The Arreton Valley
Whilst this page is named the Arreton Valley, it covers the area running across the
centre of the Island from the Eastern Yar to the outskirts of Newport
Old postcards are sometimes poorly produced and grainy, I've done my best to scan them. Please click thumbnails for full size picture. Dates are from the card or my estimate (where possible). The manufacturer of the card is shown in brackets (where available)
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Alverstone is a village between Sandown and Newchurch, the river shown is the Eastern Yar. This area is now a nature reserve (Alverstone Mead). Card dated 1906 |
Alverstone used to have a tea garden, together with boating on the mill pond. (Bay) |
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The village of Newchurch showing the church in the distance. Newchurch was one of the original parishes on the Island and included Ventnor and Ryde. (Peacock) |
All Saints Church, Newchurch. The church was founded in 1087, apparently the north wall is all that is left of the original church, the tower is relatively recent. (Nigh) |
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Mersley Down looking south showing the road to Newchurch. (Sweetman) |
Haseley Manor, dated 1987 |
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Arreton church is of Norman origin, it was extended by the monks of Quarr around 1160 and the tower added in 1299. |
A more distant view of the Church. |
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The lane leading to Arreton church, 1906. (Gubbins) |
Arreton Manor, parts of which are reputed to date from the fourteenth century. (Dixon) |
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The Hall and Dining Parlour, Arreton Manor. This card is probably from the 1970's |
The home of the Dairyman's Daughter, see below, undated but probably about 1910. (JWS) |
Arreton was also the home of the Dairyman's Daughter, Elizabeth Wallbridge, subject of a famous religious tract of the early nineteenth century written by Legh Richmond, who was curate at Brading. She was the daughter of a poor local dairyman, who had recently undergone a religious conversion, and the tract gives details of his communication with her. It is part of a work called the Annals of the Poor. PDF Version
Her Gravestone, in Arreton Churchyard reads:
IN MEMORY OF ELIZABETH WALLBRIDGE “THE DAIRYMAN’S DAUGHTER”
WHO DIED MAY 30, 1801, AGED 31 YEARS.
“SHE BEING DEAD, YET SPEAKETH.”
“Stranger, if e’er by chance or feeling led
Upon this hallowed turf thy footsteps tread,
Turn from the contemplation of this sod,
And think on her whose spirit rests with God
Lowly her lot on earth; but He who bore
Tidings of grace and blessings to the poor,
Gave her, His truth and faithfulness to prove,
The choicest pleasures of his boundless love:
Faith, that dispelled afflictions darkest gloom;
Hope, that could cheer the passage to the tomb;
Peace, that not hell’s dark legions could destroy;
And love that filled the soul with heavenly joy.
Death of its sting disarmed, she knew no fear,
But tasted heaven e’en while she lingered here.
Oh, happy saint, may we, like thee, be blest—
Freshwater | Totland | Alum Bay and the Needles | Yarmouth | Shalfleet | Newtown | Calbourne | Carisbrooke Castle | Newport and Carisbrooke | Cowes and Gurnard | Osborne House | Wootton, Fishbourne and Quarr | Ryde | Seaview | Bembridge | Brading | Sandown | Shanklin | Godshill | Arreton Valley | Ventnor | St Lawrence and the Undercliff | St Catherine's Lighthouse's | Niton | Blackgang Chine | Blackgang and Chale | Brighstone and Shorwell | Mottistone to Compton
19 November 2008