Bembridge
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Coordinates: 50°41′23″N 1°05′20″W / 50.6897°N 1.0889°W
| Bembridge | |
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  Bembridge shown within the Isle of Wight |
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| Population | 3,567 |
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| OS grid reference | |
| Unitary authority | Isle of Wight |
| Ceremonial county | Isle of Wight |
| Region | South East |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BEMBRIDGE |
| Postcode district | PO35 |
| Dialling code | 01983 |
| Police | Hampshire |
| Fire | Isle of Wight |
| Ambulance | Isle of Wight |
| European Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | Isle of Wight |
| List of places: UK • England • Isle of Wight | |
Bembridge is a village and civil parish[1] located on the easternmost point of the Isle of Wight. It had a population of 3,848 according to the 2001 census of the United Kingdom,[2] leading to claims by residents that Bembridge is the largest village in England,[3] and occasional claims that it is the largest village in Europe. Bembridge is home to many of the Island's wealthiest residents
Bembridge sits at the extreme eastern point of the Isle of Wight. Prior to land reclamation the area of Bembridge and Yaverland was an island unto itself, separated from the remainder of the Isle of Wight by Brading Haven. Prior to the Victorian era Bembridge was a collection of wooden huts and farmhouses, which only consolidated into a true village with the building of the church in 1827 (later rebuilt in 1846). The historical heart of the village is located close to the church in the North of the village, consisting of a number of shops, pubs and restaurants, along with the Village Hall and site of the former Parish Council hall.
The Lane End district is located to the South of the village. It is largely composed of modern bungalows and a small shopping area which includes a Co-Op store. The lane comes to an end at the beach, where Bembridge Lifeboat station and the Bembridge Coast Hotel are situated. Formerly many of the bungalows were on the land of a cottage where Cecily Cardew lived,[citation needed] after whom an Oscar Wilde character was named. Moving inland from Lane End one finds Forelands middle and Bembridge primary schools, along with the local community centre, all of which are connected by a large recreational playing field.
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[edit] Facilities
Bembridge is a local service centre, hosting both a primary and middle school (see Education on the Isle of Wight for more information on the use of these terms), a post office, several shops located in two main areas, and Catholic, Methodist and Anglican Churches. It is also the location of a local fire station, (crewed by a team of retained firemen), and a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat station.[4]
local airport (with concrete runway) is located close to the Windmill to the West of the village proper heading towards Yaverland.
[edit] Lifeboat station
The RNLI station is particularly significant, as extending into the sea to the east of the village lies the notorious "Bembridge ledge", a large rocky outcrop which poses a major threat to passing boats.[5] Although it is private sailing yachts which are most at risk, a wide variety of boats commonly run aground here, especially in the often stormy weather conditions which affect the Solent during winter months.
[edit] Coastguard outlook
Close to the lifeboat station lies a coastguard outlook. Positioned at a high elevation this offers views of the Solent meeting the English Channel to the east of the Isle of Wight. From this vantage point one is able to view a variety of watercraft year round, although there is more marine traffic in the summer.
[edit] Bembridge Windmill
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Bembridge Windmill, the only remaining windmill on the Isle of Wight is located to the west of the village. Dating from around 1700, it is a National Trust property generally open from April to October.[6]
[edit] Politics
Bembridge is currently represented on the Isle of Wight Council by the two members of the constituency of Bembridge, St. Helens and Brading.
Bembridge has an active Parish council of 12 members. For parish council elections the village is divided into two wards, the North and South, each electing six members to the body. The parish council have been very sucessful in recent years in attracting Lottery funding for improvements to the village, including for a play-park in Steyne Park.
[edit] Public transportation
Public transport to Brading, Newport, Ryde and Sandown is provided by Southern Vectis bus routes 10 and 14.[7][8]
Bembridge railway station, located in the North of the village close to the harbour served the village, with services to Brading, until 1953. The station has been long since demolished.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "English Parishes and Welsh communities N&C 2004". www.statistics.gov.uk. 2004. http://www.statistics.gov.uk/geography/geographic_area_listings/downloads/EnglishParishes&WelshCommunities_N&C_2004.xls. Retrieved on 2007-05-03.
- ^ "Local area population and ethnicity - Bembridge on the Isle of Wight". www.town-guides.org. http://www.town-guides.org/tgo/isle_of_wight/bembridge/population-overview.asp. Retrieved on 2008-09-29.
- ^ "Places to stay on the Isle of Wight - Bembridge". www.sunnycottcaravanpark.co.uk. http://www.sunnycottcaravanpark.co.uk/places_to_stay_on_wight.htm. Retrieved on 2008-09-29.
- ^ "Wightindex - Bembridge Village Guide". www.wightindex.com. http://www.wightindex.com/town-guides-bembridge.asp. Retrieved on 2008-09-29.
- ^ "Geograph British Isles - Bembridge Ledge". www.geograph.org.uk. http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/484653. Retrieved on 2008-09-29.
- ^ "National Trust - Bembridge Windmill". www.nationaltrust.org.uk. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-bembridgewindmill. Retrieved on 2008-09-29.
- ^ "Southern Vectis bus route 10". www.islandbuses.info. 2008. http://www.islandbuses.info/r10.shtml. Retrieved on 2008-05-04.
- ^ "Southern Vectis bus route 14". www.islandbuses.info. 2008. http://www.islandbuses.info/r14.shtml. Retrieved on 2008-05-04.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Bembridge |
- Community site for Bembridge
- The History of Bembridge Isle, Rob Martin, October 2001, updated January 2004.
- Old pictures of Bembridge
- Photos of Bembridge in 3d (Anaglyphs)
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