Brighstone
Encyclopedia
Brighstone is a village and civil parish
on the Isle of Wight
, 6 miles southwest of Newport
on the B3399 road. Brighstone was previously known as "Brixton". The name derives from the Saxon name "Ecgbert
's Tun".
Brighstone is the largest village in the area locally known as the Back of the Wight
and extends toward Limerstone
and Mottistone
.
In roman times a villa was built to the north, to take advantage of the clean waters of the Buddle Brook
.
, Hulverstone, Limerstone
and Mottistone
. The entire parish lies within an area of the Isle of Wight AONB and its coastline is designated as Heritage Coast
and Site of Special Scientific Interest
.
St. Mary's Church, Brighstone
is a venerable old church that has stood for more than eight centuries. The village also features Brighstone Shop and Museum, owned by the National Trust
, displaying exhibitions on village life in the 19th century and contains a wealth of information about the Brighstone lifeboats.
. The local scout hut functions as a Youth Hostel during the summer.
who wrote the famous hymns "Awake my soul and with the sun" and "Glory to Thee my God this night", Bishop Samuel Wilberforce
who used to entertain his father, William Wilberforce
, famous for his anti-slavery campaign, Wilberforce road which comprises a large part of the village is named after him. The third bishop, Doctor Moberley, was headmaster of Winchester College before changing career.
Brighstone's village hall is called the Wilberforce Hall as another act of remembrance to him.
It is linked to other parts of the island by Southern Vectis
bus route 12
, serving Freshwater
, Totland
and Newport
as well as intermediate villages.
,
Brighstone Forest
,
Brighstone Down
,
Brighstone Christmas Tree Festival
,
St. Mary's Church, Brighstone
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
on the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
, 6 miles southwest of Newport
Newport, Isle of Wight
Newport is a civil parish and a county town of the Isle of Wight, an island off the south coast of England. Newport has a population of 23,957 according to the 2001 census...
on the B3399 road. Brighstone was previously known as "Brixton". The name derives from the Saxon name "Ecgbert
Egbert of Wessex
Egbert was King of Wessex from 802 until his death in 839. His father was Ealhmund of Kent...
's Tun".
Brighstone is the largest village in the area locally known as the Back of the Wight
Back of the Wight
Back of the Wight is an area on the Isle of Wight, England that has a unique history and social background. Part of this stems from the fact that the area was and still is very cut off from the rest of the island and is made up of small villages strung out along the coast, such as Brighstone,...
and extends toward Limerstone
Limerstone
Limerstone is a hamlet on the Isle of Wight in England. It is located on the B3399 road between Brighstone and Shorwell, approximately 5 miles southwest of Newport. Public transport is provided by Southern Vectis buses on route 12. The hamlet features around 25 houses and a farm, called Limerstone...
and Mottistone
Mottistone
Mottistone is a village on the Isle of Wight, it is located in the popular tourist area the Back of the Wight. It is located 8 Miles southwest of Newport in the southwest of the island. It is home to the National Trust's Mottistone Manor.-History:...
.
In roman times a villa was built to the north, to take advantage of the clean waters of the Buddle Brook
Buddle Brook
Buddle Brook a small river on the Isle of Wight, England. The Brook drains water from the southern side of Brighstone Down and as far to the east as the village of Shorwell. Its flow is the greatest of the streams in the South-West of the Island...
.
History
Brighstone parish was formed in 1644. The civil parish comprises the main village of Brighstone together with the smaller villages of BrookBrook, Isle of Wight
-Background:It is situated on the south west coast of the Island between Brighstone and Freshwater, and borders a section of rugged coastline , the Back of the Wight, facing into the English Channel and towards the famous Needles and west Wight cliffs....
, Hulverstone, Limerstone
Limerstone
Limerstone is a hamlet on the Isle of Wight in England. It is located on the B3399 road between Brighstone and Shorwell, approximately 5 miles southwest of Newport. Public transport is provided by Southern Vectis buses on route 12. The hamlet features around 25 houses and a farm, called Limerstone...
and Mottistone
Mottistone
Mottistone is a village on the Isle of Wight, it is located in the popular tourist area the Back of the Wight. It is located 8 Miles southwest of Newport in the southwest of the island. It is home to the National Trust's Mottistone Manor.-History:...
. The entire parish lies within an area of the Isle of Wight AONB and its coastline is designated as Heritage Coast
Heritage Coast
A Heritage Coast is a strip of UK coastline designated by the Countryside Agency in England and the Countryside Council for Wales as having notable natural beauty or scientific significance.- Designated coastline :...
and Site of Special Scientific Interest
Site of Special Scientific Interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in Great Britain are based upon...
