Sandown, Isle of Wight, Hampshire, England

Sandown on the Isle of Wight, one of Southern England's favourite 1960s seaside holiday resorts, was described in 1868 as follows 'Sandown '(or Sandham), a district parish and watering-place in the parish of Brading, Isle of Wight, county Hants, 6 miles S. of Ryde, 6½ from Ventnor, and 8 S.E. of Newport. It is a station on the Isle of Wight railway. This place, which was only a quarter of a century ago a poor fishing village, is now a prosperous town, containing three first-class hotels and numerous marine villas and mansions. It is situated on the S. side of the island, occupying a gentle acclivity at the head of Sandown Bay, which stretches 5 miles from Dunnose to Culver Cliff, and commands varied views of sea and land. The bathing is considered peculiarly invigorating on account of the saltness of the seawater at this point, and the shore is smooth, firm, and free from shingle, rendering no artificial appliances requisite; there are, however, numerous bathing-machines on the beach, and a bath-house for hot and cold sea-baths. The shops are abundantly supplied, and there are numerous inns and lodging-houses. At the W. end of the village are the barracks, at present occupied by the Isle of Wight militia, and a little to the E. stands Sandown Castle, built by Henry VIII., flanked by bastions and surrounded by a moat. It is still used as a fort, and commands the bay. The population in 1851 was 1,030, and in 1861 1,743. The strata in the vicinity consist of green sandstone and wealden clay, with iron pyrites in the cliffs and mottled pebbles resembling agate on the beach. The living is a perpetual curacy in the diocese of Winchester, value £200, in the patronage of the Church Patronage Society. The church, called Christ Church, was built in 1848, at a cost of £4,000. There are three Dissenting places of worship and a National school Near the village is Sandown Cottage, once the residence of John Wilkes, editor of the Northern Star, who set up a pillar here to his friend Churchill the poet.'