airport. The plan didn’t take off (and neither did the plane). There then began a blame game, which famously led to Home Secretary Michael Howard refusing to answer questions on Newsnight from Jeremy Paxman.
In February of the same year there was a huge landslide near to the Devil's Chimney between Luccombe and Bonchurch. About 1.5 million tonnes of earth moved, making it the largest landslide in that area for nearly two centuries.
1996 – A teenager called Damien Nettles disappears. He was last seen on a night out in Cowes and his story has been covered by national press many times over the years, including a 2016 BBC documentary.
1997 – The English Patient wins nine Oscars. Onstage, its director, Anthony Mingella declares that ‘It’s a great day for the Isle of Wight’. Minghella was born in Ryde. He died in 2008 but his family continue to sell Minghella ice cream on the Isle of Wight. His brother Dominic created the TV series Doc Martin and gave the lead character the surname of Ellingham, an anagram of Minghella. In 2023, Anthony’s daughter Hannah won an Oscar as a producer on The Boy, The Mole, the Fox and the Horse.
In the same year, St Catherine's Lighthouse is automated and is now controlled from Essex. You can now stay in the lighthouse keepers cottages, which feature in our guide to quirky places to stay.
A giant multicoloured 'koan' appears outside St Marys Hospital. It features in our Isle Spy game.
1998 - Blackgang Chine begins a change of direction with the addition of a waterslide called Water Force. It costs £60,000 and is opened by a Spice Girls tribute act. The park adds a few more rides over the next 25 years, whereas previously it was mostly about imaginative play. Don't worry though, some of the carbon-fibre favourites are still there. Read our guide to visiting Blackgang Chine.
1999 - Blackgang Chine's sister park Robin Hill Country Park unveils its new ride - The Time Machine. It is a 28-seater simulator with a selection of short films. It is later rebranded as the 4D Cinema. The park spent the first of its life with a big range of animals and called itself a zoological and adventure park at one point. It later shifted away from animals and focused on its gardens, rides and events.
The Arch Rock stumps can be seen in this view of Freshwater Bay. It collapsed in 1992.
The 2000s on the ISle of Wight
2000 - a TV series called Reach for the Moon airs on ITV. It was filmed on the Isle of Wight, with the school scenes filmed at Carisbrooke High School. I seem to remember a lead character lived in one of the thatched cottages in Godshill. You can read more in our TV and Movie Tour of the Isle of Wight.
2001 – a landslide in 2001 in Shanklin sends thousands of tons of mud onto a hotel dance floor during a pub quiz. A gentleman from Bradford got his leg stuck in the mud. Luckily, it was a false leg so he unclipped it and hopped to safety. This story sounds like a plotline from Only Fools and Horses, but it actually happened.
2002 – drug smugglers are caught trying to bring £90 million of cocaine into the UK via Orchard Bay in the South Wight. Ironically, the house overlooking the Bay had originally been built to stop smuggling but was later used as a base by smugglers. They were sentenced to 141 years between them.
2003 - Wightlink proposes bringing car ferries to Ryde Pier to bring extra vehicles over at peak times. It would have meant big changes to the historic pier, but the plans were eventually dropped. See our beginners' guide to the Isle of Wight ferry for your options.
2004 – David Bowie headlines the Isle of Wight Festival at Seaclose Park. It turns out to be his last UK concert. Two years earlier, the Isle of Wight Festival had returned after a 32 year break with a two week event. The highlight was one-day Rock Island at Seaclose Park, featuring the Charlatans, Robert Plant and Ash.
2005 – Blackgang Chine unveils its first ever rollercoaster – Cliffhanger. A couple of years earlier, the park had planned to open a ride called Tornado to celebrate its 160th anniversary, but it failed safety checks and had to be dismantled. Read more in our history of Blackgang Chine.
2006 - Harcourt Sands Holiday Park in Appley announces it is closing. Various plans have come and gone since then - see our blog if you're interested.
