Whitwell
On the outskirts of Whitwell, near the site of the erstwhile level crossing on the Ventnor road, stands the beautiful old stone house of Dean's Farm. The present house dates from 1702, but there has been a dwelling here for more than 600 years. Whitwell proper starts at Ash Farm, where a tributary of the Eastern Yar rises, forming many brooks among the meadows. Long ago these waters supplied a well which was credited with healing properties. Pilgrims are said to have come to it along a Pilgrims' Way from Niton, down Ashknowles Lane and across to Well Lane, opposite the Old Vicarage (now a busy Youth Hostel); and it is here that traces exist of the White Well from which the village probably derived its name. The Parish Church, with its perpendicular tower, stands nearby. Originally it was two chapels, the earlier one on the north side being a manorial chapel endowed by the Lord of Gatcombe for the tenants in his manor of Whitwell, with an unusual dedication to St. Rhadagund; and the other, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, founded by the Lords of Stenbury. The two were later joined to form the Church. Within the building are a fine Jacobean altar table; an early 17th century pulpit reputed to have been made by a local craftsman; the faint remnants of a wall painting; and other interesting items.
Outside the churchyard wall is preserved one of the original iron water standards which supplied the village, each one having a platform on which to rest a bucket, and iron cups fastened on with chains – no doubt a great meeting place for the local gossips! A small plaque on the wall-coping above records the gift of this system in 1887 by Mr. W. Spindler, of Old Park, St. Lawrence (which is actually in the ecclesiastical parish of Whitwell); he also gave the Church clock and six bells
The High Street, running north, is a splendid mixture of ancient and modern. Here are Whitwell's oldest dwellings – Union Cottage, 1702; Post Cottage (once the village shop and Post Office), 1723; Church Cottages, 1574; and Strathwell Vale, 1722. The White Horse Inn, with its fine thatched roof, was once Chiddles Cottage, and was probably an ale-house brewing its own beer in the back premises; part of the Inn, at least, has stood here since 1450. The old blacksmith's forge nearby is now used for light industry. Lower down, at the corner of Nettlecombe Lane, stands the Methodist Chapel, built in 1885 on land given by Lord Yarborough, and outside it is the War Memorial. Up Nettlecombe Lane is the Yarborough Arms, which was a small Station Hotel in the days when the railway ran from Ventnor West, through Whitwell to Newport and Cowes. This charming little rural line, opened in 1897, most regrettably was closed in 1952.
Whitwell's Council Houses rejoice in the name of Paradise Cottages, having been built on the field at Southford called Paradise. In contrast to the modern dwellings the fascinating little cottage, Quintons, dated 1775, stands in a hollow at the corner of the lane leading down to the old mill house.
Local place-names are either descriptive (Ford, Stockbridge, Nettlecombe), or possessive – Jolliffe's, recalling a family of whom Robert Joliffe was a Churchwarden in 1553, and Kemming Road, referring to one Kymun. Holbrooks were owners of land in Whitwell in 1451.
The village and its hamlets are a favourite venue of Rambling Clubs. The many footpaths are well marked, and present no dangers other than a little mud or a few inquisitive cows!
