Yarmouth, Isle of Wight

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Yarmouth
Yarmouth isle of wight.jpg
Yarmouth town centre
Isle of Wight UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Yarmouth
Location within the Isle of Wight
Population865 (2011 Census) [1]
OS grid reference SZ356896
Civil parish
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town YARMOUTH
Postcode district PO41
Dialling code 01983
Police Hampshire
Fire Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Ambulance Isle of Wight
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Isle of Wight
50°42′14″N1°30′00″W / 50.704°N 1.500°W / 50.704; -1.500 Coordinates: 50°42′14″N1°30′00″W / 50.704°N 1.500°W / 50.704; -1.500

Yarmouth is a town, port and civil parish [3] in the west of the Isle of Wight, off the south coast of England. The town is named for its location at the mouth of the small Western Yar river. The town grew near the river crossing, originally a ferry, which was replaced with a road bridge in 1863. [4]

Contents

History

The Harbour, c. 1920, by A. R. Quinton A. R. Quinton, Harbour, Yarmouth I. of Wight.jpg
The Harbour, c. 1920, by A. R. Quinton
Yarmouth Town hall Yarmouth Town Hall - geograph.org.uk - 1915399.jpg
Yarmouth Town hall

Yarmouth has been a settlement for over a thousand years, and is one of the earliest on the island. The first account of the settlement is in Æthelred the Unready's record of the Danegeld tax of 991, when it was called Eremue, meaning "muddy estuary". The Normans laid out the streets on a grid system, a plan which can still be seen today. It grew rapidly, being given its first charter as a town in 1135. [4] The town became a parliamentary borough in the Middle Ages, and the Yarmouth constituency was represented by two members of Parliament until 1832. [4]

Until the castle was built, raids by the French hurt the town; in 1544 the it was reputed to have been burned down. Legend has it that the church bells were carried off to Cherbourg or Boulogne. [4]

Yarmouth Castle was built in 1547, and is now in the care of English Heritage. [5] It is effectively a gun platform, built by Henry VIII to fortify the Solent and protect against any attempted invasion of England.

For many years Yarmouth was the seat of the Governor of the Island. Yarmouth Town Hall was built in 1763. [6]

In St. James's Church, there is a monument to the 17th century admiral Sir Robert Holmes who was at Yarmouth. He obtained it in a raid on a French ship, when he seized an unfinished statue of Louis XIV of France and forced the sculptor to finish it with his own head rather than the king's. [7]

In 1784, most of Yarmouth's ancient charters were lost: A ship's captain, drunk after a court dinner, stole what he thought was a case of wine, as he returned to his ship. When he discovered it was a case of books, he threw it overboard.

Yarmouth Pier was opened in 1876. It received Grade 2 listed status in 1975. Originally 685 ft (207.5m) long, it's now 609 ft (186m) but is still the longest timber pier in England open to the public, and also a docking point for the MV Balmoral and PS Waverley.

Several Sites of Special Scientific Interest lie close to Yarmouth, including Yar Estuary SSSI & Bouldnor And Hamstead Cliffs SSSI.

Commerce

Yarmouth Harbour Yarmouth Harbour, Isle of Wight - geograph.org.uk - 1720429.jpg
Yarmouth Harbour
Yarmouth Pier Yarmouth Pier, Isle of Wight,UK.jpg
Yarmouth Pier

As a port and market town Yarmouth has had local commercial significance. It still has some boat yards and chandlery, and although relatively small it still supports a number of shops, hotels, pubs and restaurants, supported partly by passing trade from the ferry terminal and visiting boat owners.

Transport

The Wightlink car ferry sails from Yarmouth to Lymington in Hampshire.

Southern Vectis operate bus services from Yarmouth bus station, a small building near the ferry terminal, the main route being route 7 serving Totland, Alum Bay, Freshwater, Newport and Shalfleet as well as Yarmouth. [8] To reach Yarmouth, route 7 uses Pixley Hill, which has caused some controversy amongst local residents who do not believe the road is large enough for buses. [9] The controversy was initially started by former route 11 being extended to serve Yarmouth and using the lane in September 2008. [10]

In the spring and summer, Southern Vectis also operate an open top bus called "The Needles Breezer" that runs through Freshwater Bay to Alum Bay and onto the Needles Battery down a bus and pedestrian-only road along the cliff edge; returning to Yarmouth via Totland and Colwell. [11] For the more athletic, Yarmouth is on the Isle of Wight Coastal Path.

