Island Life Magazine Ltd April / May 2016 | Page 45

FEATURE

When Ventnor was
T

‘England’s Nice’

here can be few Islanders who
have not at some stage in their
lives visited Ventnor, the resort of
the Undercliff.
It is famed for its spectacular terraced
site, buildings almost tumbling over one
another in the descent to the town and
shore, while summer months find beach
and esplanade host to families acting
out the time-honoured tradition of the
bucket and spade holiday.
What many will not know is that
Ventnor was born as a winter health
resort. For sixty years from Queen
Victoria’s accession in 1837, it became
the toast of the wealthy and the wellto-do as a place to seek refuge from the
cold, the wet and the smoky gloom of
an English winter. Its sunny and mild
winter climate became favoured by
distinguished physicians in the treatment
of consumption.
Michael Freeman’s book, ‘Victorians
in Search of Winter Health’, vividly
recaptures the story of the resort’s
upstart growth over the course of

the 19th Century. It is played out in
extraordinary detail in the pages of
London’s Times newspaper. For it was
largely London’s capital that underwrote
the town’s building boom and sustained
its high status as a winter retreat, to
stand alongside the French Riviera, for

long a haunt of the English in winter.
Here was ‘England’s Nice’, a piece of the
Mediterranean on an English shore.
Available now at the County Press shop
in Newport, Ryde Bookshop and Seasons
in Ventnor. In addition you can visit www.
abebooks.co.uk to order a copy.

Walking anniversary
H

ere we are celebrating the
18th Anniversary of the Isle of
Wight Walking Festival! There is a
great programme – 16 days packed
with fantastic walks, some of the old
favourites and some new and exciting
ones to whet your appetite. With over
200 walks to choose from, and over
half of the Island recognised as an Area
of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with its
60 miles of dramatic and breath taking
Heritage Coastline, unspoilt countryside
and over 500 miles of well-maintained
and signposted footpaths; there is no
excuse not to don your boots and take
in the stunning views of our beautiful
Island.
The festival gives you a unique
opportunity to explore places on the

Island new to you, and of course with
walks led by very knowledgeable
and popular leaders, there is always
something intriguing to learn.
Step back in time and follow in the
footsteps of the Poet Laureate, Alfred
Lord Tennyson, Robert Hook, John
Milne or Jimmi Hendrix. Or stroll
in the most enchanted and historic
gardens of Osborne House, Queen
Victoria’s much-loved residence at
East Cowes, or celebrate 300 years of
Capability Brown, in a stroll around
Appuldurcombe Park with the Isle of
Wight Garden Trust. Or simply step
out and take the little ones on some
intriguing Children’s walks, Full details
can be found on the website www.
isleofwightwalkingfestival.co.uk
www.visitilife.com

45