FEATURE
the estate, grand equestrian transport of horse and
carriage sweeping through the avenued drive with
maids, butlers and coachmen tending to aristocratic
needs.
The size of the house and grounds is a measure of
wealth and influence which is only to be reinforced
by the size of the gates. Freemantle Gates as they
are known lie about a mile from the house rising
up from Godshill and supported with a gatehouse
confirm a man of importance. To walk the house,
gates and monument is a worthy experience,
rewarded by an outstanding Island view and
arguably one of the best to be had.
Looking down with Appuldurcombe tucked
neatly into the valley encompassed by well healed
broad leafed trees, I start to admire the integrity of
Sir Richard Worsley for he was brave and bold to
venture into the new colonies of North America;
hostile and uncertain, Sir Richard invested in profit
and empire setting up plantations in Virginia USA
about 1619. To support the colony Robert Newland
of Newport and East Cowes set up a quay and
storehouses encouraging trade between the two communities. By 1634 a
settlement was well established on the James river close to the colonial
town of Portsmouth. The native Indian name of Warraskoyak was so hard
to pronounce Sir Richard Worsley drawing on ex-patriots notions of home
and heartland renamed the land Isle of Wight County.
It all makes sense now, and I was intrigued to know more. The internet
provided factual evidence of Smithfield and the Isle of Wight County. But
what about the community, the people, their history, and did they know
about us? Well, they do and they don’t. They do because there is a red
telephone box donated from Cowes in their main square, reaffirming an
ongoing liaison, however, some don’t. Intriguingly, my brother introduced
Island Life - www.islandlifemagazine.net
himself to a group of locals during his visit, explaining that he was from
the ‘Original Isle of Wight,’ and received the reply “Another Isle of Wight?
Gee you ain’t kidding!” And interestingly when probed, they had never
considered that where they lived wasn’t even an Island!
It’s rumoured that direct descendants of Sir Richards Worsley still live
very close to Appuldurcombe and I wondered whilst passing through the
gates of Freemantle if they had ever ventured west like their forefathers
and reflected on the Virginian legacy. The historical links between the two
Isle of Wights are fascinating and if I was ever fortunate enough to meet a
relative of the Worsley family I would consider a more tactful approach than
“ Hands up who’s been to.….”.
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