The last Blog from the Island and perhaps fitting that it should be about the place that folk we met when we arrived said ‘you mustn’t miss’. It has been a good trip. For me I can miss Cowes, Sandown, Shanklin and Ryde ( a touch of the Blackpool’s in many). For the rest of the Island it has been one of discovery, peace and real enjoyment. What impressed me is the community spirit that appears to be so strong and the way each tries to make a collective effort to attract visitors yet careful not to destroy their environment.
GODSHILL is a great illustration of that. Here they seized the opportunity to collectively bring in the visitors….it is also the location everyone said ‘we mustn’t miss’. The reason for highlighting it was perhaps that it wasn’t an obvious choice when looking through the Tourist Guide…… after all it’s a ‘Children’s Attraction’ isn’t it!
GODSHILL
A Wedding at Godshill Church
The village of Godshill is not special, its just like many on the Island, but here you have the chance to see it 3 times.Full size, smaller and then very small! That is because a good few years ago someone had the notion to build a replica of the village in his back garden, yep a Model Village.
Right in the middle of Godshill is a mirror image of the village in miniature and for those who look very closely they will also spot another Godshill, even smaller, within the miniature.
Not only has the creator mirrored the village, street by street, but has sort by way of very careful observation capture the detail of each building and then even the character of the place, capturing events, occasions, times gone by and even adds some humorous situations. Even the shrub planting has been done very subtly with the art of Bonsai brought in to get the scale appropriate to the situation wherever possible. Just a little artistic license is used when they link Godshill to the surroundings.
So lets take a look………
Railway links and even an Airport
OH! my back hurts…….perhaps I should go to the Pub for a spot of Morris Dancing…I will let you finish the windows!
As a result of someone’s bright idea plus a great deal of skill the whole village has benefited from the Model Godshill. Gift Shops, Tea Rooms and Tea Garden’s, Ice Cream Bars abound on the High Street. Each and every pub competes to offer the best ‘family’ value meals, it is a real hive of industry…… and village parking is FREE. Entrance to the Model Village was a modest £4, we thought it well spent.
NOW FOR SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT
BEMBRIDGE ROMAN VILLA
If Godshill was £4 well spent this was the next bargain. The excavations at Bembridge took place in Victorian time and since the discovery of these mosaics was so significant they have been kept under cover in various ‘sheds’. Viewing was problematic and trying to gain a scale of what is a major Villa complex was hard for the visitor. Again with a great deal of enthusiasm, support from many across the community and finally a well made Lottery Bid was successful. Architects designed a ‘flying’ wooden structure that cover all the main parts of the Villa. A great Visitor and Education Centre with all the very best in interpretation and school support…..BUT best of all there are human guides who do know their stuff, don’t need a script, able to describe and bring the exhibits to life.
Yep! another £4 well spent
So its goodbye Isle of Wight, the weather has been great and I reckon we will be back
11th JULY 2011
DAVID OAKES - IMAGES. 