Discover 8 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Freshwater (United Kingdom). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Tennyson Down, St Agnes' Church, and All Saints' Church. Also, be sure to include Golden Hill Fort in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Freshwater (England).
Table of Contents
Tennyson Down
Hill in England. Tennyson Down is a hill at the west end of the Isle of Wight just south of Totland. Tennyson Down is a grassy, whale-backed ridge of chalk which rises to 482 ft/147m above sea level. Tennyson Down is named after the poet Lord Tennyson who lived at nearby Farringford House for nearly 40 years. The poet used to walk on the down almost every day, saying that the air was worth 'sixpence a pint'.[1]
St Agnes' Church
St Agnes' Church, Freshwater is a parish church in the Church of England located in Freshwater, Isle of Wight.[2]
Address: Gate Lane, Freshwater
All Saints' Church
Anglican church in Freshwater, England. All Saints' Church, Freshwater is a parish church in the Church of England located in Freshwater, Isle of Wight.[3]
Address: Church Pl, PO40 9BP Freshwater
Golden Hill Fort
Historical landmark in Norton Green, England. Golden Hill Fort was a defensible barracks at Freshwater, Isle of Wight, England, built as part of the Palmerston defences by the 1859 Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom to provide manpower to man the defences at the western end of the Isle of Wight, England. Built in hexagonal form, it accommodated 8 officers and 128 men, and had its own hospital.
The garrison for the nearby Hatherwood Battery was held at the fort. In 1914 33 Company Royal Garrison Artillery was based at the Fort.
The Fort is a local landmark which is in a very prominent position overlooking much of the land looking south towards Afton Down. Whilst operational, the area was kept clear of vegetation to allow views out to the Solent. The name Golden Hill refers not to the spectacular golden display of flowering European gorse, but to an historic landowner named Gauden.
The building, which is a Grade 1 Listed Building, is now in private ownership and not open to the public. It was derelict and had not been used for many years, passing through numerous owners. Planning consent was granted in 2003 for conversion to residential use, with the listed building consent updated in 2007. Golden Hill Fort was converted into 18 dwellings by Golden Hill Homes between 2008 and 2011.[4]
Sunken Secrets
Museum. The Archaeology Discover Centre was a museum located in Fort Victoria on the Isle of Wight, England.
The museum was run by archaeologists based on the Isle of Wight. It was housed in five of the fort's former casemates. Since it was opened in 1990 the museum was used to display exhibits recovered from several local shipwrecks and the submerged landscapes of the Solent. These include the wrecks of HMS Pomone, HMS Invincible, the Yarmouth Roads Wreck and Bouldnor Cliff. The museum also houses an exhibition about the history of Fort Victoria itself.[5]
Address: Fort Victoria Country Park Westhill Lane, PO41 0RR Freshwater
High Down, Isle of Wight
High Down is a chalk down making up the western extent of the ridge that crosses the Isle of Wight, England, and overlooking The Needles rock stacks. It includes Tennyson Down.
The Needles Batteries and the Rocket Launching site are located on the Down It is here where the Black Knight and Black Arrow rockets were tested before being shipped to Woomera in Australia. The entire site is now owned by the National Trust, although it is bordered by The Needles - Landmark Attraction at Alum Bay, which is owned by an independent company. The Rocket Testing site is free to enter, although the Old Battery requires a modest fee.[6]
Dimbola Museum & Galleries
Museum in Freshwater, England. Dimbola was the Isle of Wight home of the Victorian pioneer photographer Julia Margaret Cameron from 1860 to 1875. It is now owned by the Julia Margaret Cameron Trust, which runs the Dimbola Museum and Galleries.[7]
Address: Terrace Lane, PO40 9QE Freshwater
Widdick Chine
Widdick Chine is a geological feature on the west coast of the Isle of Wight, England. It is west of the village of Totland.
It is a steep coastal gully, which is overgrown with vegetation. The water that used to flow down the slope has been redirected through a pipe which takes it to beach level to reduce its effect on erosion to the cliff. A set of steps have been constructed down the chine to provide access from Totland to the beach of Totland Bay.
The Chine pipe drains water from the northern slopes of Tennyson Down.
The Isle of Wight Coastal Path passes up the steps of the chine. At the bottom of the chine is the old Totland lifeboat house.[8]