THE VECTIS SCENERY, PART II.

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONTAINING THE MOST INTERESTING

 

 

VIEWS OF THE INTERIOR

 

OF THE

ISLE OF WIGHT.

 

 

"The Country calls us forth; blythe Summer's hand

Sheds sweetest flowers, and morning's brightest smile

Illumines earth and air.

By winding pathways through the waving corn

We reach the airy point that prospect yields;

Not vast and awful, but confined and fair ;

Not the black mountain and the foamy main,

But pleasant interchange of soft ascents,

And level plain, and growth of shady woods,

And twining course of rivers clear, and sight

Of rural towns, and rural cots, whose roofs

Rise scatt'ring round, and animate the whole."

Carisbrooke Castle.

This celebrated and venerable monument of antiquity stands on a steep hill of nearly a circular form, about a mile west of Newport: and “ presents a scene of magnificence in ruins (says Mr. Gilpin,} which is as well worth seeing as any object in the island.” The principal entrance to it is through an ivy-vested stone gateway between the two western bastions, which, by an inscription over the arch (1598: E.R. 40), appears to have been erected in the reign of Queen Elizabeth : this leads to another, of higher date and greater dimensions, guarded by two noble round towers, which yet..,

“A warlike mien, a sullen grandeur wear:”

and opens to the base court, or inner fortification; the old gate with its wicket of strong lattice-work still remaining, the oak of which is become almost as hard as the iron itself. This view of the castle possesses an uncommon degree of picturesque beauty, the most luxuriant ivy is seen everywhere mantling its grey walls and mouldering battlements, interspersed with the waving branches of wild vegetation; and the surrounding terraces adorned with the opposing tints of pines and every variety of deciduous trees..

At the N.E. angle, on a mount raised considerably above the other buildings, stands THE KEEP, a multangular tower, to which the ascent is by a flight of 72 steps, of nine inches each : this is thought to be the original fortress, constructed most probably by the Saxons, as it was described to be in the sixth century a place of strength and importance, provided with a Well 300 feet deep, but which has since been filled up as dangerous and useless. The old castle covered less than two acres of ground ; but it received from time to time various additions, particularly in the reign of Elizabeth, when the whole was substantially repaired : and now circumscribes about twenty acres of land.  At the S.EL angle are the remains of another ancient tower called Montjoy's, the walls of which in some places are eighteen feet thick.

The curiosity chiefly shown within the walls of the castle is a Well 200 feet deep, which produces in the driest season water of the purest quality.  To give an idea of the depth, the custom was formerly to drop into it a pin, which was nearly four seconds in falling, and on reaching the water produced a very loud report; but the depth is now shown by dropping in a lighted sheet of paper, or by lowering a burning candle in a lantern.   The water is drawn up by means of an ass treading inside of a large windlass-wheel, which produces the necessary rotatory motion; and the longevity of these patient laborers is rather remarkable, for one which died in 1771 had performed the duty 45 years, and the next 26, dying at the age of 32.

To describe in detail the several rooms, &c. usually shown to strangers, would be perfectly uninteresting to the reader, though doubtless every spot and fragment must be viewed by the visitor with lively feelings, from the association of ideas created by the contemplation of such a scene of fallen grandeur. We must not however omit to recommend a circumambulation on the terrace, previously to taking our leave : the walk is in -some parts sequestered and most pleasingly solemn; in other points presenting very charming views: and altogether calculated to raise our admiration, and give a more perfect idea of this interesting specimen of "the pride of other days."

Time, by his gradual touch,

Has moulder'd into beauty many a tower,

Which, when it frowned with all its battlements,

Was only terrible !——MASON.

The Castle has been rendered conspicuous in English history by the confinement of king Charles I, who taking refuge here at the time of his division with the parliament, was unexpectedly detained a prisoner from November 1647 to September in the following year. On the king's death it was converted into a prison for his children: here the unfortunate princess Elizabeth died, at the age of fifteen, and was buried in the parish-church of Newport.

