Blog | bonchurch

New Discovery! Rossetti's lost drawings of Swinburne?

Dec 31 min read

New Discovery! Rossetti's lost drawings of Swinburne?

Sometimes, a strange coincidence occurs. A few years ago, I bought a battered copy of The Bonchurch Edition, Letters, a volume of the...

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Algernon Charles Swinburne, Victorian Poet

Sue Lowday

Nov 251 min read

Algernon Charles Swinburne, Victorian Poet

A good read with lovely examples of Swinburne's poetry. Having read the piece, I am surprised his poems aren't celebrated more.

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2024 Celebrating Charles Dickens's 175th Anniversary Visit to Bonchurch, Miriam Margolis and 'The Charles Dickens Trail' with the Ramblers

Sue Lowday

Nov 185 min read

2024 Celebrating Charles Dickens's 175th Anniversary Visit to Bonchurch, Miriam Margolis and 'The Charles Dickens Trail' with the Ramblers

The Isle of Wight Walking Festival 2024 has been a momentous year celebrating Charles Dickens's holiday visit to Bonchurch in 1849, 175...

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The Ventnor Volunteer, Major & Honorary Lieutenant Colonel, Albert Edward Jolliffe

Douglas Edwards

Aug 96 min read

The Ventnor Volunteer, Major & Honorary Lieutenant Colonel, Albert Edward Jolliffe

Written by Douglas Edwards. At a recent medal auction, Lot 266 came up but with few details of the recipient apart from the basic...

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Charles Dickens with Family and Friends Watched the Children of Bonchurch Perform This Play in 1849

Sue Lowday

May 25, 202328 min read

Charles Dickens with Family and Friends Watched the Children of Bonchurch Perform This Play in 1849

When Charles Dickens visited Bonchurch in 1849, he and his family and friends were present at a fund raising for the village school that...

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A Christmas Story -"The Grandfather's Story"

Sue Lowday

Dec 14, 202215 min read

A Christmas Story -"The Grandfather's Story"

This story appeared in Charles Dickens publication 'Household Words' in the 25th December 1852 edition. It may surprise many that we have...

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The Phone Box that was Nearly Rescued (but didn't need rescuing)

Sue Lowday

Jul 3, 20222 min read

The Phone Box that was Nearly Rescued (but didn't need rescuing)

First sweep and wash. The paint was peeling to reveal a darker colour underneath the layer, so the phone box looked very patchy and sad....

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John Goodwin

Jun 29, 20228 min read

The Poet Swinburne in Bonchurch

This is the second text exploring the lives of famous writers who had strong links with Bonchurch. The first celebrated the life of...

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Sue Lowday

Jun 3, 20221 min read

2022 Jubilee Celebrations in Bonchurch

As the sun was setting at 9pm with a glass to toast Queen Elizabeth in hand the crew started the countdown... The countdown is nearly...

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Dee Wright

Jun 3, 202219 min read

East Dene and THE SNOWDEN HENRYS

East Dene after the Swinburne's ownership.

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The Recollections of Old John Green c1794 -1890

Sue Lowday

May 28, 20228 min read

The Recollections of Old John Green c1794 -1890

Bonchurch Village 1812. To the left is Flagstaff Rock now known as 'Hadfields Lookout 'and the view is towards The Maples. Note also...

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Memories of Bonchurch Village Festival, June 1993

John Goodwin

Feb 14, 20223 min read

Memories of Bonchurch Village Festival, June 1993

Memories of the Bonchurch Village Festival, June 1993

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Robert Carter

Nov 20, 202114 min read

FADED GLORY. The Story of Cliff House.

The story of the Bonchurch Hotel also known as Ribbands Hotel. Charting its glory days of patronage by Royalty to tragedy.

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Peter Brett

Jul 24, 20212 min read

1729 Maps of the Farms of Bonchurch researched by Peter Brett

With many thanks to Jane Ashe for passing on her father, Peter Brett's research. I shall be adding more of his information. The Brett...

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Sue Lowday

Jul 24, 20211 min read

Bonchurch Open Gardens 2021

The Bonchurch Open Gardens was a huge success this year and our heartfelt thanks go out to all the people involved in making it a...

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Simon Harrison

May 6, 20214 min read

Under Rock Villa, Bonchurch and Gandhi

Under Rock and Gandhi by Simon Harrison Gandhi and Under Rock, Bonchurch - facts and conjecture Part of local folklore is the visit of...

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Charles Dickens in Bonchurch and the Story of Miss Havisham's connection to Bonchurch

Alan Cartwright

Apr 13, 202113 min read

Charles Dickens in Bonchurch and the Story of Miss Havisham's connection to Bonchurch

With Very Many Thanks to Alan Cartwright of Haviland Cottage in Bonchurch for allowing us to use his extensive research for inclusion in...

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Bonchurch Communion Cup c1470-1483 Reign of Edward IV

Sue Lowday

Feb 12, 20218 min read

Bonchurch Communion Cup c1470-1483 Reign of Edward IV

2023 Update. Researching in the Ventnor Heritage Museum I discovered a pamphlet printed to commemorate the Parish Church 100 years 1848...

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Ventnor and District Local History Society

Feb 5, 20211 min read

Bonchurch Village School 1883 - 1915

With many thanks to Ventnor & District Local History Society for allowing us to copy and print their page from the Ventnor Chronicle....

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Percy Goddard Stone, Lays and Legends Of The Wight, 1912

Sue Lowday

Feb 4, 20211 min read

Percy Goddard Stone, Lays and Legends Of The Wight, 1912

I have been carrying out a bit of Bonchurch Village research and came across Percy Goddard Stone who was an architect, historian and...

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