Meanwhile, a motorist survives a 100 foot drop off the cliff at Compton Farm whilst trying to avoid a badger. Terry Flynn tells the County Press that a picture of a black cat had fallen off a wall a few hours earlier, which he concludes was an 'omen'. The person who spotted the upside down Vauxhall Corsa on the beach was his stepson, who happened to be near by. This does rather give the impression that everyone is related on the Isle of Wight, which certainly isn't the case.
In the same year, a sunbather from Cowes had a lucky escape when a cow fell off the cliff at Compton Bay. Sally Brown had just got up to take her bodyboard into the sea when the cow landed where she had been sitting.
2007 – Four people are killed when a small plane crashes shortly after leaving Sandown Airport. The Mirror reports that there are several possible causes including a worn camshaft or excess weight.
2008 – A mermaid modelled on swimmer Sharron Davies appears in Cowes. You can see it near Royal Yacht Squadron. Is this the biggest story of the year? Probably not, but it amuses me.
2009 – A four year old called Daisy Morris discovers a new species of Pterosaur on Atherfield Beach. It is later named after her as Vectidraco daisymorrisae. You can find Atherfield Beach in the West Wight on our interactive beaches map.
In the same year, Red Funnel's ferry is painted yellow to promote the new IKEA store in Southampton.
2001 – a landslide in 2001 in Shanklin sends thousands of tons of mud onto a hotel dance floor during a pub quiz. A gentleman from Bradford got his leg stuck in the mud. Luckily, it was a false leg so he unclipped it and hopped to safety. This story sounds like a plotline from Only Fools and Horses, but it actually happened.
2002 – drug smugglers are caught trying to bring £90 million of cocaine into the UK via Orchard Bay in the South Wight. Ironically, the house overlooking the Bay had originally been built to stop smuggling but was later used as a base by smugglers. They were sentenced to 141 years between them.
2003 - Wightlink proposes bringing car ferries to Ryde Pier to bring extra vehicles over at peak times. It would have meant big changes to the historic pier, but the plans were eventually dropped. See our beginners' guide to the Isle of Wight ferry for your options.
2004 – David Bowie headlines the Isle of Wight Festival at Seaclose Park. It turns out to be his last UK concert. Two years earlier, the Isle of Wight Festival had returned after a 32 year break with a two week event. The highlight was one-day Rock Island at Seaclose Park, featuring the Charlatans, Robert Plant and Ash.
2005 – Blackgang Chine unveils its first ever rollercoaster – Cliffhanger. A couple of years earlier, the park had planned to open a ride called Tornado to celebrate its 160th anniversary, but it failed safety checks and had to be dismantled. Read more in our history of Blackgang Chine.
2006 - Harcourt Sands Holiday Park in Appley announces it is closing. Various plans have come and gone since then - see our blog if you're interested.
Meanwhile, a motorist survives a 100 foot drop off the cliff at Compton Farm whilst trying to avoid a badger. Terry Flynn tells the County Press that a picture of a black cat had fallen off a wall a few hours earlier, which he concludes was an 'omen'. The person who spotted the upside down Vauxhall Corsa on the beach was his stepson, who happened to be near by. This does rather give the impression that everyone is related on the Isle of Wight, which certainly isn't the case.
In the same year, a sunbather from Cowes had a lucky escape when a cow fell off the cliff at Compton Bay. Sally Brown had just got up to take her bodyboard into the sea when the cow landed where she had been sitting.
2007 – Four people are killed when a small plane crashes shortly after leaving Sandown Airport. The Mirror reports that there are several possible causes including a worn camshaft or excess weight.
2008 – A mermaid modelled on swimmer Sharron Davies appears in Cowes. You can see it near Royal Yacht Squadron. Is this the biggest story of the year? Probably not, but it amuses me.
2009 – A four year old called Daisy Morris discovers a new species of Pterosaur on Atherfield Beach. It is later named after her as Vectidraco daisymorrisae. You can find Atherfield Beach in the West Wight on our interactive beaches map.
In the same year, Red Funnel's ferry is painted yellow to promote the new IKEA store in Southampton.