The parish was once served by Yarmouth railway station, with services to Newport. Passenger services ended in 1953, and the track has long since been removed; the trackbed between Yarmouth and Freshwater has been converted into a bridleway. In August 2014 the converted and expanded railway station opened as a restaurant.

Size and population

Yarmouth is one of the smallest towns in the United Kingdom. The 2011 census reported the parish of Yarmouth having 865 usual residents. [1] In 2001, the population was just 791 [12] (compared with about 600 at the beginning of the 19th century).

Today

Yarmouth hosted the popular biannual Old Gaffers festival which included several days of entertainment and shows, [13] but in September 2018 it was announced that the event would no longer be held. [14]

Yarmouth marina is the landing point for the Royal Navy's Solent Amphibious Challenge, held in June each year. [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isle of Wight</span> County and island of England

The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest and second-most populous island of England. It is located in the English Channel, two to five miles off the coast of Hampshire, from which it is separated by the Solent. Referred to as 'The Island' by residents, the Isle of Wight has resorts that have been popular holiday destinations since Victorian times. It is known for its mild climate, coastal scenery, and verdant landscape of fields, downland and chines. The island is historically part of Hampshire, and is designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Alum Bay

Alum Bay is a bay near the westernmost point of the Isle of Wight, England, within close sight of the Needles rock formation. Of geological interest and a tourist attraction, the bay is noted for its multi-coloured sand cliffs. The waters and adjoining seabed form part of the Needles Marine Conservation Zone and the shore and heath above are part of the Headon Warren and West High Down Site of Special Scientific Interest.

The Needles Sea stacks off the Isle of Wight, England

The Needles is a row of three stacks of chalk that rise about 30m out of the sea off the western extremity of the Isle of Wight in the English Channel, United Kingdom, close to Alum Bay and Scratchell's Bay, and part of Totland, the westernmost civil parish of the Isle of Wight. The Needles Lighthouse stands at the outer, western end of the formation. Built in 1859, it has been automated since 1994. The waters and adjoining seabed form part of the Needles Marine Conservation Zone and the Needles along with the shore and heath above are part of the Headon Warren and West High Down Site of Special Scientific Interest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cowes</span> Human settlement in England

Cowes is an English seaport town and civil parish on the Isle of Wight. Cowes is located on the west bank of the estuary of the River Medina, facing the smaller town of East Cowes on the east bank. The two towns are linked by the Cowes Floating Bridge, a chain ferry.

Bembridge Human settlement in England

Bembridge is a village and civil parish located on the easternmost point of the Isle of Wight. It had a population of 3,848 according to the 2001 census of the United Kingdom, leading to the implausible claim by some residents that Bembridge is the largest village in England. Bembridge is home to many of the Island's wealthiest residents. The population had reduced to 3,688 at the 2011 Census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freshwater, Isle of Wight</span> Human settlement in England

Freshwater is a large village and civil parish at the western end of the Isle of Wight, England. The southern, coastal part of the village is Freshwater Bay, named for the adjacent small cove. Freshwater sits at the western end of the region known as the Back of the Wight or the West Wight, a popular tourist area.

Western Yar River on the Isle of Wight, England

The River Yar on the Isle of Wight, England, rises near the beach at Freshwater Bay, on the south coast, and flows only a few miles north to Yarmouth where it meets the Solent. Most of the river is a tidal estuary. Its headwaters have been truncated by erosion of the south coast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Helens, Isle of Wight</span> Settlement in England

St Helens is a village and civil parish located on the eastern side of the Isle of Wight.

Ningwood Human settlement in England

Ningwood is a village on the Isle of Wight. It is on several lanes about three miles east of Yarmouth in the northwest of the island. According to the Post Office to 2011 Census population of the village was included in the civil parish of Shalfleet. The Horse and Groom Pub is a prominent establishment in Ningwood, as is the Ningwood Bible Christian (Methodist) Chapel. Well-known island brickmakers, the Prichett family, established a brick yard in Ningwood in the 19th century.

