Bus

Spitbank Fort Spitbank

guarding against invasion by the French the by invasion against guarding by Rambles

one of Lord Palmerston’s defences Palmerston’s Lord of one

Island

to see the see to

best way best

The

placed between the Island and No Mans Land Fort, as as Fort, Land Mans No and Island the between placed

from Osborne House to attend the Seaview Regatta. Regatta. Seaview the attend to House Osborne from

stations. In 1909, a line of concrete blocks had been been had blocks concrete of line a 1909, In stations.

Prince and Princess of Wales who arrived by steamer steamer by arrived who Wales of Princess and Prince

military training, with women often fighting as archers. as fighting often women with training, military

Land Fort and became naval signal signal naval became Fort Sand Horse and Fort Land

a day in the summer, and in 1881 it was visited by the the by visited was it 1881 in and summer, the in day a

command. Everyone on the Island had compulsory compulsory had Island the on Everyone command.

and rearmed as technology improved. Both No Mans Mans No Both improved. technology as rearmed and

pier deck was suspended. There were six boat services services boat six were There suspended. was deck pier

Isle of Wight militia, had an army of 6,000 under his his under 6,000 of army an had militia, Wight of Isle

Portsmouth dockyard, and over the years were armed armed were years the over and dockyard,

undulating deck. There were four towers from which the the which from towers four were There deck. undulating

9,000 people, but Richard Worsley, the Captain of the the of Captain the Worsley, Richard but people, 9,000

Spithead forts was given. They were intended to protect protect to intended were They given. was forts Spithead

It was 1,000 feet long and 15 feet wide, with a unique unique a with wide, feet 15 and long feet 1,000 was It

entire Island population at the time was approximately approximately was time the at population Island entire near panic in and in 1860 the order to build the the build to order the 1860 in and England in panic near

caught the French and pushed them back to the sea. The The sea. the to back them pushed and French the caught forces during the Second World War. War. World Second the during forces advanced artillery and steam-driven iron ships caused caused ships iron steam-driven and artillery advanced

French invasion, and it is thought that the local militia militia local the that thought is it and invasion, French and Seaview, and the final users were the armed armed the were users final the and Seaview, and Ryde its first president as Napoleon III. The introduction of of introduction The III. Napoleon as president first its

In July 1545, Seaview was one of the sites of the last last the of sites the of one was Seaview 1545, July In and 30s, with the availability of bus services between between services bus of availability the with 30s, and was declared in France and Louis Napoleon became became Napoleon Louis and France in declared was

French invasion French

years. The pier had fallen into decline during the 1920s 1920s the during decline into fallen had pier The years. Europe was again in a state of revolt. A second republic republic second A revolt. of state a in again was Europe

remainder was gradually removed over the following following the over removed gradually was remainder continued to be suspicious of French intentions. In 1848, 1848, In intentions. French of suspicious be to continued

the end of June 1998 as a luxury hotel. luxury a as 1998 June of end the

feet long was washed away during a storm, and the the and storm, a during away washed was long feet and restored the monarchy to France, but England England but France, to monarchy the restored and

priory as their HQ on the Island. The priory re-opened at at re-opened priory The Island. the on HQ their as priory

disappeared. On Boxing Day 1951, a length of pier 100 100 pier of length a 1951, Day Boxing On disappeared. In 1805, the Battle of Waterloo brought peace to Europe Europe to peace brought Waterloo of Battle the 1805, In

a barrack room and the security services also used the the used also services security the and room barrack a

The Spithead Forts Spithead The The original pier which was built in 1878 has now now has 1878 in built was which pier original The

Second World War. During this time the barn became became barn the time this During War. World Second

Seaview Pier Seaview

1938, and was then occupied by the army during the the during army the by occupied then was and 1938, production where Salterns Cottages now stand. now Cottages Salterns where production

residence, with a succession of private owners until until owners private of succession a with residence, onto the fort. the onto series of sluices and saltpans provided facilities for salt salt for facilities provided saltpans and sluices of series

a farmhouse in Tudor times. In 1800 it changed to a a to changed it 1800 In times. Tudor in farmhouse a nowhere to moor a yacht and boats have to be winched winched be to have boats and yacht a moor to nowhere the mouth of the harbour, the present day Duver, and a a and Duver, day present the harbour, the of mouth the

still remains. The current priory was established as as established was priory current The remains. still developed as a luxury hotel. One problem is that there is is there that is problem One hotel. luxury a as developed the Mediterranean, an embankment was built across across built was embankment an Mediterranean, the

St Helen’s Duver, alongside the church whose tower tower whose church the alongside Duver, Helen’s St weighing 70 tonnes each. The fort has now been sold and and sold been now has fort The each. tonnes 70 weighing Napoleonic wars cut off supplies of salt from sources in in sources from salt of supplies off cut wars Napoleonic

There was a 12th century Benedictine monastery on on monastery Benedictine century 12th a was There Mans Land Fort originally had 400 men with 49 guns guns 49 with men 400 had originally Fort Land Mans The mill pond embankment can still be seen. When the the When seen. be still can embankment pond mill The

The Hotel Bay Priory The

chancellor, threatened to resign as the cost escalated. No No escalated. cost the as resign to threatened chancellor, reached the mill south of the present B3330 close to R61. R61. to close B3330 present the of south mill the reached

opposition. The cost was huge and Gladstone, the the Gladstone, and huge was cost The opposition. there were works stretching out to sea. Quite large ships ships large Quite sea. to out stretching works were there

beach tents which lined the sea wall every year. every wall sea the lined which tents beach

pushed through the construction in the face of bitter bitter of face the in construction the through pushed times the inlet was developed into Barnsley harbour and and harbour Barnsley into developed was inlet the times

the 1960s the could be recognised by a line of summer summer of line a by recognised be could the 1960s the

located forts. Palmerston, the Victorian prime minister, minister, prime Victorian the Palmerston, forts. located type of inlet was favoured by the Romans. In medieval medieval In Romans. the by favoured was inlet of type

Seagrove Manor, whose estate ran down to the bay. Until Until bay. the to down ran estate whose Manor, Seagrove

Bank Fort near Portsmouth as well as the two centrally centrally two the as well as Portsmouth near Fort Bank reached up to the park and Longlands copses and this this and copses Longlands and park the to up reached

1880s. Until that time, the only property in the area was was area the in property only the time, that Until 1880s.