The apartments are large and well-proportioned, as formerly Carisbrooke Castle was the regular seat of the insular government: Lord Bolton was the last governor who resided here (in 1805), he spent a considerable part of his time at the castle, and took a very laudable interest in its preservation; but since then the place has been sadly neg- lected, and consequently dilapidations too much suffered to extend.

CARISBROOKE VILLAGE

Is even now populous, though much less so than formerly, when it enjoyed all the consequence of a city, protected by the only fortress in the island to which the inhabitants could fly for refuge in the moment of invasion. It ascends a hill opposite to that on which stand the venerable ruins of the castle : in the intervening valley a beautiful stream winds its course towards Newport, sufficiently copious to turn several corn-mills, and the springs supply water highly esteemed for its purity.   The parish-church was anciently a large pile of building, but has shrunk in proportion to the town, having lost both its chancel and the north aisle: its aged tower is a fine specimen of Gothic architecture, proudly relieving itself from the surrounding objects, and is furnished with a peal of eight very musical bells. Close by are some farm-buildings, retaining the only vestiges of an ancient Priory.  There are several genteel residences and a few good lodging-houses in the village, whose neatly dressed gardens, interspersed with lofty trees, and environed by the most pleasing scenery, give the place altogether an uncommon air of rural beauty.

WATERGATE: a very pleasant rural scene about a mile eastward of Carisbrooke, and as far south of Newport: decidedly the most picturesque and inviting spot in their neighbourhood: for it is both sylvan and pastoral,—presenting a lovely interchange of hill and dale, checquered by fertile corn-fields, meadows, groves, and shrubberies; cottages, farm-houses, and a gentleman's seat. The latter, called NEW CLOSE, and a finely wooded hill in its rear, are very conspicuously seen from many parts of the high-roads.

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NEWPORT,

In respect of stationary population and municipal privileges, is the chief town in the island; enjoys a most convenient, central situation, in a dry valley closely surrounded by cultivated hills of considerable elevation: is well-watered by copious streams from the east and south: and has the advantage of a fine navigable river called the Medina, which joins the sea at Cowes, admitting heavy-freighted vessels to come up to the quay with every high- tide. The streets cross each other at right-angles, are open, well paved, and of sufficient descent to be always clean; most of the houses modern and well built; and it is generally admitted that there is not in the kingdom a little town more happily situated with regard to local conveniences and delightful environs, or in itself of a more neat and cheerful appearance : “its inhabitants,” says Mr. Sturch, “are friendly and sociable, and there are few places where independence may meet with more sources of rational enjoyment.”

The most attractive buildings in Newport (besides the churches and other places of worship,) are the Guildhall, and the permanent public Library—both comparatively recent • erections, occupying very conspicuous sites nearly in the middle of the town; and the ancient Free Grammar-school. The HALL is a very spacious and handsome edifice, particularly commodious in its internal arrangements.   Here the magistrates of the whole island meet every Saturday for hearing and determining parochial questions or other petty causes, and for examining prisoners charged with felony, previously to their committal for trial at the county assizes, or at the adjourned Winchester or borough quarter-sessions. In-the area beneath the hall is kept the Saturday's market for butter, poultry, &c.

The ISLE OF WIGHT INSTITUTION is the designation of the permanent Library, which was built by subscription in the year 1811, at an expense of £.3000.   It is supported by nearly all the gentry of the island; and contains a room for newspapers and periodical publications, a library, a room fitted-up as a museum for local curiosities, and a billiard- room in the upper story. Temporary residents in the island may become subscribers for six months by a single payment of 25s ——There are also a Mechanics' Institution and several public circulating-libraries and private reading-societies.

The FREE GRAMMAR-SCHOOL is a large antique stone building, which has lately undergone a complete reparation: it stands in the street leading to the Cowes road; and is chiefly remarkable as having had the honor of being chosen for the conference between king Charles I and the commissioners appointed by parliament, at the time that unfortunate monarch was a prisoner in Carisbrooke Castle.

