history
Island Life - April/May 2010
COAST highlights the
disappearing village!
A NEW VISITOR EXPERIENCE IS OPENING AT BLACKGANG IN 2010
For further information & group booking enquiries please ring
(01983) 730330 or email: [email protected]
The very word ‘Blackgang’ summons up visions
covers and further seating outside with
of smugglers, shipwrecks and wild storm-lashed
stunning views down the south west coast of
shores! Originally opened to the public over
the Island. Offering morning coffee, patisserie,
165 years ago in 1843, Blackgang Chine
light lunches and afternoon teas, The
has become world famous for its eccentric
Ship-Ashore will make an ideal stop for locally
attractions and well loved by generations of
sourced refreshment for visitors touring the
visiting families.
south part of the Island.
From 29th March this year, for the first time
A modest admission fee to the village will give
there will be a separate entrance for adults to
a real alternative for adults without children to
explore the mysterious past of this beautiful
consider Blackgang for a visit, whilst our usual
coastline. This will give admission to a range of
good value family admission to the Chine will
exhibitions and shops designed to appeal to the
include all our new attractions and features.
growing numbers of Island adult visitors.
Following the popularity of the BBC series,
a brand new attraction, BBC COAST, will not
only tell the story of the Island’s
coast, it will also illustrate the
dramatic cliff falls and erosion
that Blackgang has suffered over
hundreds of years. And of course
there will be the impressive 87’
skeleton of the whale which has
been on display since 1844.
Other attractions will include The
Isle of Wight Experience, a 70 seat
large screen cinema experience
flying around the Island’s coast,
Timber World, a refurbished
exhibition about country life on
the Island 100 years ago as well
as two quality shops, Chocolate
Heaven for a wide range of
yummy chocolate and Contraband,
stocking a range of gifts to reflect
the smuggling past of Blackgang.
Adjacent to the ‘village’
entrance, a new cafe restaurant
will be opening. The Ship-Ashore
tea-rooms will provide 56 indoor
64
Alexander Dabell founder of Blackgang Chine
Visit our new website - www.visitislandlife.com