"To Collect, Record and preserve the rich heritage and history of Ventnor and surrounding villages, and share it with local and wider communities"
Discover the story of Ventnor, by taking a tour of our fascinating town, stopping off at nine historic hotspots along the way. You’ll find an information board at each of the numbered locations on the map with fun challenges for children.
Click on the Time Travel Ventnor image here to go to our Time Travel Ventnor website, or download the leaflet and map from the link below:
Time Travel Ventnor: download leaflet and map (PDF)
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.