The parish-church is a large plain structure of great antiquity, but has nothing in its style of architecture to deserve particular notice; there is a good monument of Sir Edward Horsey, one of the former governors. A neat church was some years since built on the south entrance of the town, and more recently another on the east,—both supported on the voluntary principle.   The other places of public worship are a Roman-catholic, and seven dissenting chapels, viz. two for Independents, one Unitarian, a particular-Baptist, a Bible-Christian, a Wesleyan, and a Primitive-methodist.

Newport returns two members to parliament: the population exceeding 6000.  The shops are numerous, many of them most handsomely fitted-up, and amply stocked with the choicest goods in every branch of business.   The town supports five respectable inns, viz. the Bugle, Green-dragon, Star, Wheat-sheaf, and Swan: and three assembly-rooms.

A market for cattle is held every Wednesday fortnight; and on each Saturday a general market for agricultural produce—butter, poultry, pigs, &c., which in fine weather is crowded by all ranks of people from every part of the island. The annual fair is on Whit-Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday; but the principal season of rustic gaiety is at Michaelmas, during what are familiarly termed the three BARGAIN-FAIR SATURDAYS, when the country servant-maids assemble at one particular part of the town, and the men at another, as candidates for new situations.

A Lace-factory on a very extensive scale is established just without the town, on the east side, going to Ryde : in the town is also an establishment which gives employment to a great number of females in the lace-embroidering process.

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Adjoining Newport, or in its immediate vicinity, are several rising villages—the most populous of which are.... BARTON, on the east side of the town : SHIDE, half a mile to the south, very picturesquely seated at the foot of a lofty down: and the NEW VILLAGE, a quarter of a mile to the westward, bordering the road to Carisbrooke.   There is also a small hamlet on HUNNY-HILL, the north entrance to the town.

At the distance of a mile on the West Cowes road is the HOUSE OF INDUSTRY, intended for the reception of the paupers of the whole island, and there are usually from 500 to 600 persons within its walls; beyond on the west side of the road is the grand military depot called ALBANY BARRACKS, which are capable of accommodating 2000 men : and nearly contiguous is the recently formed establishment of PARKHURST PRISON, for the corrective discipline of juvenile male convicts, who are here taught various trades; this has been extended by the erection of another commodious building a little to the north, so that there is now sufficient room for the admission of altogether above 700 delinquents. We refer such of our readers as are desirous of more particular information respecting the objects and management of this excellent institution, to the Report which is annually published (at a low price,) by order of Government. A pretty good view of the buildings is obtained from the high-road.

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THE NIGHTINGALE.—It may not be uninteresting to those of our readers who have seldom or never heard the unrivaled notes of these much-prized birds of passage, to be informed, that the vicinity of Newport, even quite close to the town, is their early and most favorite resort: as well as the roads from Yarmouth to Cowes, and thence to Ryde and the eastward of the island. On a fine evening in the months of May and June the woods resound with the chorus, or rather rivalry of their delightful songs: and it is not the least pleasurable circumstance in a day's excursion, to have the opportunity in an evening of hearing these musical princes of the feathered tribes.

OBJECTS ON THE ROADS FROM NEWPORT TO EAST COWES AND RYDE.

FAIRLEE is a principal seat, one mile from Newport, on the East Cowes road; it is a large and very respectable-looking house, but being built with glazed bricks of a dark grey color, makes no figure whatever in a distant view: stands at the head of a beautiful lawn which gently slopes to the margin of the Medina river, and is delightfully surrounded by close and open groves of various timber.

We next pass a small but genteel residence called FAIRLEE COTTAGE, standing close to the road-side.

PADMORE HOUSE, shrouded in a grove of noble trees, enjoys an elevated site about two miles from East Cowes, and commands a particularly interesting inland prospect as far as St. Catharine's Hill.   Contiguous are the Parsonage, embosomed in lofty elms,— and the PARISH-CHURCH OF WHIPPINGHAM, which is one of the neatest little ecclesiastical structures in the island. Altogether this is a beautiful rural spot, and to see it will make the difference of only two or three minutes in diverging from the regular road.

