Heritage Displays

A slipway launched boat. Boathouse at end of 100 Yard Pier. An interesting short talk is given by a member of the Lifeboat Guild.

National Trust. Dates back to C.1700. The sole remaining windmill on the Island, it was last used in 1913 and still contains much of it’s original machinery.

A working sawmill with displays of woodland crafts and traditional timber trades. Adjacent to Blackgang Chine Theme Park

Brickfields Horsecountry
Heritage Museum contains horse’s skeleton, harnesses, memorabilia and a unique carriage collection with horse-drawn vehicles dating back to 1832. Wagon rides drawn by a working Shire. Parade of horses from mighty Shire to miniature Shetland.

Mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086, the mill is still in working order. Museum of rural life, gift shop/tea house, free-roaming peacocks, peahens and other fowl. Picnic area in pleasant surroundings by the mill stream. Picturesque and carefully maintained grounds

Visited by hundreds of school parties in recent years because of the wealth of resources for learning which it provides. Carisbrooke is a complex site, with walls dating from the early 12th century, with additions and alterations incorporated over the centuries, including medieval buildings, Elizabethan fortifications, Victorian adaptations and even a 20th century chapel. The Castle was Charles I’s prison for nearly a year and it is also famous for it’s well and donkey-operated wheel.

At one time the capital of the Isle of Wight, Carisbrooke - no larger than a village itself - embraces a fine medieval castle. This Norman structure, set high on a hill, was based on a Saxon fort that occupied the site during the 8th century.
The original 'motte and bailey' castle was laid out in the 11th century, and the polygonal Keep was added in the first half of the 12th century, built on an artificial mound. About the same time, the stone curtain walls were built, with their square flanking towers at the south east and south west encompassing the bailey. On the western side of the curtain wall lies the twin-towered Gatehouse, where it is still possible to see evidence of the portcullises. This imposing Gatehouse, dating from the 14th/15th centuries, replaced an earlier gateway built during the time of the Redvers family, who ruled the island until 1293. Following the family's departure from Carisbrooke, the castle was bought by Edward I.

Two medieval wells still exist within Carisbrooke Castle: the Keep houses the first well, which is some 160ft (48.5m) deep and is reached by 71 steps; and the second well is contained in a 16th century wellhouse in the courtyard. This well has been in constant use since the 12th century, following a failure in the first well, and it is thought that prisoners were used to tread the waterwheel. However, in the 17th century, donkeys were introduced to drive the winding gear, and they still give demonstrations today of how this fascinating piece of early engineering drew up the water.

For more than a century the railways on the Isle of Wight operated a fleet of antiquated tank engines and outdated carriages acquired second hand from countless mainland railway companies. In December 1966, regular steam operations ceased on the Island. A number of the Victorian and Edwardian carriages and engines survived to form the nucleus of the Isle of Wight Railway that you see today. From Smallbrook Junction, the railway operates steam trains along the five miles of branch line to Wootton, passing through unspoilt countryside. Based at Havenstreet Station there is a collection of steam engines, passenger carriages, goods vehicles and small artefacts which represent over 100 years of railway history on the Island.

A large collection of stuffed animals, birds and reptiles from all over the world displayed in large colourful dioramas depicting their natural surroundings.

World famous wax museum artistically set out in ancient rectory mansion, part dating before 1066 AD Depicts nearly 2000 years of colourful history. Many working models, brought to life with psychosomatic sound, light and motion.

Acknowledged as being one of the finest and most important collections in Great Britain, the museum was established in Brading in 1974 and was formed from the private collection started by the Munday family in 1960. Exhibits from c2000B.C. are among the 1000 plus on show. Excellent talk given.

Island life in miniature is portrayed in the magical Model Village at Godshill. The original owner built his model of Shanklin with the help of model-makers from Elstree film studios and local people, and opened it to the public in 1952. The present owners purchased the model village in 1969, by which time it was in a state of disrepair. Since then major repairs and rebuilding projects have filled the subsequent years, with all the work done in the workshop on site.

Godshill Model Village captures the essence of Isle of Wight life in yesteryear. Hidden behind the walls of the Old Vicarage, the grounds extend for 1¼ acres and are full of shrubs and conifers to set off the 1/10-scale models depicting Godshill and Shanklin Old Villages. The models are made of coloured cement and the detail is quite incredible. Real straw is prepared in the correct way for the thatching; the church on the hill took 600 hours of work and each house has its own tiny garden with miniature trees and shrubs. The airfield has 1920s style landing strips and the little railway is modelled on the older Island systems. Cricket, football, croquet and show-jumping are among the sports taking place on the beautifully tended lawns, and the sea is represented by a delightful pond complete with beach huts and fishermen's cottages.

A Spectacular view of the Needles from this partly ruined, former Palmerstonian Fort. At the time the Battery was built [1861-63], the potential enemy was still France, with memories of the Napoleonic wars fresh in the mind. It takes approximately 30 minutes to walk from the Battery to the Needles Pleasure Park. National Trust.

Charting the history of the island from the time of the dinosaurs to the present day. A museum of the 21st century designed to meet a wide range of National Curriculum needs.

A National Trust property built shortly before 1700.

Specifically built and furnished for Queen Victoria and her family, it remains largely unaltered since she died there in 1901. Osborne offers a unique opportunity for the study of both the Royal Family and other aspects of nineteenth century life including architecture, art and design, technology, costume, education and leisure.

In 1845, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert bought Osborne House and its 1000 acres as a retreat. They greatly enjoyed the Isle of Wight, far from the pressures court life at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle.

Prince Albert personally supervised the construction of the house and the landscaping. In the grounds he created mock Renaissance terraces with a fountain and statues which reached down to the sea and their private beach. Acres of trees were planted in the surrounding park and a Swiss Chalet was imported as a play house for the royal children. Osborne House became the royal couple's favourite home.

When Albert died of typhoid in 1861 the Queen ordered that nothing should be changed at Osborne so that it would remain as a memorial to the Prince. The nursery bedroom is just as it was when Queen Victoria's first came to stay in the 1870s. For the rest of her life Queen Victoria lived mostly at Osborne House and she died there in 1901.

Since her death virtually nothing has changed at Osborne and many of the royal couple's personal possessions, including family photographs and paintings, are to be found in the state rooms along with the magnificent works of art and statues. The house is now a memorial to both Prince Albert and Queen Victoria and provides a wonderful insight into royal life in the 19th century.

Education Room [no lecturer] - must be booked.

Fine examples of mosaic floors, which have been carefully preserved, along with other relics of the Roman occupation dating from the 3rd Century AD A short talk is given by the curator about the background to the Roman Villa and Roman life in general.

The extensive remains of a late Romano-British farmhouse built around 280 AD. The villa features several superb reconstruction's based on the latest archaeological evidence illustrating the way of life of a well-to-do farm owner, together with a charming Roman style garden which provides an insight into the wealth of new plants the Romans introduced to Britain. Also included is an exhibition of finds from the Isle of Wight Museum Service’s collection charting the history of the Roman occupation of the Isle of Wight.

One of the last forts in a series built along the coast by Henry VIII when he feared invasion by the French. It is protected by the sea on two sides and a moat once defended the other two sides. It’s layout demonstrates some of the changes that took place in castle design with the introduction of gunpowder and makes a profitable visit for schools adopting a maritime theme whilst on the Island.