# data[].attributes.body
Search Wight to view over 200 clips of local history.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
British Pathe, the world's leading multimedia resource with a history stretching back over a century. The finest and most comprehensive archive of fabulous footage and stunning stills.

# data[].attributes.body
Links to many areas of Island history

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The Isle of Wight History Centre is a comprehensive resource for news and links to the Island's past, from prehistory to recent times, including new discoveries and established work.

On this page . . .

Regular feature revealing a recent discovery or event
Links to the Island's past are categorized . . .
For those wishing to make their own enquiries
Pages covering a range of subjects or periods
Items of a particular period or interest
Sites with an element of new research published for the first time
News articles previously featured on this page

Our regular monthly publication of selected items from the council's
heritage collection is now concluded and the page contains over 40 items, most
of which rarely find their way into public exhibitions. The page is here

Our series of extracts from the Isle of Wight Historic Environment Record
included nearly 300 sites. They are archived here

Heritage Statements are raised as part of the planning process. They can sometimes involve comprehensive research and/or archaeological evaluation. Unfortunately they frequently only exist imbedded in online planning records. We have created links to a selection of statements here

Monthly News Item November 2021

The planning application was for a golf course in a field at Chawton, Northwood. As a historically sensitive area, it attracted an archaeological survey prior to any planning consideration. The survey was limited to a field walking exercise. The discovery of Roman artefacts was unexpected, particularly as the abundance of items included a large scatter of roof tiles, floor tiles, ceramics and discarded lead. The archaeology report concluded that the site gave "

THE MISSING ROMAN VILLA

In 2004 a planning application was withdrawn after finds from a field walking survey of the site left archaeolosts in no doubt it was the location of a substantial Roman structure. A couple of years later they were taken aback when a geophysical survey found no trace of any building. There has never been an official explanation for this strange anomoly but a theory has emerged following a recent interest in the development of the Newport-Cowes railway line.

every indication of a high status building of villa character." There would have been no prospect of the planning application being passed and it was withdrawn.
A couple of years later a geophysical survey of the Medina environs included the Chawton field. Archaeologists were looking forward to getting some indication of the layout of the Roman building. They were shocked to discover there was nothing to indicate any structure at all.
There is now a theory that the development of the Island's first railway line, between Newport and Cowes, explains the mystery. Laying the line was dogged with problems at the outset. By 1860 the underfunded project was underway from Newport but excavating difficult land challenged their schedule. By December 1861 they had reached Hunnyhill. It called for a cutting through the highest point.
It came as a surprise when excavation of the cutting revealed Roman remains. A local expert was called in to oversee excavations. There were a range of finds, including cremation urns laid in trenches, suggesting a Roman cemetery. Victorian archaeology had limited techniques, so detail of layout and the extent of the cemetery is not clear. The delay in dealing with this discovery was the last thing railway engineers needed. Moreover, it could not have escaped them that the remaining rail route would be along a river bank that would have probably supported shipping and other activities since prehistoric times, not least from the many inlets they would have to pass. They could well strike other historic remains.
Speculation has it their worst fears were realised when they uncovered the remains of a major Roman structure near an inlet below the Chawton field. Engineers would have almost certainly recognised the building materials of Roman origin and understood that excavation of the area around a villa could set the rail project back weeks, perhaps calling for a costly detour.
Unlike the Hunnyhill situation, they were in an area with no public access. It is suggested they took advantage of the privacy to dig out as much of the Roman material as they could and scatter it across a nearby field, carefully covering it. The fact that nobody recognised the scattering for a over century shows how easy it was to prevent its discovery.
There is no evidence to support this theory. It may be there is an alternative explanation, but as yet, it has not been forthcoming. It would probably require substantial excavations to clarify the matter. In recent times traces of Roman industrial activity have been found on the bank of a Medina inlet.

The rail route along the west bank of the Medina is a historically sensitive 4.5 miles. Who knows what other historic materials where uncovered but went unreported.

Archive of previous news items

Hopefully the links on this page, or email contacts therein, can answer any specific question you may have on Island history. If all else fails, email us at hewitt.iw@gmail.com Queries or comments welcome.

The Isle of Wight History Centre was established in 1999.
This page is updated on the 1st of the month.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Isle of Wight History Centre is a comprehensive resource for news and links to the Island's past, from prehistory to recent times, including new discoveries and established work. On this page . . . Regular feature revealing a recent discovery or event Links to the Island's past are categorized .

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
WE HAVE A SELECTION OF MERCHANDISE FOR SALE WITHIN THE HERITAGE RESOURCE CENTRE (WEST CHAPEL) GIFT CARDS (BLANK) AND MOUNTED IMAGES READY FOR FRAMING, FEATURING SQUIRRELS, BIRDS AND FAUNA: ALL PHOTOGRAPHED WITHIN THE CEMETERY WALLS. KEY RINGS, BOOKMARKS & 'TREEN' ITEMS [...]