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On leaving Newport for Ryde, we gradually ascend for the first mile a lofty hill, successively passing the lace-factory,—a neat little church, recently built in the Norman style for the accommodation of the inhabitants of Barton's Village, &c.—and a gentleman's residence called BELLECROFT. We then gain the eminence of Stapler's Heath....

——"From whose fair brow,

The bursting prospect spreads immense around."

In surveying this magnificent Panoramic View, the tourist will find his Map of infinitely more service than any verbal description. The river Medina constitutes the most import- ant feature of the landscape, making several bold reaches till it unites with the Solent Sea in the crowded harbour of Cowes.

As we proceed, the country appears very agreeably checquered with wood and cultivation.   On ascending the next hill called WOOTTON COMMON (long since en- closed,) we pass several comfortable cottages forming an improving hamlet; and to the person who holds this work in his hands at the time, none perhaps will be more interesting than that in which it was executed in all its departments.——Winding on the border of a wood, we next pass..,.

FERNHILL, one of the first-rate seats of the island, situated close to the road. This spacious house is adorned with a lofty prospect-tower (which is seen peering above the trees as we pass by); and the style of building so light and picturesque as to resemble a modern-Gothic church in its general outline.   It stands at the head of a steep-sloping lawn, which is interspersed with some beautiful trees; on the north screened by a long and close grove of various timber, and on the east terminated by Fishbourne Creek (or Wootton River), which forms at high tide an ample sheet of water. ——The surrounding country is charmingly diversified with hill and dale, and so richly covered with flourishing oak-woods, as to present the appearance of an extensive forest.

WOOTTON-BRIDGE is a small village exactly midway between Newport and Ryde, including several respectable houses, rising on each-side of Fishbourne Creek,— the Parsonage on the the west side, and KITE-HILL on the east: the latter distinguished by its ivy-vested front and screen of Scotch firs.

☞ The admirers of pleasing scenery will feel gratified in traversing the new road which the proprietor of the estate has formed on the north-western bank of the river, for facilitating building speculation: it affords a very delightful drive, and presents from many points a marine and inland prospect as rich as any this side of the island.

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The greater part of the road between Wootton and Ryde is cut through a succession of oak woods, which afford, in connexion with a view of the sea and the fading heights of Hampshire, several very interesting scenes.

"And now, betwixt the grove's extended arms,

An Abbey's rude remains attract thy view."

In a delightful valley between the road and the sea is the site of QUARR ABBEY, but the few remains of this once magnificent establishment having been long since converted into barns and other farm-buildings, were so disfigured and rubbish-buried as to afford but little pleasure even to the inquisitive antiquarian: they are now however in some measure restored to light by a partial clearance and reparation; so that most of the ruin that escaped the long period of spoliation and neglect, may be easily inspected.   It was among the first monasteries of the Cistercian order in England : was largely endowed, and contained above 30 acres within its walls.    After its dissolution it was purchased by a merchant of Southampton, and destroyed for the sake of the bare materials.  Several illustrious persons were buried in the chapel, to whose memory had been erected some very sumptuous monuments.  The merchant's son afterwards sold the estate to the Lord Chief Justice, Sir Thomas Fleming, with whose descendants it still remains.

The other CONVENTUAL EDIFICES in the island were—an Oratory at Barton, near East Cowes: a Priory at St. Helen's, which belonged to an abbey in France of the Cluniac order; a Priory at Appuldurcombe. which was a cell to an abbey in Normandy; the Priory of St. Cross, near Newport, annexed to Tyrone in France; a Priory at Carisbrooke; a religious house at Northwood; and a great number of chantries and chapels, suppressed chiefly in the reign of Henry VIII. Sir John Oglander states in his "Memoirs" that he had heard there were above a hundred churches, chapels, abbeys, priories, nunneries, and oratories in the tenth year of Edward III; all that now remain of these in a state of repair are the twenty-nine parish-churches: and it is to be regretted by the artist and amateur of sketching, that the relics of all the others are quite lost to the pencil, being either wholly destroyed, or patched-up and converted into farm-buildings.

