SHANKLIN

Isle of Wight

St Blaisius church, Shanklin, known as the 'Old Church'. Card 

dated 1913. Reputedly 850 years old. Situated on the 

outskirts of Shanklin below the Downs on the Ventnor Road.

Shanklin Old Village from the South, dressed overall for 

some occasion. The building in the centre is the Crab Inn.

Shanklin Old Village from the north, dated 1911.

A similar view to that above from the 30's

The Old Village, where thatched roofs and the quaint white fronts of old cottages with their roses and honeysuckle carry the visitor back a century. On the left is the Crab Hotel, which boasts, with some reason, of being the prettiest in the Island. At the corner is an unobtrusive Fountain, with a small shield emblazoned with the English and American flags, and bearing the following lines, written by Longfellow when visiting Shanklin in 1868:

“O traveller, stay thy weary feet;

Drink of this fountain, pure and sweet;

It flows for rich and poor the same.

Then go thy way, remembering still

The wayside well beneath the hill,

The cup of water in His name.”

Ward Lock Red Guide from the 1920's

Card showing fountain

An unusual view looking towards Shanklin old village

Regent Street, Shanklin,the main shopping centre, probably 

from the 1970's. Old cards of this part of the town appear rare

Shanklin Home of Rest, Littlestairs on the way to 

Lake dated around 1910. The build still exists as 

Winchester House holiday and conference centre.

And finally.... something of an unusual card labelled 

'Picturesque Shanklin. It is, in fact, a drawing of the old 

gas works (near the station) and is postmarked 1903.

10 August 2005

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