St. Helens
The history of St. Helens revolves around the 12th century Cluniac Priory, a daughter house to St. Milburga, Much Wenlock, Salop. The monks seem to have built and administered the Church, until the suppression of alien foundations in 1414, when, of course, it was claimed by the Crown. Henry VI gave the Priory revenues to Eton College, and later its lands were also given to Eton, by Edward IV.
The College apparently neglected St. Helens and the Church became so ruinous that it was described as a great discredit to the whole realm. Sir John Oglander mentions that the lease of the Priory was bought by Emanuel Badd "a verie poor man's Bonn", who "by God's blessing and the loss of 5 wyfes – grewe very ritch, pourchased ye Priory, and match other lands".
The sea had been gradually encroaching on the Church, which eventually became unsafe, so at the beginning of the 18th century, a site was given by Eton for a new Church, further inland; this was built, and consecrated in 1719. The following year a great wave destroyed the old Church, only the tower remaining. This still stands as a landmark.
St. Helens must have been quite a considerable port in the 1300s, but, with the rise of Cowes, it declined in importance. Nevertheless, ships still called there, as a local spring was famed for the excellent keeping quality of its water, and it was extensively used during the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. There is a legend that "holystones" from St. Helens Church were the best that could be obtained for scouring the decks, but the truth of this is open to question.