THE ROAD FROM THE WESTERN PART OF THE ISLAND, BY CALBOURNE.

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On leaving Yarmouth, the road soon divides—the branch through Shalfleet has been already traversed; and now pursuing the right-hand direction, we first pass through the parish of THORLEY (whose Church might be mistaken for some old barn), and then a monotonous succession of cultivated fields, till we arrive at CALBOURNE (half-way to Newport, either from Yarmouth or Freshwater), a pleasant village, having a respectable little inn, and deriving a consequence from its proximity to a first-rate seat called....

WESTOVER, situated on the south side of the road.   The entrance is by a neat little lodge, and across a contiguous stone bridge thrown over a small stream : whence a fine lawn, interspersed with majestic elms, gradually swells to a considerable eminence on which the house stands, backed by a solemn grove of magnificent timber. The mansion is large and well-designed: it has two regular fronts, east and south—the latter is particularly pleasing, being embellished with a handsome stone colonnade and tasty verandahs intertwined with flowering plants.  The southern prospect is tame and confined : but to the north-east it commands a very beautiful and extensive range of inland scenery.

At the distance of a mile and a half from Calbourne, on the road to Newport, we pass another important seat called SWAINSTON, distinguished by its fine display of luxuriant woods, and a charming diversity of ground.   The house is spacious, though uninteresting in its architectural elevation; in front screened by noble groves of various timber, while on the north extends a succession of the most beautiful shrubberies and gardens, enriched by the meanders of a copious stream well stored with fish.  The best general view of Swainston is gained on our climbing the hill which immediately succeeds : the eye then comprehends the whole domain, and thence passes delighted in the direction of Shalfleet and Newtown, over the Solent Sea to the woods of the New Forest.

The remainder of our road continues on the side of a steep down, affording some pleasing views of the north side of the island and the opposite coast; but the prospect which opens just as we descend into Carisbrooke is particularly grand: the village forms an admirable foreground, and the venerable ruins of the Castle are seen to the greatest advantage; while the town of Newport appears, from the several branching hamlets and gentlemen's seats, to be at once a very populous and respectable place, most pleasantly sheltered by high and fertile downs.

GATCOMBE, comprehending both a village and one of the most considerable seats in the island, is distant about three miles south-west of Newport, exhibiting altogether perhaps the most charming inland scenery of any spot in the Isle of Wight. The mansion, if viewed near, is the least agreeable feature of the place, being a very large and perfectly square stone edifice: but it stands exceedingly well, and certainly appears to advantage from any elevated station where the eye can command the whole estate at once; the woods then seem closely to invest all but its eastern front, from which an ample lawn falls with an easy slope,—interspersed with many noble oaks and elms, singly and in scattered groups. It is wholly screened from the destructive south-west winds by a lofty hill which rises immediately at its back, completely clothed with hanging groves of luxuriant growth, that are continued along the steep sides of a romantic winding valley, in which are scattered the village habitations.——At a short distance from the house is the little parish- church, a very picturesque object, being of neat architecture, and overhung by the spreading branches of magnificent trees: near it is a small lake, overlooked on the opposite side by the Parsonage, appropriately called HILL.

☞ The nearest way to Chale and BIackgang Chine passes close by Gatcombe Park ; and a very good view of the estate is also obtained from some high grounds near the third mile-stone on the Niton road.

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GODSHILL is a populous village, six miles from Newport, bordering upon Appul- durcombe Park —it is chiefly remarkable for the very picturesque situation of the church, which is a large and venerable pile, standing upon the summit of a steep hill that rises in the centre of the village, and commands such an extensive and beautiful prospect as will of itself repay the tourist for the trouble of ascending.   The interior of the church is enriched with several costly monuments, ancient and modern, in memory of various possessors of the Appuldurcombe estates.

