The platform at Dilton Marsh.
Train to Southampton then Red Jet ferry over to West Cowes on the Isle of Wight. I then take the bus to Newport where I will take cab to where Mary is Housesitting. I make better time than anticipated. It’s windy out but nice.
Mary and I find a pub in Newport to have a pint and a bite to eat.
The next day we take the bus in to Cowes. I have purchased a Rover ticket which allows unlimited bus for 7 days. Even though I am only going to be here for 3 full days it’s still cheaper than paying for each bus trip. It’s £23 which is a lot but bus is not cheap here and it’s our only way of getting around. We go to meet Hazel at the Heritage Resource Centre to get the information that Sharon and herself have researched on my dad’s side of the family.
Northwood Cemetery. These chapels have been restored and one is being used as the Historical Centre and the other is actually used for services. Amazing the work that has been done by these dedicated volunteers. The bells actually work. Such beautiful buildings.
Hazel and Sharon have prepared so much information. It is overwhelming and I know it’s going to take time to review everything. This starts with my great, great grandfather Alfred Howell. They ordered a copy of his marriage certificate to Jane Ablitt. 1854!!!
It was so cool to learn that they had 12 children, he was a shoemaker and they were non conformists which according to Hazel was quite popular on the Isle of Wight. She figured that perhaps by living on the isle they were more or less left alone to practice whatever beliefs they had and probably escaped ridicule from the Catholic Church. They established 54 churches on the Isle of Wight.
There were several graves in the cemetery belonging to relatives but most did not have markers. Alfred and Jane moved to Canada so are not buried here however this particular grave belonged to James and Emma Ablitt who were the parents of Jane Ablitt which would make them my great, great, great grandparents!
Huge very old trees in this cemetery. It was beautiful..
We then take the bus down into West Cowes and go across on the floating bridge to East Cowes. The floating bridge is actually a ferry that is pulled across the water by chains. Cost £1.50.
Then we take the bus up the hill to the Osborne House.
This was the vacation home of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. The house was built between 1845 and 1851.
I’d like to attend a dinner here! It was quite beautiful but described by Queen Victoria as cozy!
The gardens were magnificent.
It was a gorgeous place and we were going to walk down to the beach when the skies decided to open up and we had to leave. Buses were running late as there was a motorcycle function taking place in Ryde and the roads were grid locked. We went back to Newport, had a pint, picked up some groceries and went home to get dried out and warmed up. We will go to Ryde tomorrow. Hopefully the roads will be better. It is a bank holiday this weekend so it is very busy.
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