Monks Bay
Encyclopedia
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...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
just to the east of the village of Bonchurch
Bonchurch
Bonchurch is a small village to the East of Ventnor, on the southern part of theIsle of Wight, England. It is situated on The Undercliff, which itself is subject to regular landslips. A large section of the settlement is found in Upper Bonchurch, halfway up St Boniface Down on the main A3055 road...
.
Monks Bay is believed to be where French monks from Lyra Abbey landed from Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
. It has proved popular with visitors and is one of the natural highlights of the town, which has been the venue for such figures as Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
. It is also the site of the Battle of Bonchurch
Battle of Bonchurch
The Battle of Bonchurch took place sometime in late July 1545 at Bonchurch on the Isle of Wight. No source of information states a specific date, although it could have happened on 21 July. The battle was a part of the wider Italian War of 1542-1546, and the battle took place during the 1545...
which stopped French attempts to seize the island as its own, making war for continued operations against England.
The cliffs lining Monks Bay are made of Blue slipper clay and, as such, have been mixed with imported rock to prevent slippage, which would present a danger to the numerous walkers who pass along its shores every year. It has also proved to be a good state for local flora to be established.
The area was notable as a venue for smuggling rings. The bay was used to disembark cargo from ships which would then be transported into the island. Once a major source of income, fishing for local lobsters and crabs continues to occupy fisherman in this area.