Orchard Bay made the news in 2002
The 2010s on the Isle of Wight
2010 – Paul McCartney headlines the Isle of Wight Festival, along with Jay-Z (and Kanye West) and the Strokes. The Isle of Wight Festival has had many great headline trios but we think this probably ranks as the best since 1970. Paul McCartney later reveals that Ticket To Ride really was about Ryde (John Lennon’s cousin ran a pub in Ryde).
During the festival, a prisoner at Parkhurst attempts to escape using a helicopter as he thought it would be a time when it was less likely to be noticed.
2011 – Five men go on trial after £53m of cocaine is found in Freshwater Bay. They are known as the Freshwater Five, although their boat was based in Yarmouth. There have been TV programmes, articles and a stage show about their story but the Guardian’s podcast is particularly interesting.
2012 – A massive landslide destroys the sea wall between Totland and Colwell. The Council decide to make a rough path over the top of the landslide instead of attempting a full (and expensive) repair. See our aerial video of how it looks. The walk between Colwell and Totland is one of our top 10 short walks of about one mile.
In the same year, Ryde Castle Hotel suffers a fire that started during a wedding reception. Hopefully the marriage has been more successful than the reception.
2013 – Elton John headlines Bestival at Robin Hill. The Festival ran at Robin Hill Country Park from 2004 until 2016. Over the years, headliners included Stevie Wonder, Fatboy Slim and The Cure (plus many more).
This was also the year that Isle of Wight Guru launched. Do you care? No, thought not.
2014 – A landslide forces the closure of the Undercliff road in the South Wight. The road was still closed 10 years later! In the same year, a hovercraft pilot was jailed for being drunk whilst trying to land in Ryde. Also, four people are hurt when a mezzanine deck collapses on a Wightlink ferry.
2015 – A 51,000 tonne container ship runs aground on a sandbank near to Cowes. It is later revealed that the Hoegh Osaka was deliberately grounded to stop it capsizing.
2016 – The Isle of Wight coroner declares that a kayaker found dead on Yaverland beach had taken his own life. The doctor from Dublin had been found sat upright in his kayak, which had been washed ashore in the previous year.
2017 – the floating bridge which links Cowes and East Cowes was replaced. This all started well, with some national news jollity about a campaign to name it Floaty McFloatFace. Things ran aground fairly quickly with the naming competition being scrapped and the floating bridge then having reliability problems for several years. If it’s running, it makes a nice way to hop between the two sides of the Medina – which is particularly useful if you are doing the Medina Estuary walk. It features in our guide to the 10 best circular walks on the Isle of Wight.
2019 – Six white tailed eagles are reintroduced to Culver Down cliffs. The huge birds of prey were last seen on the South Coast in 1780. They have since hatched chicks. This features in our guide to Isle of Wight attractions that you probably haven't visited. In less cheerful news, a bus crash kills one person and injures 22 others.
During the festival, a prisoner at Parkhurst attempts to escape using a helicopter as he thought it would be a time when it was less likely to be noticed.
2011 – Five men go on trial after £53m of cocaine is found in Freshwater Bay. They are known as the Freshwater Five, although their boat was based in Yarmouth. There have been TV programmes, articles and a stage show about their story but the Guardian’s podcast is particularly interesting.
2012 – A massive landslide destroys the sea wall between Totland and Colwell. The Council decide to make a rough path over the top of the landslide instead of attempting a full (and expensive) repair. See our aerial video of how it looks. The walk between Colwell and Totland is one of our top 10 short walks of about one mile.
In the same year, Ryde Castle Hotel suffers a fire that started during a wedding reception. Hopefully the marriage has been more successful than the reception.
2013 – Elton John headlines Bestival at Robin Hill. The Festival ran at Robin Hill Country Park from 2004 until 2016. Over the years, headliners included Stevie Wonder, Fatboy Slim and The Cure (plus many more).
This was also the year that Isle of Wight Guru launched. Do you care? No, thought not.
