Seaview, Isle of Wight
Encyclopedia
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 only a 15-minute drive 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
.
The High Street is perpendicular to the shore. On the seafront lies the The Old Fort pub, a drinking spot popular with both residents and summer visitors. The Salterns Cottages used to house salt pan workers. One street is named Rope Walk, because long sections of rope for rigging ships were laid out there.
The well-known Priory Bay
is approximately a ten minute walk from the village. This stretch of beach can only be reached at low tide. It is filled with white sand and offers excellent swimming conditions. In addition, Seagrove Bay, between the village and Priory Bay, is quite popular. Some of the largest houses in the area are along Pier Road and Bluett Avenue, and this is partly responsible for the nickname "millionaires avenues". Further large period houses, now largely divided into flats, can be found in Ryde Road.
Seaview is home to the Seaview Wildlife Encounter
, formerly Flamingo Park. No Man's Land Fort, formerly part of the coast defences and now a luxury residence, is visible in the Solent
one mile from Seaview.
Seaview is home to many holiday homes including some with sea views. There is also a Thai restaurant with take-away, a tea room, a Post Office, stationery shop, pharmacist and grocers.
Public transport is provided by Southern Vectis
bus route 8
, which operates between Ryde
, Bembridge
, Sandown
and Newport
.
St. Peter's Church
the village's Church of England
church built in 1859.
, founded in 1893. In summer, the village hosts the Seaview Regatta
, during which locals and tourists can take part in many traditional activities, such as the greasy pole
where people line up and see how far they can slide along a pole covered in grease. Once they have slipped off, they drop into the sea below. There is also a diving competition.
In 1877 the Seaview Pier
Company was formed to build Seaview a promenading pier, and approval for a 350-yard-long pier was given by Parliament in 1878. The suspension pier was designed by Frank Caws
, a Seaview-born engineer/architect then working in Sunderland. The pier was finished in 1881, and was 1000 feet long and 15 feet wide. There were four towers from which the pier deck was suspended.
In its heyday, the pier received passenger ferries from Portsmouth and other south coast towns. At the entrance to the pier was the Pier Hotel, which catered for holidaymakers.
The Pier was still in use after World War II, but was destroyed in a storm in late December 1951.
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...
, overlooking the Solent
Solent
The Solent is a strait separating the Isle of Wight from the mainland of England.The Solent is a major shipping route for passengers, freight and military vessels. It is an important recreational area for water sports, particularly yachting, hosting the Cowes Week sailing event annually...
.
The village is popular with tourists and is only a 15-minute drive from the town of Ryde
Ryde
Ryde is a British seaside town, civil parish and the most populous town and urban area on the Isle of Wight, with a population of approximately 30,000. It is situated on the north-east coast. The town grew in size as a seaside resort following the joining of the villages of Upper Ryde and Lower...
, where most tourists reach the island by ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
or hovercraft
Hovercraft
A hovercraft is a craft capable of traveling over surfaces while supported by a cushion of slow moving, high-pressure air which is ejected against the surface below and contained within a "skirt." Although supported by air, a hovercraft is not considered an aircraft.Hovercraft are used throughout...
. Together with Nettlestone
Nettlestone
Nettlestone is a village on the Isle of Wight, England about 4 miles south east of Ryde. It is listed in the Domesday Book and was established c.1086...
, it forms a civil parish
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...
of Nettlestone and Seaview
Nettlestone and Seaview
Nettlestone and Seaview is a civil parish on the Isle of Wight. It contains the villages of Nettlestone and Seaview.Public Transport is provided by Southern Vectis bus route 8, which operates between Ryde, and Newport via Bembridge and Sandown....
.
The village
The well-known Priory Bay
Priory Bay
Priory Bay is a small privately owned bay on the north east coast of the Isle of Wight, England. It lies to the east of the village of Nettlestone. It faces east towards Selsey Bill and its shoreline is 600m in length. It stretches from Horestone Point in the north to Nodes Point in the south.The...
is approximately a ten minute walk from the village. This stretch of beach can only be reached at low tide. It is filled with white sand and offers excellent swimming conditions. In addition, Seagrove Bay, between the village and Priory Bay, is quite popular. Some of the largest houses in the area are along Pier Road and Bluett Avenue, and this is partly responsible for the nickname "millionaires avenues". Further large period houses, now largely divided into flats, can be found in Ryde Road.
