Introduction
The Isle of Wight
Although not widely separated from the mainland, the Isle of Wight has contrived throughout historical times to keep its own identity, and indeed has just won a tough fight to remain divided from Hampshire. In its small area it shows a really remarkable cross- section of its development, from pre-history to the industrial archaeology of today.
There were a great many manors in the Wight, some of course being quite small holdings with manorial rights, while others were large estates with "Great Houses", some of which survive today. Early records show that a number of manors were held from King Edward the Confessor, from his wife Queen Edith, and from various contemporaries.
The Island seems to have been considered an important outpost of defence, best placed in the hands of a trusted subject. William the Conqueror made haste to grant the Lordship of the Island to his faithful follower, William FitzOsbern, who (no doubt taking thought for his future well-being) promptly gave the revenues (tithes) of the six most valuable parishes to the Abbey of Lyra in Normandy, which he had founded. His successor, Roger Earl of Hereford, forfeited the Lordship when he was imprisoned for treason, and the Island reverted to the Crown, to be granted over the centuries to tough fighters, or careless favourites, as the Sovereign felt inclined. Later the Lordship became a saleable asset, and in this manner changed hands more than once.
Local worthies were often appointed as Wardens or Deputy Governors, and had to cope with defence against all too likely invaders. Carisbrooke Castle was the official residence of the Governors, the last one to reside there being Princess Beatrice, the A youngest of Queen Victoria's children. The apartments have in recent years been converted to a museum, and the present Governor, Earl Mountbatten of Burma, "hops over" by helicopter to visit us. Now, owing to the Island's new status as a County, our Governor has been created a Lord Lieutenant.
The complicated arrangement of the mediaeval parishes (all but two of which included part of the coastline) has never been satisfactorily explained. The most likely reason seems to be division of responsibility for defence, for each parish had to make some contribution, either maintaining beacons, providing archers, horsemen or watchmen, keeping a parish gun or some other form of defence against invasion. In later days when smuggling was a local industry, the parish coastline was very likely more of an asset than a burden!
The Island being rather an exceptional area nature-wise, a number of coastal and inland nature trails have been carefully thought out, and a stern eye is kept to ensure that no barbed wire or other obstruction makes its appearance. From these trails every aspect of natural history can be studied, and you may well see the Island butterfly, the Glanville Fritillary. One plant, the Wood Calamint, is now unknown elsewhere.
The wonderful natural beauty of the Island is its greatest asset, and those who prize it have to fight hard against the encroachments of big business and uninformed development; but the struggle is worthwhile if we can hand on the Isle of Wight to future generations, lovely, and in the main, unspoiled.
In preparing this collection of notes we have had to face the question "What constitutes a village?" Some of our villages, like Lake, have disappeared into urban districts. Yarmouth is really a small town which, having a Parish Council, was classed as a village. Then there is Newtown, which was once a town, but is now a small village. So we decided to work on the Island's official list of villages, including Yarmouth, and adding only Yaverland.
Should you make your home here, do not be dismayed to find that you will remain an "Overner" for twenty-five years; the great day when you become a true Islander will be worth waiting for!