2014 – A landslide forces the closure of the Undercliff road in the South Wight. The road was still closed 10 years later! In the same year, a hovercraft pilot was jailed for being drunk whilst trying to land in Ryde. Also, four people are hurt when a mezzanine deck collapses on a Wightlink ferry.
2015 – A 51,000 tonne container ship runs aground on a sandbank near to Cowes. It is later revealed that the Hoegh Osaka was deliberately grounded to stop it capsizing.
2016 – The Isle of Wight coroner declares that a kayaker found dead on Yaverland beach had taken his own life. The doctor from Dublin had been found sat upright in his kayak, which had been washed ashore in the previous year.
2017 – the floating bridge which links Cowes and East Cowes was replaced. This all started well, with some national news jollity about a campaign to name it Floaty McFloatFace. Things ran aground fairly quickly with the naming competition being scrapped and the floating bridge then having reliability problems for several years. If it’s running, it makes a nice way to hop between the two sides of the Medina – which is particularly useful if you are doing the Medina Estuary walk. It features in our guide to the 10 best circular walks on the Isle of Wight.
2019 – Six white tailed eagles are reintroduced to Culver Down cliffs. The huge birds of prey were last seen on the South Coast in 1780. They have since hatched chicks. This features in our guide to Isle of Wight attractions that you probably haven't visited. In less cheerful news, a bus crash kills one person and injures 22 others.
An aerial view of the landslide between Colwell and Totland - that you can now walk over
The 2020s on the Isle of WIght
2020 – A mysterious shining monolith appears on Compton Bay. Aliens were initially credited with its appearance but it turned out to be a guy called Tom who put it there for a laugh.
2021 – Wet Leg release their debut single, Chaise Longue. A year later, their self-titled album is number one in the UK album charts. Both grew up on the Island and studied at the Isle of Wight’s music college, Platform One.
2022 – Two shipwrecks from the 16th and 17th century are discovered at Shingles Bank. Divers Martin Pritchard and Dave Fox find cannons, lead ingots, an anchor and cannonballs. In other shipwreck news, a Blackgang Chine ride called Shipwrecked, becomes wrecked whilst customers are on board. It is a 'magic carpet' style ride, which goes wrong and ends up with one side sticking up in the air.
2023 – A major landslide damages The Devil’s Chimney rock formation and leaves the Smugglers’ Haven Tearooms teetering on the edge of the cliff.
2024 - Robin Hill is sold to its new owner, who made his money hiring out toilets. Prior to the sale, some attractions are removed with the Colossus and Ripple both ending up at Blackgang Chine. See our history of Robin Hill.
Also in 2024, four racoons escape from Amazon World. It takes several days for them to be found. See our guide to days out with animals if you want to meet them.
2021 – Wet Leg release their debut single, Chaise Longue. A year later, their self-titled album is number one in the UK album charts. Both grew up on the Island and studied at the Isle of Wight’s music college, Platform One.
2022 – Two shipwrecks from the 16th and 17th century are discovered at Shingles Bank. Divers Martin Pritchard and Dave Fox find cannons, lead ingots, an anchor and cannonballs. In other shipwreck news, a Blackgang Chine ride called Shipwrecked, becomes wrecked whilst customers are on board. It is a 'magic carpet' style ride, which goes wrong and ends up with one side sticking up in the air.
2023 – A major landslide damages The Devil’s Chimney rock formation and leaves the Smugglers’ Haven Tearooms teetering on the edge of the cliff.
2024 - Robin Hill is sold to its new owner, who made his money hiring out toilets. Prior to the sale, some attractions are removed with the Colossus and Ripple both ending up at Blackgang Chine. See our history of Robin Hill.
Also in 2024, four racoons escape from Amazon World. It takes several days for them to be found. See our guide to days out with animals if you want to meet them.
The-Isle-of-Wight-Guru-Don't-Blame-Us-Disclaimer™ All the information on this website is correct, as far as we know, but please do check details directly - and please contact us if you find anything inaccurate. Here's our full disclaimer.
