Lost but not forgotten
Do you remember these images of places or items? Here are a selection of images that are no more. Holiday chalets at Brighstone pictured above, they are still there just but a little overgrown now and more aged.
High above Shanklin seafront heading out on the coastal path on a corner heading towards Luccombe direction this was located.
This marker as pictured above was a stone Thimble off Hanover Point. There was a battery of guns at Freshwater Bay, and during practice firing there was a danger of shells coming back inland if their aim was not kept to one side of this marker. It was situated between Brook and Compton Bay on the West of The Island. Sadly fallen into the sea after years of neglect. This is one of my favourite film camera pictures.
Quite a unique seat this was and coaches going past used to slow down so that tourists could have a good look. He loved his mini and the elderly man could be seen sitting on here watching the world go by. I have a picture of the previous blue one as well. I made contact with the owner several years ago, but his wife sadly informed me of her husbands passing.
Within Robin Hill Country Park this simulator was one of our favourite not too scary attractions, as well as the rolling parkland and natural woodland this had to offer. It was the sister park to Blackgang Chine.
Also known as The Dotto train provided a service from the top of Shanklin Old Village down to Shanklin seafront or visa versa. It became unreliable and was withdrawn by The Council, it was quite handy for those folk that could not manage the steep climb up or down. Previous colour was blue.
View from the terrace of the tea room, with stunning views from here. Established in 1919 this area of land in the picture is no more due to a large Landslip in late 2023, although the tea room building itself still remains but is very close to a cliff edge now. Near to here was Devil's Chimney and the wishing seat, although access has gone Devil's Chimney did survive! So did the wishing seat and its access, but sadly the victorian coastal path around the edge of this view has also been lost.
Opposite the Ventnor Botanic Gardens on the edge of the car park used to be The Smuggling Museum and some of this was underground. All items and methods of smuggling were displayed here and was quite interesting, as there were lots of oppertunities for smuggling and hiding shipwreck cargos on The Island many years ago. A small extra fee and you could have a certificate.
This large thatched building with a hidden courtyard hosted The Islands Waxworks and used to be open every day of the year. We visited quite a few times, the previous colour was pink with a figurine on the corner of the building. The torture chamber part was the best, and who remebers the bare leg sticking out of an upstairs window? The skeleton in a black hooded gown playing the organ?
