Godshill

Coordinates: 50°37′59″N 1°15′22″W / 50.633°N 1.256°W / 50.633; -1.256
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Godshill
Thatched cottages in Godshill
Godshill is located in Isle of Wight
Godshill
Godshill
Location within the Isle of Wight
Area19.7930 km2 (7.6421 sq mi) [1]
Population1,459 (2011 census including Hale Common , Roud and Sandford)[2]
• Density74/km2 (190/sq mi)
OS grid referenceSZ527817
Civil parish
  • Godshill
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townVENTNOR
Postcode districtPO38
Dialling code01983
PoliceHampshire and Isle of Wight
FireHampshire and Isle of Wight
AmbulanceIsle of Wight
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Isle of Wight
50°37′59″N 1°15′22″W / 50.633°N 1.256°W / 50.633; -1.256
Main Road, Godshill

Godshill is a village and civil parish[3] on the Isle of Wight, England, with a population of 1,459 at the 2011 Census.[4] It lies between Newport and Ventnor in the southeast of the island.[5]

History[edit]

Godshill is one of the ancient parishes that existed before the compilation of the Doomsday Book, the first recorded spelling being Godeshulle.

Ford Farm near Godshill was the site of the first Isle of Wight Festival in 1968, which attracted 10,000 people to see acts such as Jefferson Airplane and Arthur Brown.[6]

Godshill Park House dates from about 1760 and was built as a home farm to serve the Appuldurcombe Estate. In around 1860 the house was extended, adding the Regency front, and became a private residence. It was used in the Second World War as an army hospital.

Today[edit]

Godshill is a much visited tourism destination on the Isle of Wight. It is a quintessential English village with thatched cottages and the historic All Saints Church on the hill. There are numerous tea rooms and gift shops. There are two pubs: the "Griffin" – featuring a large griffin-shaped maze and children's playground[7] – and "The Taverners".

Public transport is provided by Southern Vectis buses, routes 2 and 3.

Governance[edit]

Godshill is part of the electoral ward of Central Rural, previously Godshill and Wroxall. The population of the previous ward at the 2011 Census was 3,212.[8]

Godshill Model Village[edit]

Since 1952, Godshill has been the home of a model village portraying itself and Shanklin's old village at a scale of 1:10. It is so detailed and on such a large scale that it contains a scale model of the model village. Within that second model there is a third, even smaller model of the village.[9] The site is also an RHS Partner Garden showcasing around 2,000 conifers and shrubs. Many are coarse bonsai-treated trees, to retain scale with the models.

All Saints' Church[edit]

The parish church is a medieval building noted for its medieval wall painting of a Lily crucifix, and a stained-glass window by William Morris.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Office of National Statistics: QS102EW - Population density retrieved 30 May 2017
  2. ^ "Civil Parish population 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  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. ^ "Civil Parish population 2011". Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  5. ^ "Pictures of England - Location map of Godshill". www.picturesofengland.com. Retrieved 30 September 2008.
  6. ^ "Isle of Wight Festival History - 1968". www.isleofwightfestvial.com. Archived from the original on 2 July 2008. Retrieved 30 September 2008.
  7. ^ "Isle of Wight Tourist Guide - The Griffin in Godshill". www.isleofwighttouristguide.com. Retrieved 30 September 2008.
  8. ^ "Godshill and Wroxall ward population 2011". Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  9. ^ "Isle of Wight Attractions - The Model Village, Godshill". www.iowight.com. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2008.

External links[edit]