The old church of St. Boniface in Bonchurch, regarded as of Saxon origin, was restored in the Norman style shortly after the Norman Conquest by a party of monks from Lyre Abbey, with completion and consecration taking place in 1070. Read PDF version here: St Boniface Old Church – Bonchurch
Discussions concerning a proposed Isolation Hospital for Ventnor were started in 1892 and a site was finally chosen at the top of Lowtherville Road and in November 1902. Read PDF version here: Ventnor & the Undercliff Isolation Hospital
In the 1940s, as part of a reversal of gender stereotypes that was described by the Mercury as pioneering, boys at Ventnor Senior School were being taught cookery and girls were being instructed in woodwork. Read PDF version here: Cookery Class
In the 1930s ‘The Hermitage’ on St. Catherine’s Down near Whitwell found a new lease of life as the Island’s first Youth Hostel, run by William and Anne Whillier from Brightstone. Read PDF version here: Youth Hostelling around the Undercliff
We are pleased to announce that our new, long awaited, book, Ventnor and the Undercliff, in Search of Lost Time, is now published and available in our online shop, The 160 pages span the years from 1860 to 1950, with more than 180 black and white images drawn from the Society’s archive as well as… read more »
Before 1971, the site currently occupied by the Co-op supermarket was for many years the home of Nash’s Garage. Read PDF version here: Nash’s Garage, 1 Pier Street
The second part of the story of Ventnor’s fire brigade spans the years 1924 to 1947. Read PDF version here: Ventnor Fire Brigade – 1924 to 1947
As Ventnor grew rapidly from a mill and a few other buildings to hundreds of properties during the early 19th century, a severe fire at the Mill in 1847 prompted the creation of a local fire brigade. Read PDF version here: Ventnor Fire Brigade – 1847 to 1923
What was the latest news in Ventnor in the Christmas season 70 years ago? From the clean up after the heavy blizzard the week before, to the announcement of Ventnor Football Club Supporters’ Club, as well as details of the Xmas entertainment on offer, the Isle of Wight Mercury had it all covered. Read PDF… read more »
On Friday December 15th 1950, Ventnor awoke, after a disturbing thundery night, to find everywhere blanketed a foot deep in snow. Read PDF version here: Snowed in on High Street Dec 1950