History

The Mall in Newport captured from above

Heated council meetings, flooding after long drought and more in the CP archives

A 19-year-old completed a swim of the Solent in one hour and 20 minute, 100 years ago

A 19-year-old completed a swim of the Solent in one hour and 20 minute, 100 years ago

County Press archives reveal Solent swim, £25,000 fire and Jane Fonda film

Standen House, Blackwater

Standen House, Blackwater

Isle of Wight mansion linked to Shakespeare listed for sale at £1.25 million

Civic ceremony held on board the Galeon Andalucia, from left: East Cowes mayor, Cllr Tracy Reardon; Capt Ricardo Cuenca; Cowes mayor, Cllr Stuart Ellis; and Isle of Wight High Sheriff, Nigel Hartley.

Civic ceremony held on board the Galeon Andalucia, from left: East Cowes mayor, Cllr Tracy Reardon; Capt Ricardo Cuenca; Cowes mayor, Cllr Stuart Ellis; and Isle of Wight High Sheriff, Nigel Hartley.

Cultural attractions

Spectacular Spanish galleon given special civic welcome to Cowes

The Arts Society Isle of Wight is set to begin its new season with a lecture on the Bayeux Tapestry.

The Arts Society Isle of Wight is set to begin its new season with a lecture on the Bayeux Tapestry.

Bayeux Tapestry mysteries to be explored at Arts Society Isle of Wight lecture

Reporting from 125 years ago included the story of a curious fish caught in Sandown Bay

Reporting from 125 years ago included the story of a curious fish caught in Sandown Bay

From ferry collision to tropical fish - Island news from this week in the past

Fossil fanatic Maria Ferguson cutting the ribbon to officially open their mini home museum, Family Fossils, in Carisbrooke

Fossil fanatic Maria Ferguson cutting the ribbon to officially open their mini home museum, Family Fossils, in Carisbrooke

No bones about it — Isle of Wight family's fossil-fuelled story heads to Netflix

Trevor Duncan, left, and Albert Ketelbey

Trevor Duncan, left, and Albert Ketelbey

A look at Isle of Wight composers Trevor Duncan and Albert Ketelbey

Family seeks recognition for Isle of Wight naval architect Bill Waight

The Isle of Wight from above

The Isle of Wight from above

Solent Tunnel proposals and David Niven's Island visit in days gone by

Volunteers Barbara, Philip, Jenny Max, Janet, Sally and Alan at the exhibition

Volunteers Barbara, Philip, Jenny Max, Janet, Sally and Alan at the exhibition

Cultural attractions

Inside the Island's newest maritime attraction in former primary school site

Jim Isted with the rare Chinese 'mercury' pot he found at a car boot sale on the Island

Jim Isted with the rare Chinese 'mercury' pot he found at a car boot sale on the Island

Fossil collector finds centuries-old rare Chinese pot at car boot sale for £20

Pupils joined an impromptu service for the Twin Towers victims in Portsmouth the day after the 9/11 terror attacks in New York

Pupils joined an impromptu service for the Twin Towers victims in Portsmouth the day after the 9/11 terror attacks in New York

Teacher remembers poignant day after the 9/11 terror attack — Letter

Here's a collection of press clippings from this week in the past

Here's a collection of press clippings from this week in the past

Fishermen catch eight foot shark off Bembridge and more stories from the archive

A fire broke out in the linen store of the Ocean Hotel 50 years ago

A fire broke out in the linen store of the Ocean Hotel 50 years ago

Fire at the Ocean Hotel in Sandown 50 years ago - from the County Press archive

Ryde Town Hall blaze was a disaster waiting to happen — Letter

I personally have never gone along with the 600,000 figure. I think that's absurd, it couldn't have been 600,000. It’s a myth which was started by the film of the festival, Message to Love, that came out in 1995 - Ray Foulk interviewed by Tom and Alan

I personally have never gone along with the 600,000 figure. I think that's absurd, it couldn't have been 600,000. It’s a myth which was started by the film of the festival, Message to Love, that came out in 1995 - Ray Foulk interviewed by Tom and Alan

The bizarre local reaction to the Isle of Wight Festival in days gone by

County Press senior reporter Jon Moreno hands over a rare Brannon etching to curator Kate Tiley, at the Carisbrooke Castle Museum, on behalf of loanee Ken Hicks

County Press senior reporter Jon Moreno hands over a rare Brannon etching to curator Kate Tiley, at the Carisbrooke Castle Museum, on behalf of loanee Ken Hicks

Rare junk shop find takes pride of place at castle museum

Cultural attractions

New production will bring together Islanders' memories of historic quayside

Here's some headlines from days gone by in the Isle of Wight County Press

Here's some headlines from days gone by in the Isle of Wight County Press

Falls, fires and Parkhurst prisoners win music competition - Island days gone by

The Ivatt locomotive, numbered 41313.

The Ivatt locomotive, numbered 41313.

Steam locomotive set for farewell celebration ahead of £200k overhaul

Ken Hicks holding up the very rare Brannon engraving of The Needles

Ken Hicks holding up the very rare Brannon engraving of The Needles

Extremely rare Needles engraving found in 'junk shop' cost collector just £2.50

Drought conditions impacted the Isle of Wight 50 years ago, similar to this summer's weather in picture from July 2026

Drought conditions impacted the Isle of Wight 50 years ago, similar to this summer's weather in picture from July 2026

Drought conditions of 1976 affects football season and more in days gone by

Martin Woodward has chronicled the history of Bembridge Lifeboat Station and its many crew missions of more than 160 years

Martin Woodward has chronicled the history of Bembridge Lifeboat Station and its many crew missions of more than 160 years

RNLI coxwain's book details 159 years of dramatic Bembridge Lifeboat Station rescues

The Queen Victoria memorial in Newport

The Queen Victoria memorial in Newport

Queen Victoria's memorial location chosen - Island days gone by

Some of the graves after the restoration work. The graves of the Osborne Naval Cadets are behind them.

