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Brighstone memories

Here are memories of Brighstone and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Brighstone or a Brighstone photo.

New Road

The Village c1960
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I remember walking past here every day to school from 1950 to 1956 and then I went to Freshwater secondary modern school and still walked by it to catch the bus until I left the village in 1959. I remember the path on the left had a stile and footpath that came out by the pub, where that path joins New Road opposite was the mill stream with a wooden bridge and we used to play pooh sticks along the river bank and try to get them past the weir that was at the back of Mr Fisks farm house. My father was the village policeman and we lived at The Lindens.

Going to School

The Village c1960
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I walked past these houses every day to and from school from 1956 to 1959 when my family lived at Marsh Green.

Our House!

The Village c1960
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Our house is the second left and I was about 8 when this was taken. The field in front of the houses is now the site of the Methodist Chapel.

Memories of Isle of Wight

Growing up in Showell

I grew up in Shorwell and lived there between 1972 and 1980. Being one of the Vicar's sons wasn't easy as everyone knew me and I couldn't get away with anything! But what wonderful memories of a simple and fun childhood. Everyone knew each other and many villagers met regularly at the Midsummer Fair and garden parties on the Vicarage lawn. What simple and carefree days they were and how I long for them again. Alas time and life moves on but Shorwell and those great childhood memories will be with me for the rest of my life.

Washing The Sheep

Winkle Street c1955
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My grandfather Jim Long, including my dad Les and brothers, plus helpers, walked the sheep from Westover Farm to Winkle Street to wash the sheep every year. It was a big event in the village - all the villagers and children. It was usual for one of the kids to fall in.

Captain Macpherson

My late mother told me that she was related to Miss White, daughter of the Rev. Richard Walton White. His daughter left the manor and or land to Captain Macpherson in 1911. Although we have no claims on this family, we have no first names of Miss White or Captain Macpherson's nephew for our family tree. Any historical history and or photographs would be great.

Childhood Memories

My aunt and uncle ran the New Inn in the 1930s and 1940s, possibly before.
Their names were Patrick Huston and Annie Huston. Also living with them in the early 1940s were my grandmother, Mary Evans, and my Auntie Lou. I lived in Portsmouth and remember being sent by my parents at the outbreak of war in 1939 as they thought it would be safer for my brother and myself. However, after 3 or 4 days my mother came and took us back as she did not want us to be separated. I have seen a postcard on another site showing the fireplace uncovered at the New Inn by P F Huston, my uncle, and I remember sitting at this fireplace and listening to a speech by the King at the outbreak of war.

After my uncle became ill they gave up the pub and moved to Chapel Cottage, remaining there until my uncle died. I spent many happy holidays with them and used to spend lovely days... Read more

'Brooside'

I remember when my dad brought a run down derelict building across the road from the New Inn. As a child, a building site was a wonderful play ground. He restored it with oak beams and York stone floors, I only wish we still owned it, the tranquility of Shalfleet seems so desirable now compared to London, ahh, feet up in front of a large open log fire, or just to sit in that peaceful garden watching the fruit swell and ripen and as autumn approached, the bubbling brook that supported generations of water fowl and freshwater eels, a different world, a different lifetime.

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