| Wootton Bridge | |
|
Wootton Bridge
Wootton Bridge shown within the Isle of Wight |
|
| Population | 3,618 [1] |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | SZ542921 |
| Unitary authority | Isle of Wight |
| Ceremonial county | Isle of Wight |
| Region | South East |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Ryde |
| Postcode district | PO33 |
| Dialling code | 01983 |
| Police | Hampshire |
| Fire | Isle of Wight |
| Ambulance | Isle of Wight |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | Isle of Wight |
| List of places: UK • England • Isle of Wight | |
Wootton Bridge is a village and civil parish[2] with about 4000 residents on the western bank of Wootton Creek on the Isle of Wight in southern England.
Wootton Bridge was established as a separate village based at the crossing-point of the creek, but it has now merged with the village of Wootton centred around the old parish church of St Edmund. The two villages have grown together and are currently one settlement which is often referred to as simply 'Wootton'. However, the official name for this community is 'Wootton Bridge'.[3] Wootton Bridge is found midway between the towns of Ryde and Newport, which are 7 miles apart.
In 1969, 100,000 people visited Woodside Bay at Wootton Bridge for the largest pop concert to that date, the Isle of Wight Festival. Bob Dylan was the main act that was featured at the concert.[4]
Southern Vectis bus routes 4 and 9 and Wightbus route 33A link the village with the towns of Newport, Ryde and East Cowes, including intermediate villages.[5][6]
Contents |
There is a millpond on Wootton Creek formed by a sluice gate in the eponymous 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.[7]
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.[8] Firestone Copse is a Forestry Commission woodland open to the public which is situated on the edge of the pond.[9]
The village has a station which is the western terminus of the Isle of Wight Steam Railway.[10]
St. Edmund's Parish Church in Wootton dates from the 11th century.[11] St. Mark's Church, Wootton is in the south end of the village.
The Sloop Inn in Mill Square is another prominent building in Wootton Bridge. The Sloop Inn is about 150 years old.[12]
Victorian admiral Sir John Baird, who died in 1908, is buried in the churchyard in Wootton Bridge.
|
|||||||||||||||||