Ventnor Heritage Centre

"To Collect, Record and preserve the rich heritage and history of Ventnor and surrounding villages, and share it with local and wider communities"

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Newsletters

Newsletters sent out to Ventnor & District Local History Society members were first produced in 2002, and almost all past newsletters are now available here in PDF format.  It’s fascinating to see how the Society has changed over the last twenty years, while always keeping local history at its core.  Sadly we are missing Newsletter No. 23, September 2013 – if anyone has a copy we would be delighted to see it!

The newsletters continued regularly until, sadly, the Covid 19 Pandemic struck, when as well as losing friends, volunteers and members, we were unable to produce or distribute regular newsletters for more than two years.  But we are back to normal now, with news of the Society and Heritage Centre  once again being sent to all our members.  We  welcome new members, so if you are interested in the local history of Ventnor and the surrounding area please join us – for details see our  Becoming a Member page.

2002-14

Exhibitions, stories, images . . .

Paddle Steamers

In 1863 the PS (Paddle Steamer) Chancellor was wrecked attempting a landing a Ventnor Harbour pier, holed on the Lion Rock. In 1887 Southsea-Ventnor-Sandown  & Shanklin Steamboat Co started services, and in 1888: P S Dandie Dinmont , 'Ventnor's own steamer', was brought down from Scotland.  Despite a chequered career, including sinking in Portsmouth Harbour, she lasted until 1899. By 1900 there were many fine paddle steamers in Solent waters, and  most, if not all, called at Ventnor Pier, including Balmoral, Lorna Doone, and the Solent Queen. Between 1940 and 1945 many steamers had an heroic war. A lot were lost or returned in run down condition and had to be scrapped, and the 1960s saw the end of 'paddlers' although the PS Waverley can still be seen passing on her annual visits to the South coast.  

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