Totland Human settlement in England

Totland is a village, civil parish and electoral ward on the Isle of Wight. Besides the village of Totland, the civil parish comprises the western tip of the Isle of Wight, and includes The Needles, Tennyson Down and the hamlet of Middleton.

Shalfleet Human settlement in England

Shalfleet is a village and civil parish on the Isle of Wight. it is located between Yarmouth and Newport in the northwest of the island.

Cranmore, Isle of Wight Human settlement in England

Cranmore is a village on the Isle of Wight. It is located about three miles east of Yarmouth, in the northwest of the island. It is in the civil parish of shalfleet

Brook, Isle of Wight Human settlement in England

Brook is a village on the Isle of Wight, England. According to the Post Office the 2011 census population was included in the civil parish of Brighstone.

Shorwell Human settlement in England

Shorwell is a village and civil parish on the Isle of Wight, United Kingdom. It is 4+12 miles (7.2 km) from Newport in the southwest of the island. Shorwell was one of Queen Victoria's favourite places to visit on the Isle of Wight.

Colwell Bay

Colwell Bay is a bay in the west of the Isle of Wight. It is located between the towns of Totland and Yarmouth. The bay's northernmost point is Cliff's End the closest point of the Island to the British mainland, with Hurst Castle lying at the end of a long peninsula just 1500 metres to the northwest. The southernmost point is Warden Point.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Vectis</span> British bus operator on the Isle of Wight, England

Southern Vectis is a bus operator on the Isle of Wight. The company was founded in 1921 as "Dodson and Campbell" and became the "Vectis Bus Company" in 1923. The company was purchased by the Southern Railway before being nationalised in 1969. In 1987, the company was re-privatised. In July 2005, it became a subsidiary of Go-Ahead Group.

Seaview, Isle of Wight Human settlement in England

Seaview is a small Edwardian resort located on the north-eastern corner of the Isle of Wight, overlooking the Solent. The village is popular with tourists and is 2+13 miles (3.8 km) from the town of Ryde, where most tourists reach the island by ferry or hovercraft. Together with Nettlestone, it forms a civil parish of Nettlestone and Seaview.

Wightbus

Wightbus was a bus operator on the Isle of Wight, established and owned by the Isle of Wight County Council. It operated a network of thirteen local bus services running across the island, mostly services which would not have been viable for the island's dominant commercial operator, Southern Vectis, to operate.

Isle of Wight Coastal Path Long-distance footpath on the Isle of Wight, England

The Isle of Wight Coastal Path is a circular long-distance footpath of 70 miles (113 km) around the Isle of Wight, UK. It follows public footpaths and minor lanes, with some sections along roads.

References

  1. 1 2 UK Census (2011). "Local Area Report – Yarmouth Parish (1170212058)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics . Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  2. "Yarmouth Town Council".
  3. English Parishes & Welsh Communities N&C 2004 Archived 9 January 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  4. 1 2 3 4 A Timeline History of Yarmouth Archived 21 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine compiled by Ian Dallison on behalf of The Yarmouth Society
  5. English Heritage
  6. Historic England. "The Town Hall (1292635)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  7. BBC DNA page about Robert Holmes
  8. "Southern Vectis route list". Southern Vectis. Archived from the original on 30 November 2009. Retrieved 22 December 2009.
  9. "Road row rumbles on". Isle of Wight County Press . Retrieved 20 December 2009.
  10. "We could be in line for a wonderful hoo-ha". Isle of Wight County Press. 23 January 2009. Retrieved 11 August 2009.
  11. "Southern Vectis Needles Tour". Southern Vectis. Archived from the original on 28 April 2008. Retrieved 22 December 2009.
  12. "2001 Census" . Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  13. "Yarmouth Old Gaffers Festival". Yarmouth-harbour.co.uk. 22 July 2002. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
  14. "Old Gaffers Festival cancelled due to rising costs". BBC News . 18 September 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  15. "Solent Amphibious Challenge 2012". Royal Navy. Archived from the original on 24 December 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2022.