Seaview is home to the Seaview Wildlife Encounter
Seaview Wildlife Encounter
Seaview Wildlife Encounter is a non-indigenous wildlife park and visitors' attraction at Seaview on the coast of the Isle of Wight, a small British island....
, formerly Flamingo Park. No Man's Land Fort, formerly part of the coast defences and now a luxury residence, is visible in the Solent
Solent
The Solent is a strait separating the Isle of Wight from the mainland of England.The Solent is a major shipping route for passengers, freight and military vessels. It is an important recreational area for water sports, particularly yachting, hosting the Cowes Week sailing event annually...
one mile from Seaview.
Seaview is home to many holiday homes including some with sea views. There is also a Thai restaurant with take-away, a tea room, a Post Office, stationery shop, pharmacist and grocers.
Public transport is provided 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 8
Southern Vectis route 8
Southern Vectis route 8 is a bus service operated on the Isle of Wight by Southern Vectis between Newport and Ryde. The route travels via Pan Estate, Robin Hill, Arreton, Winford, Lake, Sandown, Yaverland, Bembridge, St Helens, Nettlestone, Seaview and Pondwell. The general daytime frequency of the...
, which operates between Ryde
Ryde
Ryde is a British seaside town, civil parish and the most populous town and urban area on the Isle of Wight, with a population of approximately 30,000. It is situated on the north-east coast. The town grew in size as a seaside resort following the joining of the villages of Upper Ryde and Lower...
, Bembridge
Bembridge
Bembridge is an affluent 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 claims by residents that Bembridge is the largest village in England, and occasional claims that it is...
, Sandown
Sandown
Sandown is a seaside resort town and civil parish on the southeast coast of the Isle of Wight, England, neighbouring the town of Shanklin to the south. Sandown Bay is the name of the bay off the English Channel which both towns share, and it is notable for its long stretch of easily accessible...
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...
.
St. Peter's Church
St. Peter's Church, Seaview
St. Peter's Church, Seaview is a parish church in the Church of England located in Seaview, Isle of Wight.-History:The church was built in 1859 by the architect Thomas Hellyer. It was built as a chapel of ease, and has a nave of four bays, north aisle, and south porch...
the village's Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
church built in 1859.
Boating
The village is home to the Sea View Yacht ClubSea View Yacht Club
The Sea View Yacht Club is in the village of Seaview, on the Isle of Wight, on the north-east coast of the island. The Sea View Yacht Club was founded in 1893 and its stated aim is 'to encourage amateur sailing and boat racing'....
, founded in 1893. In summer, the village hosts the Seaview Regatta
Regatta
A regatta is a series of boat races. The term typically describes racing events of rowed or sailed water craft, although some powerboat race series are also called regattas...
, during which locals and tourists can take part in many traditional activities, such as the greasy pole
Greasy pole
Greasy pole or grease pole refers to a pole that has been made slippery and thus difficult to grip. More specifically, it is the name of several events that involve staying on, climbing up, walking over or otherwise traversing such a pole...
where people line up and see how far they can slide along a pole covered in grease. Once they have slipped off, they drop into the sea below. There is also a diving competition.
Seaview Pier
Pier
A pier is a raised structure, including bridge and building supports and walkways, over water, typically supported by widely spread piles or pillars...
Company was formed to build Seaview a promenading pier, and approval for a 350-yard-long pier was given by Parliament in 1878. The suspension pier was designed by Frank Caws
Frank Caws
Francis Edward "Frank" Caws was a British architect.Caws was born at Seaview, Isle of Wight, the son of Silas Harvey Caws and his wife, Emma Matilda .. Caws later moved to and settled in Sunderland, via London...
, a Seaview-born engineer/architect then working in Sunderland. The pier was finished in 1881, and was 1000 feet long and 15 feet wide. There were four towers from which the pier deck was suspended.
In its heyday, the pier received passenger ferries from Portsmouth and other south coast towns. At the entrance to the pier was the Pier Hotel, which catered for holidaymakers.
The Pier was still in use after World War II, but was destroyed in a storm in late December 1951.