Newchurch
To see Newchurch today – small, peaceful and largely unspoiled – it is difficult to realise that it was once the centre of a parish reaching "from sea to sea", and that the present church of All Saints was also the Parish Church of the good people of Ryde and Ventnor. In 1866 Ryde and Ventnor became separate parishes, and even more recently, Ashey and Wroxall.
At the time of the Domesday survey the parish comprised seven manors – Ashey (including the modern Ryde), Knighton, Branston (which probably took in the village of Newchurch), Winston, Bathingbourne, Apse and Wroxall. The Valuation of Pope Nicholas in 1291 showed Newchurch as surpassed in value only by Carisbrooke. In 1410 the Abbey of Beaulieu appropriated the parish, but at the Dissolution, Henry VIII created six new bishoprics, one being Bristol to which Newchurch was given; in the 19th century it passed to Winchester, and now it belongs to Portsmouth.
Shortly after the Conquest the "great house" of the district appears to have come into existence, Knighton Gorges, situated at the foot of Knighton Shute. Early owners were the de Morville family, of whom Hugh de Morville was one of the four knights who murdered Thomas a Becket at Canterbury in 1170. Hugh's son, John, built the north transept of All Saints' Church about 1204, and gave money for masses to be said for the repose of his father's soul.
Apse Manor was granted to the convent at Twynham by Roger del Estre, c. 1100. Reverting to the Crown, the manor was leased to various owners, passing at the end of the 18th century into the hands of the Worsleys, and being acquired in 1912 by Lord Alverstone.
At Knighton the de Morvilles were followed by the de Gorges (from whence the name), and in the early 1300s the Russells of Yaverland came there.
In the summer of 1340 the French made a landing at St. Helens, and Sir Theobald Russell, then commander of the eastern half of the Island, summoned his forces, including, no doubt, many stout- hearted men of Newchurch. The enemy were put to flight, but in the moment of victory Sir Theobald was killed. His body was carried back to Knighton Gorges, where in the aptly named "Room of Tears" it lay in state while his sorrowing soldiers paid their last respects.
In 1563 Knighton passed to the romantic Dillington family, with whom it remained until the tragic death of Sir Tristram Dillington in 1721. A subsequent owner was Maurice George Bissett, who eloped with the wife of Sir Richard Worsley of Appuldurcombe, and faced a claim for £20,000 for Alienation of Affections. The case had wide publicity, and although Sir Richard was successful in his action he was awarded only one shilling damages.
Wacklands, a considerable farm, was built about 1736, probably by one William Thatcher, whose family continued in possession for over 100 years.
The Parish Registers of Newchurch begin in the late 17th century, and contain many interesting items, such as: 1714. Pd. William Calloway for Ringing Beer when King George came to England and was crowned. £0.15.0. October 13th 1740. Dr. Benson, Bishop of Gloucester, came to this Island and confirmed at Newport 716 persons. And on the day after, he confirmed at this Parish Church of Newchurch, 551 persons, of whom there were 300 who lived in this Parish. On the next day he confirmed at Brixton (Brighstone) 413 persons.
The whole number that were confirmed in the Island being 1680. Burial 1775. April 2nd. William Cook who died by drinking drams at Farmer John White's wedding.
Farmer White appears again in the annals of the village when he was attacked by a foreign trooper billeted at Princelett. The farmer's dog leaped to defend his master, and helped to save his life, though at the cost of its own. The dog's eye-teeth were made into a scarf-pin which was still being worn in the family as late as 1910.
Cock-fighting at Wacklands; village pageants in the early years of this century; the custom of Shroving performed by the children until the First World War; the Flower Show on August Bank Holiday; and in recent times, a champion darts-player of All England emerging from the ranks of the Pointer Inn darts team – all these are fragments of the colourful history of this ancient little village.
