Wootton, Isle of Wight

Wootton
Woodside Beach, Wootton
Wootton  Wootton shown within the Isle of Wight
Population	3,447 (2011)[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

Coordinates: 50°43′35″N 1°13′56″W / 50.7263°N 1.2321°W / 50.7263; -1.2321

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

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]

Southern Vectis bus routes 4, 9 and 34 link Wootton with the towns of Newport, Ryde and East Cowes, including intermediate villages.^[4][5]

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 differentiates 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^[6] and remains the most popular name for the area.^[7]

Isle of Wight Festival 1969

Poster for the 1969 Isle of Wight Festival

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.^[8] 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.^[9]

Wootton Creek

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.^[10]

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.^[11] Firestone Copse is a Forestry Commission woodland open to the public which is situated on the edge of the pond.^[12]

Notable features

Wootton 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.^[13]

St. Edmund's Church

St. Edmund's Parish Church dates from the 11th century.^[14] St. Mark's Church, Wootton is in the south end of the village.

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.^[15]

Notable residents

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

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wootton, Isle of Wight.

• Official history website for Wootton Bridge
• Tourist Information, Hotels, Accommodation Guide for Wootton

Ceremonial county of Isle of Wight Isle of Wight Portal Unitary authorities Isle of Wight Major settlements Bembridge Brading Cowes East Cowes Freshwater Newport Ryde Sandown Shanklin Ventnor Yarmouth See also: List of civil parishes in Isle of Wight Rivers River Caul Bourne River Medina Newtown River Solent Wootton Creek Eastern Yar Western Yar Topics Buildings and Structures Culture Dinosaurs Education Geography History People Places Politics Schools Transport Visitor attractions