.
St. Mary's Church, Brighstone
St. Mary's Church, Brighstone
St. Mary's Church, Brighstone is a parish church in the Church of England located in Brighstone, Isle of Wight. The churchyard contains a memorial stone to George Albert Cairns VC.-History:The church is medieval dating from the twelfth century....
is a venerable old church that has stood for more than eight centuries. The village also features Brighstone Shop and Museum, owned by the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
, displaying exhibitions on village life in the 19th century and contains a wealth of information about the Brighstone lifeboats.
Today
Brighstone is very popular to tourists for its thatched cottages and local shops. There are several large events each year hosted in the village that include the Brighstone Show, Art exhibitions and the Brighstone Christmas Tree FestivalBrighstone Christmas Tree Festival
Brighstone Christmas Tree Festival is a local event occurring in churches of the Brighstone parish on the Isle of Wight in England for the winter tourist season.This charitable event is used to raise money for maintenance of churches in the parish....
. The local scout hut functions as a Youth Hostel during the summer.
Notables
The village pub is called The Three Bishops, named after Bishop KenThomas Ken
Thomas Ken was an English cleric who was considered the most eminent of the English non-juring bishops, and one of the fathers of modern English hymnology.-Early life:...
who wrote the famous hymns "Awake my soul and with the sun" and "Glory to Thee my God this night", Bishop Samuel Wilberforce
Samuel Wilberforce
Samuel Wilberforce was an English bishop in the Church of England, third son of William Wilberforce. Known as "Soapy Sam", Wilberforce was one of the greatest public speakers of his time and place...
who used to entertain his father, William Wilberforce
William Wilberforce
William Wilberforce was a British politician, a philanthropist and a leader of the movement to abolish the slave trade. A native of Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire, he began his political career in 1780, eventually becoming the independent Member of Parliament for Yorkshire...
, famous for his anti-slavery campaign, Wilberforce road which comprises a large part of the village is named after him. The third bishop, Doctor Moberley, was headmaster of Winchester College before changing career.
Brighstone's village hall is called the Wilberforce Hall as another act of remembrance to him.
It is linked to other parts of the island by Southern Vectis
Southern Vectis
The Southern Vectis Omnibus Company Limited is the dominant bus operator on the Isle of Wight. It was purchased by the Go-Ahead Group in 2005 and is a part of the company's Go South Coast division. The firm employs 299 staff, with 105 single deck, double deck and open-top buses and coaches...
bus route 12
Southern Vectis route 12
Southern Vectis route 12 is a bus service operated by Southern Vectis between Newport and Totland via Shorwell, Brighstone and Freshwater.- West Wight Route :...
, serving Freshwater
Freshwater, Isle of Wight
Freshwater is a large village and civil parish at the western end of the Isle of Wight, England. Freshwater Bay is a small cove on the south coast of the Island which also gives its name to the nearby part of Freshwater....
, Totland
Totland
Totland is a village and civil parish at the western tip of the Isle of Wight. It lies on the coast at Colwell Bay, which is the closest part of the island to the British mainland...
and Newport
Newport, Isle of Wight
Newport is a civil parish and a county town of the Isle of Wight, an island off the south coast of England. Newport has a population of 23,957 according to the 2001 census...
as well as intermediate villages.
Brighstone Articles
Brighstone BayBrighstone Bay
Brighstone Bay is a bay on the south west coast of the Isle of Wight, England. It lies to the south and west of the village of Brighstone from which it takes its name. It faces south west towards the English Channel, its shoreline is 7 km in length and is gently curving...
,
Brighstone Forest
Brighstone Forest
Brighstone Forest is located in the southwest of the Isle of Wight. It is the largest forest on the Isle of Wight, being just a few hectares larger than Parkhurst Forest. It is spread over a number of hilly ridges which form the backbone of the Isle of Wight. From west to east the ridges are...
,
Brighstone Down
Brighstone Down
Brighstone Down is a chalk down on the Isle of Wight. It is located close to the village of Brighstone, in the southwest of the island , and rises to 214 metres at its highest point, northeast of the village of Mottistone....
,
Brighstone Christmas Tree Festival
Brighstone Christmas Tree Festival
Brighstone Christmas Tree Festival is a local event occurring in churches of the Brighstone parish on the Isle of Wight in England for the winter tourist season.This charitable event is used to raise money for maintenance of churches in the parish....
,
St. Mary's Church, Brighstone
St. Mary's Church, Brighstone
St. Mary's Church, Brighstone is a parish church in the Church of England located in Brighstone, Isle of Wight. The churchyard contains a memorial stone to George Albert Cairns VC.-History:The church is medieval dating from the twelfth century....