There were four sea forts built, at St Helens, The Spit Spit The Helens, St at built, forts sea four were There R61 paths), is interesting historically. Once, the sea sea the Once, historically. interesting is paths), R61

The first development of 14 houses was built in the the in built was houses 14 of development first The

The rural stretch through the Barnsley Valley (R95 and and (R95 Valley Barnsley the through stretch rural The

Seagrove Bay Seagrove

well as between Horse Sand Fort and Southsea. and Fort Sand Horse between as well

History

the D-Day landings D-Day the part of the world in in world the of part

part played by this this by played part Trail

commemorating the the commemorating

Roosevelt; Plaque Plaque Roosevelt; many miles of footpaths in this area. this in footpaths of miles many

and Churchill of

Barnsley

residents and tourists to discover some of the the of some discover to tourists and residents

today; Sculpture Sculpture today;

The Priory Bay Hotel Hotel Bay Priory The

and Seaview Parish Council to encourage encourage to Council Parish Seaview and

Inset left to right right to left Inset The

This circular walk was devised by Nettlestone by devised was walk circular This

Spitbank Fort Spitbank

Main picture Main

Leave the car Ramblesby The at home – take a Southern Vectis bus Bus Barnsley Countryside Code The to the ’s best way Respect Protect Enjoy most inspiring walks. to see the Island Trail Respect other people Just use the handy Description A fairly level walk, with open QR code inside countryside and coastal views. Distance 3.5 • Consider the local community and other people enjoying the outdoors to find your miles. Start There are bus stops near the High bus route Street, Seaview or at the Wishing Well pub, • Leave gates and property as you find . Access information A walk with them and follow paths unless wider access no stiles, but can become muddy in the Barnsley is available valley area. It is possible to follow the beach from Protect the natural environment to the slipway at Seaview (High • Leave no trace of your visit and take your Street), but this is for the sure-footed as there are litter home rocks and shingle. Care should be taken with tidal • Keep dogs under effective control conditions and the weather. Refreshments The The Wishing Well pub at Pondwell; cafés in Enjoy the outdoors Seaview. Toilets At the Seaview Hotel in the • Plan ahead and be prepared High Street and near Seagrove Bay. Internet All • Follow advice and local signs walks in this series can be downloaded from www. Barnsley iowramblers.com/page44.htm. Trail

This leaflet has been produced with the assistance of Parish Council

Pictured Across to Portsmouth’s Spinnaker Tower (front cover); Spitbank Fort (inset, left); On the beach at Seaview (inset, right) Britain’s maritime heritage is celebrated in this coast and country ramble, from the French invasion of 1545 to D-Day, four centuries later

Route From the bus stop 1 near The Wishing Well pub Cross the main road 6 and then turn right into Continue along the esplanade, passing the yacht club The at Pondwell, go downhill and cross the road at a bend Priory Drive. Continue straight on the track R72. At and then on R91 along the sea wall. At 10 there are and follow bridleway R61 through a gate 2 and across an entrance to the Priory Hotel 7 , turn left downhill views of the Spinnaker Tower and sea forts. Turn left a green field track to a gate and an enclosed track. Turn to reach Seagrove Bay 8 . Here, there is a choice of into Salterns Road, passing cottages. Continue straight left onto a gravel track 3 and cross a bridge over a following the beach or turning left along Pier Road to on and then turn right into Pond Lane and follow Barnsley stream. Turn left on R62 4 and at a field, follow the the shops. Turn right into High Street and continue bridleway R95. left hand edge to reach a boardwalk which turns left. to the esplanade 9 . The coastline between Seaview and Seagrove Bay is the site of a lost pier (1881-1951) The path emerges at Nettlestone Hill 11 . Turn Go through a Ramblers gate 5 and across a field by a and also where ships sailed to take part in Operation right into Farm Shute, footpath R114 at a viewpoint copse. Go through a kissing gate onto a track on the Overlord on 6th June 1944. overlooking the Barnsley Valley and The Solent. The path Trail edge of woodland. descends into the valley, emerging onto a pathway – follow this to return to the Wishing Well bus stop. Information Bus times 0871 200 22 33 calls from landlines cost 10p per minute Web www.islandbuses.info www.iowramblers.com facebook.com/southernvectis facebook.com/Ramblersiow twitter.com/southernvectis 10 Email [email protected] Lost property 01983 523831 9

Key Tea rooms

Public house

Bus stop

Car park

Public footpaths Walk route

Cowes East Fishbourne Ryde Yarmouth Newport 1 Freshwater

Ventnor 11

8

2

6

3 5

4

Scan this code with your smart phone to access the Southern 7 The Vectis timetable applicable to best way this walk. to see the Island

Pictured Inset (Top) Beachcombing at Seaview (Bottom) Perfect for rockpooling Rambles Busby