The Isle of Wight : its history, topography and antiquities : with notes upon its principal seats, churches, manoral houses, legendary and poetical associations, geology and picturesque localities ... / by W. H. Davenport Adams.

Adams, W. H. Davenport (William Henry Davenport), 1828-1891.

Date:: 1884

Credit: The Isle of Wight : its history, topography and antiquities : with notes upon its principal seats, churches, manoral houses, legendary and poetical associations, geology and picturesque localities ... / by W. H. Davenport Adams. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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$tact with each other as when living. Fossil shells are here abundant, and the Cytherea incrassriM and Neretina concava are some- times found. Doubling Hmv Ledge, we enter TotJand Bay, characterized by the same geological peculiarities (p. 236); round Hatherwood Point we pass into Alum Baij (p. 234), whose brilliantly-coloured vertical strata seem the phenomenon of a fairy world; and land to examine its wonders at our leisure. The height which overhangs its sandy shore is Headon Hill (p. 235), where the visitor may obtain an abundant supply of fossil shells. Dr. Mantell particularly enumerates the following:— Potomomya gregaria, Pctamides concavus, P. plicatus, P. ventricosus, Planorbis euomphalus, Lin- naeus fusiformis, L. longiscatus, Paludina angulosa, Melanopsis fusiformis, M. brevis, Psammobia solida, andCy therea incrassata. Round the Needles into Scratchcll's Bay (p. 233), and doubling Sun Corner, we sail in the shadow of the mighty cliffs known as Mai)i Bench and the Nodes (p. 232), until we reach Freshwater Bay. The points of in- terest along this line of coast are fully de- scribed at pp. 231-236. At Freshwater Gate (p. 230), or at the village, one mile inland (p. 230), we pass the night, and resume our voyage the next moi'ning. From Freshwater Gate we proceed to- Compton Bay (p. 137), looking across the water to the lofty, undulating chalk range of Afton, Chessel, and Shalcombe Downs; at Brook Point we land (if the tide serve) to examine its petrified forest (p. 138). Next we pass Brooh Chine, leading up to the vil- lage, and voyage along an interesting coast to Chilton Chine, Grange Chine, Shi'p Ledge, Barnes Chine, and Cowleaze Chine, readiing the south-east boundary of Brixton Bay and Atherjield Point (see pp. 139,140). Entering Chale Bay (p. 141), we recognize its swarthy, barren cliffs, so terribly ominous to the mariner, and notice lilt ale, IValpan, and Blackgang Chines (pp. 139, 140); over the last towers the lofty hill of St. Catherine's, crowned by its pharos and ruined cell. Passing Bocken End, we observe St. Cath- erine's Lighthouse (p. 143), and the com- mencement of the wonderful region of the Undercliff (pp. 215-220); at Puckaster Cove (p. 211), where King Charles II. landed in 1675, we moor our boat, and land for a few minutes' stroll. [The tourist will do well to walk from this point along the cliff to Steephill Cove, where he may again embark to continue his homeward voyage.] From Ventnor we sail by the cliffs of 5oHc7wtrc7!,(pp. 188-192), withBoniface Down rising grandly against the sky ; CJi ine Head ; Lticcomhe Chine (p. 195); the cliff of green- sand at Dunnose Point; Shanklin Chine (p. 194); the bold curve of Sandovm Bay, with the village, church, and fort of Sandown (pp. 200, 201); the magnificent chalk cliffs of the Cidvers, which form the eastern ter- mination of Bemhridge Down{^. 171), easily distinguishable by its obelisk; Whiteclijf Bay, and '' its highly inclined chalk strata; the dangerous ledge of the Foreland; Bern- bridge Point and village (p. 170); the mouth of Brading Haven, with the new embank- ment (p. 168); the old church tower of St. Helen's (p. 266), now used as a sea-mark, on its north-west bank; Watch House Point; the well-wooded shores and pleasant sands of Priory Bay (p. 177), a low bank or cliff of the fresh-water eocene marls and limestones being the only indication of its geological structure; the village of Sea View (p. 174), on a declivity which descends sharply to the sea-marge; the low Salterns, bounded inland by a range of well-wooded hills ; the little hamlet of Spring Vale; St. Clare (p. 176), formerly occupied by Colonel Vernon Harcourt; Appley Wood (p. 176); the long level of the Esplanade; and Eyde Pier (p. 149). GEOLOGICAL TOUR. 1st Day.—From Ryde or Ventnor to New- port. Examine the chalk cliffs of Mount- joy. Thence to Calbourne, and visit the quarries of fresh-water limestone. Onward to the hotels at Freshwater Gate or Alum Bay, and pass the night. ^nd Da?/.—Examine the strata of Headon Hill and Alum Bay: a good locality for fos- sils. Cross the Downs to Freshwater Gate, and thence to Brook Point, where the fossil forest should be closely investigated. Pro- ceed by Brixton, through Atherfield, to Blackgang Chine. Stop at Blackgang or Niton. 3rd Day.—Walk along the Undercliff,-ukt St. Lawrence, Ventnor, Bonchurch, and Luccombe, to Shanklin Chine. Numerous fossils may be gathered in this vicinity,$