Page images
PDF
EPUB

WALK TO ALDERMORE.

45

the property of Sir Richard Simeon, Bart. The house, which is a neat edifice, was erected by the late Lord Amherst. It stands on an elevated spot, with a lawn before it, and a fine woody back ground, commanding a lovely prospect of land and water. Just before passing the second gate in the road, if the eye be directed to the north, a most enchanting view presents itself. The noble residence, the undulating ground, the shady wood, the blue ocean, the distant line of the opposite coast and town, furnish a most imposing scene. Proceeding through the gate at the extremity of the walk, and again turning to the right, the visitor will, by following the main road, be led back to the town, having had a circuitous walk of about two miles in extent. In returning this way a view is obtained of two most picturesque lodges, which form the entrance to the grounds of St. John's.

At a short distance from this, ascending the hill near the turnpike, is the beautiful villa of Captain Riboleau; and adjacent to it a lodging house in an elegant cottage style.

WALK TO THE MILL AT ALDERMORE.

This is a short country walk. Its recommendation is its rural beauty, and its easy distance, being about a mile and a half from the town. The road is situated at

which these meadows produced annually; each meadow to be reaped for his benefit every alternate year; and the warrant for his doing so was to be the continuance of a rude image in the wall of the house. Whether this be the legal tenure or not, is another question; one thing is certain: the Idol is preserved in the wall-the farmer comes on the specific day for the crop, and the produce is carried to Newnham.

the south of Ryde. On proceeding to it the visitor must pass Upper Ryde, pursuing his course straight through the turnpike, till he reaches a cottage which stands at the angle of three roads; he must then bend his_way to the right; in doing which he will soon pass Haylands: this little villa has a fine land view and peep of the sea. The view near the mill is very pleasing; on turning to the north, the Solent spreads itself very beautifully in the prospect; in the west, wood and water meet the eye; while in the south, the distant downs of Nunwell and Ashey-the latter rising with its fine rotundity, and its pyramidical sea-mark, looks very picturesque; and in the east the finely sloping down of Bembridge; at the base of which, at the time of high water, the tide flowing into Brading harbour has the appearance of a beautiful lake.

At a short distance from the mill is Upton House, the abode of J. P. Lind, Esq. M. D. This handsome villa is situated in a delightfully retired spot, commanding a fine land view, decked with a lovely variety of wood and fields, and gently rising hills; and having in the distant ground a peep of the deep blue sea and Brading Haven.

On reaching the mill, where four roads meet, the visitor must turn short to the left, directing his course easterly, when he will have a delightfully rural walk. The road to the right leads to the retired village of Haven Street; a distance of about two miles from this spot. This little village is most beautifully situated, commanding some fine views of the adjacent downs, and the richly fertile valleys, which spread around it with great luxuriance. There is scarcely a finer land view than this in the neighbourhood. A profusion of lovely scenery presents itself, bounded by the elegant grounds of Fern Hill, which rise gently from the banks of the Wootton. The finest view here is from

[blocks in formation]

the sloping field just opposite the Farm, called Coppid Hall: should the visitor take this road, he will only have to follow the foot-path through the fields, and it will conduct him to the main road leading to Ryde from Newport. But proceeding on the other road, he will have the downs of Ashey, Nunwell, and Bembridge on the right, and occasionally the sea and some beautiful valleys throwing themselves before him by some interesting peeps on the left. At length he will reach Small Brook Heath, where he will again find four roads meeting; here the road to the left must be taken, and it will conduct him to the turnpike road leading to Ryde.

[graphic][merged small][merged small]

THIS little scattered village is situated at the west of Ryde: the walk to it comprises a distance of about one mile and a half; and in point of beauty is equal to any in the neighbourhood. The road passes by several elegantly-constructed villas and lodging houses; after

which we pass a beautiful lodge, leading to Ryde House, the seat of George Player, Esq. On leaving the main road, the way is tracked out by a foot-path on the right, winding through a delightful extent of fields, and terminating in the village church-yard. At a short distance from the path on the left is seen a fine antique cottage, the residence of Captain Brigstocke.

The parish of Binstead seems to have originated in a grant from William the Conqueror, and William Rufus, of a half a hide of land to Walkeline, bishop of Winchester, for the digging of stone to repair that cathedral. It is found in the register of Winchester, that when William of Wykeham rebuilt the body of that cathedral, he dug the stone in the Isle of Wight, and commissioned the Abbot of Quarr, to provide carriages to convey it to the sea. The pits from whence the stone was dug, are by the lapse of years become large grassy hollows and mounds; but there are others adjacent which are excavated, and exhibit all the rudeness of the quarry. The church of Binstead is very small, but of considerable antiquity. It has a rude piece of ancient sculpture over the south door, resembling the Thor of the Saxons, which is called by the common people the Idol. Binstead Church is supposed to have been built by one of the Bishops of Winchester. It is a small plain building, and has nothing very attractive, either to the antiquary or the architect, excepting the arch which separates the nave and the chancel, which is of considerable antiquity. Its pleasant distance from Ryde, and its retired situation, invest it with all the charms of a village church.

Immediately on this side of the church stands the elegant cottage of J. Fleming, Esq. M. P. The view is lovely, and the grounds are exceedingly well laid out, especially a fancy garden, which from its singularity

« PreviousContinue »