Godshill
Godshill is one of the ancient parishes that existed before the compilation of Domesday Book, the first recorded spelling being Godeshulle. Its Church was given by William Fitz-Osbern, who died in 1070, to the Abbey of Lyra in Normandy. The Manor of Godshill was also owned by the Abbey, but reverted to the crown in the time of Henry VIII. The hill on which the Church stands was probably once a place of pagan worship. Legend has it that the building of a church was begun on a site at Sheepwash, but that on three successive nights the stones were removed unseen to the site of the present Church. Work was restarted on the first two mornings, but after the third removal of the stones it was assumed that God wished the Church to be built on the little hill, hence the name Godshill.
All Saints' Church dates largely from the 14th century, and is the fourth on that site. It contains much of interest. The monument in memory of Sir John Leigh, who died in 1529, and his wife Agnes, is reputed to be the finest in the Island. It exhibits the rare feature of two "weepers" – bearded monks holding their rosaries – curiously placed on the soles of Sir John's feet. Most of the other memorials commemorate the Worsleys of Appuldurcombe, which was the seat of the Isle of Wight branch of the family for 300 years. In the north chancel is a monument to Sir James Worsley, who died in 1536. He was a boyhood friend of Henry VIII, and later became his Master of the Robes, in which capacity he was responsible for arranging "the Field of the Cloth of Gold".
On the east wall of the south transept is the unique mural of the Lily Cross, representing Our Lord crucified on a triple-branched lily. Painted over during the Reformation, it was re-discovered in 1842 when the limewash began flaking away. A painting of Daniel in the lions' den was formerly attributed to Rubens, but seems to have been a copy.
The circular steps and part of the shaft of a 15th century cross stand near the porch, with an 18th century sundial on the top, and there are a number of very interesting grave-stones, the oldest dated 1592. Buried under a slab in the porch in 1617, lies Richard Garde; a bequest made by him is still distributed annually at Christmas, together with the Poor Widows Fund from a Worsley Trust.
The cottages by the Church's main entrance are reputed to have been built in the 15th century, possibly to house the masons who were then rebuilding the church. Old Bell cottage was once the Bell Inn, and is known to have been in existence before the licensing laws became operative, and continued as an inn until the 1920s. Church Hill House next to the inn was a smallholding with cows, pigs, etc., dairy produce being sold from a room at the front. The third cottage at the entrance to the churchyard, Churchgate Cottage, may have been the Sexton's house.
Appuldurcombe was originally a small priory of Benedictine monks, situated a short distance from the present ruin. The house and lands came to the Worsley family through the marriage of Anne, daughter of Sir John Leigh, to Sir James Worsley. In 1557 Dame Anne willed 20 marks for erecting a free Grammar School in Godshill, but apparently this was never built and the old Chantry Priest's House continued to be used. Sir Richard Worsley increased the endowment and granted the Chantry House to the Trustees. In 1824 the old school was pulled down, the Old Vicarage built in its place, and the school rebuilt in its present position by Lord Yarborough and restored in 1848 as a misappropriated Grammar School under a scheme of the Charity Commissioners. The school records for the 1880s show that children paid between 1d. and 4d. per week to attend, depending upon the father's occupation, and were kept at home to work in the fields during hay-making and harvesting. The headmaster received £13 per quarter.
The manor of Stenbury was held by the family of de Aula soon after the Norman Conquest, and descended to the de Heynos. The house was then surrounded by a moat. The manor house was pulled down and rebuilt in the 16th century during the tenure of the Pound family, and a buttressed barn added. The moat was filled up in 1727; during the work cinerary urns containing bones and ashes were discovered in the banks.
Bridgecourt Mill was shown on an early map (1759) as Bridge Mill; now only the ruined walls of the mill and mill cottage remain. A long mill-pond was created west of Bridgecourt Farm.
Records of a Poorhouse in the village date back to 1737. This establishment was closed in 1770 when St. Mary's Hospital was built to house all the poor of the Island.