Some of the graves after the restoration work. The graves of the Osborne Naval Cadets are behind them.

Volunteers clean and restore graves of Island war heroes

Unsolved murder of Island woman who led mysterious double life

Wightlink’s Martin Gulliver and Isle of Wight Steam Railway volunteer Bob Comer

Wightlink’s Martin Gulliver and Isle of Wight Steam Railway volunteer Bob Comer

Ferry firm donates vintage trolley to Isle of Wight Steam Railway

Tribute to one of Britain's rarest jets goes on display at museum

Lightning at St Catherine's Lighthouse in 2021

Lightning at St Catherine's Lighthouse in 2021

Storm of 'tropical intensity' and royal visit to Cowes Week in days gone by

Rita Greer’s painting of Hooke, as a student at Christ Church. Oxford. Inset, Richard Quigley MP, opening the Hooke Festival.

Rita Greer’s painting of Hooke, as a student at Christ Church. Oxford. Inset, Richard Quigley MP, opening the Hooke Festival.

Clubs and societies

Festival celebrates legacy of 'forgotten scientist' born in Freshwater

Ryde from above

Ryde from above

County Press archives reveal freak storms and Solent rescues across the decades

A stunt man had a suboptimal experience over the River Medina 50 years ago

A stunt man had a suboptimal experience over the River Medina 50 years ago

Stuntman fails at River Medina feat - more from the CP archives

The Mall in Newport captured from above

The Mall in Newport captured from above

Vicar tells court he sped due to being delayed by prayer - tales from the archive

Tales from the past - smuggling of contraband on the Isle of Wight

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip on board Bluebottle just after their marriage in 1947

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip on board Bluebottle just after their marriage in 1947

1947 Royal wedding gift yacht Bluebottle to return to Isle of Wight to race

A re-enacted Viking battle by the Wolfguard group

A re-enacted Viking battle by the Wolfguard group

Vikings set to entertain at free Isle of Wight summer festival

Newport Roman Villa will host a special event to mark the Festival of Archaeology.

Newport Roman Villa will host a special event to mark the Festival of Archaeology.

Event at Newport Roman Villa as attraction marks 100 years since discovery

Temperatures soared on the Island 50 years ago in the previous hottest June on record

Temperatures soared on the Island 50 years ago in the previous hottest June on record

Previous hottest June on record and more in the Isle of Wight County Press archive

Northwood Cemetery

Northwood Cemetery

Open day to showcase interesting historical cemetery

Appuldurcombe House in Wroxall, Isle of Wight

Appuldurcombe House in Wroxall, Isle of Wight

Appuldurcombe House preservation in process 75 years ago - stories from days gone by

Isle of Wight artist Francesca Adami with Island D-Day hero Alec Penstone and her portrait of him

Isle of Wight artist Francesca Adami with Island D-Day hero Alec Penstone and her portrait of him

Portrait of Isle of Wight war hero Alec Penstone honoured in museum

The Isle of Wight and Solent

The Isle of Wight and Solent

Island stories from the archives - including ships catching fire in the Solent

What was happening on the Isle of Wight this week, in the past?

What was happening on the Isle of Wight this week, in the past?

Days gone by - news round-up from the County Press archives

The Isle of Wight and the Solent

The Isle of Wight and the Solent

Child saved and Solent Tunnel Bill - as reported in the County Press 125 years ago

Alec Penstone having fun with the D-Day Darlings at his 100th birthday bash in 2025.

Alec Penstone having fun with the D-Day Darlings at his 100th birthday bash in 2025.

Tributes pour in after the death of Isle of Wight D-Day war hero Alec Penstone

Aerial drone shots of Ryde Esplanade

Aerial drone shots of Ryde Esplanade

Unexploded bomb on Ryde beach and more County Press clippings from the past

Alec Penstone in the Royal Navy as a young man and as a D-Day national hero.

Alec Penstone in the Royal Navy as a young man and as a D-Day national hero.

Isle of Wight mourns loss of its war hero - Alec Penstone dies at 101

Blanche and John Thornycroft

Blanche and John Thornycroft

Isle of Wight woman who became the first lady of marine engineering

The subway at Sandown Station, which was supported 100 years ago, has recently been redecorated

The subway at Sandown Station, which was supported 100 years ago, has recently been redecorated

Plans for a subway in Sandown and more stories from Island days gone by

Michael Loftus, Dr Victoria Preston (Deputy Chair), Shirley Robertson and Harold Cudmore.

Michael Loftus, Dr Victoria Preston (Deputy Chair), Shirley Robertson and Harold Cudmore.

Island museum marks 30 years celebrating maritime heritage

What was happening on the Isle of Wight in days gone by?

What was happening on the Isle of Wight in days gone by?

Isle of Wight County Press archives - news in days gone by

Military guests lay a wreath at Cowes Parade during the ORP Błyskawica commemoration service

Military guests lay a wreath at Cowes Parade during the ORP Błyskawica commemoration service

"We owe them a great deal" – Cowes and East Cowes remembers Błyskawica heroes

Message to the women of the Island extract, 1941.

Message to the women of the Island extract, 1941.

Tragic wartime tales of soldiers shot on the Island by mistake during the war