ROOKLEY COTTAGE, in the hamlet of the same name, is a pretty subject, passed on the road between Niton and Newport.  Further on are two other small villas: PIDFORD, well screened on the south by rising grounds and wood, and attracting attention from its genteel and cheerful appearance: and STANDEN, a respectable-looking house on the slope of St. George's Down.

WHITWELL, between Godshill and Niton, comprises a parish-church, farm-house, and several cottages.   Lying out of the usual routes, it is not often visited by pleasure- tourists, but from the neighbouring high-roads it appears a very pleasing rural scene.

APPULDURCOMBE,

Altogether the most splendid seat in the Isle of Wight, is the property of the Rt. Hon. Earl YARBOROUGH, and can be viewed only by tickets to be obtained from the stewards, Messrs. Sewell, Solicitors, Newport: it forms an object of importance with every visitor who has any pretensions to taste : the grounds, the house, and its furniture, being all in a corresponding style of elegance.

The entrance to the park is through a handsome stone gate-way of the Ionic order, the grounds are extensive, laid out in a beautiful style, and the soil extremely rich, sup- porting numerous herds both of deer and cattle.  The back-ground to the mansion is a lofty hill, crowned with an obelisk, and its side hung with groves of magnificent beech, interspersed with venerable oaks; in front a charming lawn spreads far and wide, well varied and richly wooded with every species of forest timber: and the whole surrounded by many valuable farms annexed to the domain.

“The mansion,” says Sir Rd. Worsley, “has four regular fronts of the Corinthian order, built of free-stone: the pilasters, cornices, ballustrades, and other ornamental parts are of Portland stone: the roof is covered with Westmoreland slates.   The grand entrance in the east front is through a hall 54 feet in length by 24 in breadth, adorned with eight beautiful columns of the Ionic order, resembling porphyry. On this floor are several handsome apartments, containing many valuable portraits and other good paintings; the offices are very commodious, and on the first and attic stories are upwards of twenty bed-chambers and dressing-rooms. The building of the house was begun by Sir Robert Worsley in 1710, and completed by Sir Richard Worsley, who made considerable improvements on the original plan.”

The late Rev. W. Gilpin, celebrated for his excellent works on the picturesque, appears to have seen comparatively little in the island to merit particular praise; but of Appuldurcombe, however, he speaks in terms of unbounded admiration.   “Here (says he) everything is uniformly grand: the house is magnificent, and it is magnificently furnished. The grounds too are laid out in a style of greatness equal to the mansion.”

The Rev. Mr. Wyndham (who upon the other hand commends neither the style of the grounds, nor the external architecture of the house,) thus rapturously describes the interior of the building: “Upon opening the doors of the hall, it disclosed to us such a variety of beauties, that made us forget all criticism : for whichever way we turned our eyes, the most precious pieces of ancient sculpture, and paintings of the Roman and Venetian schools, claimed attention. The other rooms on this floor are also superbly furnished, and decorated with some fine pictures and many excellent drawings of the cities, countries, and ruins of the east. It is a singular circumstance, that in so large a collection of antiques, brought by Sir Richard Worsley from Egypt, Turkey, and Italy, that nothing spurious, or like the refuse of other collections, should appear, but that the minutest pieces should deserve some degree of attention.”

The OBELISK is of Cornish granite, erected to the memory of Sir Robert Worsley, and was nearly seventy feet in height. Some years since its existence was threatened by a stroke of lightning which displaced several of the stones from their proper position: it was soon however repaired.  But during one of those tremendous storms which occurred in the autumn of 1836, it was nearly levelled with the ground,

On the east side of Appuldurcombe estate, about a mile from the mansion, is COOK'S CASTLE, which is noticed by Sir Richard Worsley as "the ruin of an ancient castle which serves as a point of view from the house:" it stands on the summit of a fine rocky cliff, and commands a most splendid prospect of the island and the opposite coast.  The foot-way from Wroxall to Shanklin passes close by.

