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Isle of Wight Weird & Wonderful Facts

Statistics & Weird & Wonderful facts

Statistics

• The Island has approx 2.6 million visitors per year
• Tourism spend is estimated at 352 million per year
• There are 21 tourists to every Island resident
• There are approx 132,000 Island residents
• With an estimated 156,000 overseas visitors, this is more than the total number of Island residents
• Tourism represents 24% of the Island's GDP (1 in 4 jobs)
• The Island has more sunshine hours than any other UK resort
• The Island was the first to exclusively promote graded and inspected accommodation

Weird & Wonderful Facts!

• A new species of cat-like dinosaur, yet to be named, was discovered on the Isle of Wight in 1988. The 12ft long creature was equipped with murderous claws, razor sharp teeth and unusually long hind legs on which it ran like the wind.
• Often referred to as the Garden Isle, the Island is home to many rare plants and animals. Of particular importance is the thriving population of Red Squirrels, which have been ousted form many mainland habitats by the larger more aggressive grey squirrel.
• There is a regular chain ferry service, which enables pedestrians and motorists to travel from Cowes to East Cowes, across the Medina River.
• The first Cowes Regatta was held in 1812 and subsequently attained international status. Enhanced by the presence of the Royal family, Skandia Cowes Week is now the world's biggest international yachting event.
• Parkhurst Forest was recorded in the Doomsday Book as a royal hunting forest, which at that time extended as far north as Cowes, hence the village name of Northwood.
• Quarr stone from the Isle of Wight was used to complete the upper section of the White Tower at the Tower of London around 900 years ago. Quarr stone was prized as a hard building material.
• The remains of a little dinosaur Yaverlandia, found locally as it's name suggests, is the only specimen in the world and is displayed at the Geology Museum at Sandown.
• PLUTO - Pipeline Under The Ocean. During World War II, pipeline was laid from the mainland, via Southampton, across the Solent to Thorness Bay and then across the Island to pumping stations at Sandown and Shanklin. Two lines were laid, in case one failed. At Shanklin, the pumphouses were concealed in the bomb-scarred buildings of the Esplanade near the cliff lift. The pipeline ran from there along the pier and then across to France. The Sandown line ran from a pumping station in the vicinity of Browns Golf Course. In the event, fuel was not piped across the channel until after the D-Day invasion took place, the Shanklin line failed and very little fuel was piped from Sandown, but this should not detract from the enormity and ingenuity of the operation. An exhibition of PLUTO memorabilia can be seen at Shanklin Chine, the natural scenic gorge with waterfall and interesting flora and fauna, open Easter to October. Tel (01983) 866432.
• Sir Robert Holmes, a swashbuckling pirate and friend of Charles II, lived in the building which is now the George Hotel, Yarmouth. It was Holmes who introduced the Guinea into the British currency, when he brought back gold from New Guinea. Although he became Governor of the Isle of Wight, his piratical inclinations were still evident by the way he was determined to rid home waters of foreign ships, apparently regardless of the legitimacy or otherwise of their business. He waylaid a ship en route to France and discovered a statue, minus its head, which was destined for the court of King Louis XIV, where the sculptor was to complete the head from life. Commandeering the stature and sculptor, Holmes made him complete the head to his own likeness. The statue can be seen today in St. James Church, Yarmouth.
• Bonchurch is the Island's best preserved Victorian village, which attracted many writers and artists, such as Charles Dickens, Lord Macaulay, Karl Marx and Thackeray. The poet Algernon Charles Swinburn spent his childhood at East Dene and is buried in the churchyard of the new St. Boniface Church. Also buried at the church is Admiral Jellicoe (Battle of Jutland fame), who lived at St. Lawrence and Elizabeth Sewell, author and educationalist, who was a local resident for over 50 years. Her brother, Henry, became the first Prime Minister of New Zealand.
• Famous Victorian Samuel London, said then to be the biggest man in the world, died in 1844 and his tomb can be seen in the graveyard of the Church of the Holy Cross, Binstead.
• Quarr Abbey was first built as a Cistercian monastery in 1132. It was named from the stone quarry from which the abbey was first built. The monks bred carp in their ponds, which they transported live to London to sell as a profitable source of income.

Eight Wonders of the Isle of Wight

• Needles you cannot thread
• Freshwater you cannot drink
• Cowes you cannot milk
• Newport you cannot bottle
• Lake you can walk through and stay dry
• Ryde where you walk
• Newtown, which is very old
• Winkle Street where there are no winkles!