Wootton Bridge
Encyclopedia
Wootton Bridge is a village and civil parish 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'. 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.
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.
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.
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. Firestone Copse is a Forestry Commission
woodland
open to the public which is situated on the edge of the pond.
.
St. Edmund's Parish Church in Wootton
dates from the 11th century. 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.
Wootton Creek
Wootton Creek is a tidal estuary that flows into the Solent on the north coast of the Isle of Wight.On the west bank of the creek is the village of Wootton, whilst on the east bank is the village of Fishbourne. The estuary is bridged by the main Ryde to Newport road, where there once was a tide mill...
on the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
in southern England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
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'. Wootton Bridge is found midway between the towns of Ryde
Ryde
Ryde is a British seaside town, civil parish and the most populous town and urban area on the Isle of Wight, with a population of approximately 30,000. It is situated on the north-east coast. The town grew in size as a seaside resort following the joining of the villages of Upper Ryde and Lower...
and Newport
Newport, Isle of Wight
Newport is a civil parish and a county town of the Isle of Wight, an island off the south coast of England. Newport has a population of 23,957 according to the 2001 census...
, 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
Isle of Wight Festival
The Isle of Wight Festival is a music festival which takes place every year on the Isle of Wight in England. It was originally held from 1968 to 1970. These original events were promoted and organised by the Foulk brothers under the banner of their company Fiery Creations Limited...
. Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
was the main act that was featured at the concert.
Southern Vectis
Southern Vectis
The Southern Vectis Omnibus Company Limited is the dominant bus operator on the Isle of Wight. It was purchased by the Go-Ahead Group in 2005 and is a part of the company's Go South Coast division. The firm employs 299 staff, with 105 single deck, double deck and open-top buses and coaches...
bus routes 4
Southern Vectis route 4
Southern Vectis route 4 is a bus service operated on the Isle of Wight by Southern Vectis between Ryde and East Cowes via Haylands, Binstead, Wootton Bridge, Whippingham and Osborne House. The general daytime frequency of the route is every 30 minutes in each direction...
and 9
Southern Vectis route 9
Southern Vectis route 9 is a bus route operated on the Isle of Wight by Southern Vectis between Newport and Ryde via Fairlee/Staplers, Wootton and Binstead. The general daytime frequency of the route is every 10 minutes in each direction, every 15 minutes on Sundays and every 15 minutes in the...
and Wightbus
Wightbus
Not to be confused with Wrightbus, the bus manufacturerWightbus was a bus operator on the Isle of Wight, owned by the Isle of Wight Council...
route 33A link the village with the towns of Newport
Newport, Isle of Wight
Newport is a civil parish and a county town of the Isle of Wight, an island off the south coast of England. Newport has a population of 23,957 according to the 2001 census...
, Ryde
Ryde
Ryde is a British seaside town, civil parish and the most populous town and urban area on the Isle of Wight, with a population of approximately 30,000. It is situated on the north-east coast. The town grew in size as a seaside resort following the joining of the villages of Upper Ryde and Lower...
and East Cowes
Cowes
Cowes is an English seaport town and civil parish on the Isle of Wight. Cowes is located on the west bank of the estuary of the River Medina facing the smaller town of East Cowes on the east Bank...
, including intermediate villages.
Wootton Creek and the bridge
Wootton Creek
Wootton Creek is a tidal estuary that flows into the Solent on the north coast of the Isle of Wight.On the west bank of the creek is the village of Wootton, whilst on the east bank is the village of Fishbourne. The estuary is bridged by the main Ryde to Newport road, where there once was a tide mill...
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.
The pond is part of a Special Area of Conservation
Special Area of Conservation
A Special Area of Conservation is defined in the European Union's Habitats Directive , also known as the Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora...
and is important for wildfowl and for bats. The heron has been adopted as the symbol of the village. Firestone Copse is a Forestry Commission
Forestry Commission
The Forestry Commission is a non-ministerial government department responsible for forestry in Great Britain. Its mission is to protect and expand Britain's forests and woodlands and increase their value to society and the environment....
woodland
Woodland
Ecologically, a woodland is a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Woodlands may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to shrubland under drier conditions or during early stages of...
open to the public which is situated on the edge of the pond.
Features
The village has a station which is the western terminus of the Isle of Wight Steam RailwayIsle of Wight Steam Railway
The Isle of Wight Steam Railway is a heritage railway on the Isle of Wight. The railway passes through 5½ miles of unspoiled countryside from to station, passing through the small village of Havenstreet, where the line has a station, headquarters and a depot...
.
St. Edmund's Parish Church in Wootton
St. Edmund's Church, Wootton
St. Edmund's Church, Wootton is a parish church in the Church of England located in Wootton, Isle of Wight.-History:The church is medieval in origin....
dates from the 11th century. St. Mark's Church, Wootton
St. Mark's Church, Wootton
St. Mark's Church, Wootton is a church in the Church of England located in Wootton, Isle of Wight.-History:The church dates from 1909.The Bishop of Southampton James Macarthur laid the foundation stone. The builders were Messrs Jenkins who also built Quarr Abbey. On 29 August 1909 the building...
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.