Appuldurcombe is situated seven miles S.E. of Newport; the road passes through the village of Godshill, and it may be embraced in a tour to the back of the island, as it is not more than three miles from Ventnor, Steephill, or St. Lawrence.

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WROXALL is a sheltered rural hamlet on the road from Godshill to Ventnor, bordering upon Appuldurcombe Park,

ARRETON, three miles S.E. of Newport, consists of one very long village street, sheltered by lofty downs on the north, and opening to an extensive vale in the highest state of cultivation. The Church is a heavy but rather picturesque building : it contains a very beautiful mausoleum to the memory of Sir Leonard Holmes; and on the north side of the church-yard is the tomb-stone of the "Dairyman's Daughter," celebrated in the tract of that title written by the late Rev. Legh Richmond,  The Parsonage and ancient Farm-house, both near the church, are the only conspicuous habitations. Secluded from public observation, a little off on the south side of the road, is a gentleman's residence called STICKWORTH.

NEWCHURCH is a very rural and retired village, about six miles south of Ryde. The church (to which those at Ryde and Ventnor are only chapels of ease,) “is a large, but low edifice : its situation is extremely beautiful—it stands upon the brow of a nearly perpendicular bank of sandstone, with several fine trees stretching forward their branches over the cliff. A winding road, deep-sunk in the same rock, and overhung with shrubs and trees, forms the foreground to this very picturesque little scene.”

THE VALLEY OF NEWCHURCH.

This is upon the whole the richest portion of the island, comprising an area of above thirty square miles, with an almost champaign surface, having comparatively but a few gentle swellings.  To the eastward it opens to the sea: but on the north is bounded by the continuous range of high downs which divides the island into two nearly equal parts; and on the south and west by a series of hills that advance more or less into the valley as bold headlands, thereby giving to the landscape some beautiful perspective effects. It is of course seen to advantage only from the higher grounds, and then the delighted eye ranges from one striking object to another in rapid succession; for this extensive valley embraces within its fertile bosom the very populous villages of Godshill, Arreton, Newchurch, and Sandown, as well as several hamlets.   But as the accompanying Engraving gives a much better idea of the character of the scene than could be conveyed by any verbal description, however minute, we shall close our account of it in the expressive lines of the poet:—

“For here are heathy wilds, and scenes as fair

As ever recompensed the peasant's care:

Now soft declivities with tufted hills,

And view of waters turning busy mills,

Parks in which Art preceptress Nature weds,

And gardens interspersed with flowery beds.”

LIST OF THE PRINCIPAL COUNTRY SEATS AMD VILLAS,

WITH THE

Names of their Proprietors or present Occupiers.

OSBORNE.....Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen.

APPULDURCOMBE, Earl Yarborough.

Afton Manor-house, * B. Cotton, esq

Appley, near Ryde, J. Hyde, esq.Padmore,

Beauchamp, Undercliff, Sir. W. Gordon, bt.

Bellecroft, near Newport, J. Cooke, esq

Bembridge Parsonage, Rev. F.G. Middleton

Billingham, near Kingston, W. Stancombe, esq

Binstead Cottage, Lord Downes

•—————Parsonage, Rev. Phillip Hewitt

Blackgang House, T. W. Fleming, esq

Brixton Parsonage, Rev. E. McAll

Brook Manor-house, James How, esq

Brookfield Cottage, Binstead, Rev. Aug. Hewitt

Calbourne Parsonage, Rev. R. Sumner

Calbourne Lodge, J. Fowler, esq

Castlehurst, near Carisbrooke, H. Pinnock, esq

Chale Parsonage, Rev. A. Gother.

