Wootton, Isle of Wight

Wootton (also known as Wootton Bridge) is a large village, civil parish and electoral ward with about 3,000 residents on the Isle of Wight, first recorded around the year 1086.[2]

Wootton

High Street, Wootton
Wootton
Location within the Isle of Wight
Population3,447 (2011)[1]
OS grid referenceSZ542921
Civil parish
  • Wootton Bridge
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townRyde
Postcode districtPO33
Dialling code01983
PoliceHampshire
FireIsle of Wight
AmbulanceIsle of Wight
UK Parliament

Wootton is found midway between the towns of Ryde and Newport, which are 7 miles apart, and historically centred on the old parish church of St Edmund. The hamlet of Wootton Common to the south, centres on the crossroads that bears its name.

The newer village of Wootton Bridge is found in the area immediately west of Wootton Creek, and the parish council that bears its name is now responsible for the whole of the Wootton area.[3]

Village name

Wootton's name is said to mean "Woodtown", which means a clearing in a forest, although other interpretations do exist. The first known mention of the town as "Odetone" or "Wootten" was in 1086, and the name has evolved and changed much over the past millennium.[2]

The village of Wootton Bridge is found on the eastern most side of Wootton, bordering with Fishbourne. The symbol depicted on the sign represents a heron.

More recently, following the construction of the bridge across Wootton Creek, the name "Wootton Bridge" has been used to describe the settlement closest to it, however this name is now also used by some to refer to the whole of Wootton. This is possibly due in part to Royal Mail, who used the name "Wootton Bridge" to differentiate Wootton from the 19 other Woottons found across England.

"Wootton Bridge" is described by some as the "modern name"[2] for the area. However, "Wootton" remains firmly established on wayfinding signs and maps of the island, including those of Ordnance Survey[4] and remains the most popular name for the area.[5]

Isle of Wight Festival 1969
Main article: Isle of Wight Festival 1969

The 1969 Isle of Wight Festival took place on 30 and 31 August at Woodside Bay in Wootton. The event was one of the largest music festivals to that date, and had an estimated audience of some 150,000.[6] The line-up included Bob Dylan, The Band, The Nice, The Pretty Things, Marsha Hunt, The Who, Third Ear Band, Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, Fat Mattress and Joe Cocker.[7]

Wootton Creek

Wootton Creek
Main article: Wootton Creek

There is a millpond on Wootton Creek formed by a sluice gate in Wootton Bridge. At one time there was a second sluice gate in the bridge that would use the tidal water from the millpond to power a mill grinding flour. The mill was demolished in 1962 and houses later built on the site.[8]

The pond is part of a Special Area of Conservation and is important for wildfowl and for bats. The heron has been adopted as the symbol of the village.[9] Firestone Copse is a Forestry Commission woodland open to the public which is situated on the edge of the pond.[10]

Notable features
Wootton station sign in June 2008.

St. Edmund's Church

St. Edmund's Parish Church dates from the 11th century.[11] St. Mark's Church, Wootton is in the south end of the village.

The Sloop Inn
Woodside Beach, Wootton

The Sloop Inn

The Sloop is another prominent building in Wootton, with its prime position next to Wootton Bridge. The pub is about 150 years old, and is currently managed by Mitchells & Butlers as part of its Crown Carveries pub chain.[12]

The Fernhill Ice House

In an area of woodland adjacent to agricultural land and public footpaths just outside the village of Wooton, an ice house can be found in excellent condition, having been maintained by the council since the 1980s. This structure is one of a few remnants of a grand estate called Fernhill, which was destroyed by fire in 1938.[13]

Transport

Southern Vectis bus routes 4, 9 and 34 link Wootton with the towns of Newport, Ryde and East Cowes, including intermediate villages.[14][15]

Wootton Station
Main article: Wootton railway station

Wootton Station is the western terminus of the Isle of Wight Steam Railway. The current station, opened in 1987, is in a different location from the original which was closed in 1953. However the authentic station signage from the original is in place in the newer station.[16]

St Edmund's Church

Notable residents

Victorian admiral Sir John Baird died in Wootton in 1908, he is buried in the churchyard.

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See also
  • List of current places of worship on the Isle of Wight

References
  1. "Ward/Parish population 2011". Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  2. "Wootton Bridge Historical – History – Wootton". Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  3. "English Parishes and Welsh communities N&C 2004". www.statistics.gov.uk. 2004. Archived from the original on 9 January 2007. Retrieved 3 May 2007.
  4. "OS Maps". Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  5. 2010 audio interview with Ray Foulk
  6. "Isle of Wight Festival History – 1969". www.isleofwightfestival.com. Retrieved 3 September 2008.
  7. "Netguide to Wootton on the Isle of Wight". www.wightstay.co.uk. Retrieved 5 September 2008.
  8. "Wootton Bridge – Homepage". www.woottonbridge.com. Archived from the original on 16 July 2008. Retrieved 5 September 2008.
  9. "Forestry Commission – The Forests of the Isle of Wight – Firestone Copse". www.forestry.gov.uk. Retrieved 5 September 2008.
  10. "St Edmund's Parish Church, Wootton – History". www.wightchurches.co.uk. Retrieved 3 September 2008.
  11. "The Sloop Inn – Wootton". Crown Carveries. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  12. http://woottonbridgeiow.org.uk/icehouse.php
  13. "Southern Vectis bus route 4". www.islandbuses.info. 2008. Archived from the original on 22 March 2008. Retrieved 4 May 2008.
  14. "Southern Vectis bus route 9". www.islandbuses.info. 2008. Archived from the original on 7 June 2008. Retrieved 4 May 2008.
  15. "Isle of Wight Steam Railway – A Journey Along the Line". www.iwsteamrailway.co.uk. Retrieved 5 September 2008.
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