Costorphine-hill, Ryde, J. P. Lind, esq

EAST COWES CASTLE, —————

East Dene, Bonchurch, Capt. Swinburne

Egypt House, nr. W. Cowes, Sir. T. Tailored, bt

Elm Cottage, near E. Cowes, ————

FAIRLEE, N.E. of Newport, Rd. Oglander, esq

Fairlee Cottage, ditto, T. B. Robinson, esq

Fairy-hill, Nettlestone, W.A. Glynn, esq

Farringford-hill, Freshwater, Rev. G. Seymour

FERNHILL, Wootton, Samuel Sanders, esq

GATCOMBE PARK, Captain Berners

Gatcombe Rectory, Rev. W. Thompson, D.D

Hampstead, near Shalfleet, Mrs. Nash

Haylands, south of Ryde, Captain Locke

Hill-grove, Bembridge, Hon.A.H. Moreton

Holmwoood, Ryde, T. B. Maynard, esq

Kite-hill, Wootton, John Abraham, esq

Medina Hermitage, nr. Niton, W. H. Dawes, esq.

Mirables, Undercliff, ditto, Mrs. Arnold

Mount Cleeves House, ditto, the Misses Sirnes.

Moor House, near W. Cowes, —————•

New Close, s.w. of Newport, Thomas Cooke, esq

Ningwood House, John Fowler, esq.

Niton Parsonage, Rev. R. Dixon

NORRIS, near E. Cowes, R. Bell, esq.

NORTHCOURT, Shorwell, H. P. Gordon, esq.

NORTHWOOD PARK, G. H. Ward, esq.

Norton Lodge, Freshwater, Sir G. Hamond, bt.

NUNWELL, near Brading, Sir W. Oglander, bt.

Oakhill, near Ryde, T. M. Leacock, esq.

Old Park, Undercliff, J. Walkinshaw.esq.

Orchard, ditto, near Niton, Sir W. Gordon, ht.

Whippingham, Rev. James Jolli ffe.

Pidford, near Rookley, ——__

Polars Cottage, near Newport, B. Mew, esq.

PRIORY, N. of St. Helen's, H. Smith, esq.

Puckaster Cottage, Undercliff, Mrs. Vine.

Puckpool, east of Ryde, Lewis Wyatt, esq.

Ryde House, Miss Player.

Rookley Cottage, John Woodward, esq.

St. Clare, east of Ryde, Col. Vernon Harcourt.

ST. JOHN'S,'ditto, A. F. Hamilton, esq.

St. Lawrence Villa, Earl Yarborough.

.——-————Cottage, Hon. Capt. D. Pelham

St. Thomas' Villa, E. Cowes, Miss Barrington.

Sea-grove, Nettlestone, ————

Sea-field, ditto. Henry Beach, esq.

Springfield, ditto, John Callender, esq.

Steane Villa, Bembridge, Mrs. Varnham.

Shanklin Parsonage, Archdeacon Hill.

Shide Cottage, s. of Newport, Lieut.-col Napier.

Shorwell Parsonage, Rev. E. Robertson.

Slatwoods, near East Cowes, Miss Shedden.

Spring-hill, ditto. George Shedden, esq.

Standen, south of Newport, General Evelegh.

STEEPHILL CASTLE, J. Hambrougb» esq.

Stickworth, south of Arreton, Mrs. Bell.

Stonepits' Cottage, Biastead, Capt. Brigstocke.

SWAINSTON, nr.Calbourne. Sir Rd. Simeon, bt

The Battery, Sandown, T. Woodham, esq.

The Marina, Norton, Capt. Crozier.

Uplands, east of Ryde, C. Payne, esq.

Upton House, south of Ryde, Admiral Hoare.

Wacklands, s. of Newchurch, William Thatcher,

WESTOVER, Calbourne, Hon. A'Court Holmea.

Westhill, Cowes, the Misses Ward.

.—————Norton, R.B. Crozier, esq.

Westcliff, Niton, Captain Ker.

Westridge, east of Ryde, Mrs. Young.

Westbrook, ditto, J. Le Marchant, esq.

Whitcombe, near Gatcombe, Rev. Wm. Hugbes.

Woodlands, east of Ryde, J. Percival, esq.

Woodvale, near Gurnard, Captain Ffarington.

Wootton Parsonage, Rev. R.W. White.

Yafford, near Shorwell, James Jolliffe, esq.

Yaverland Parsonage, Rev. R. Sherson.