Newport is the administrative
centre of the island and its Guildhall has a clock
tower commemorating Queen Victoria’s Golden
Jubilee. Built in 1816, it stands on the site of a
much earlier building where, in 1648, Charles I
met the Parliamentary Commissioners in an
ill-fated attempt to hold on to his throne. The
remains of a Roman villa also stand in Cypress
Road.
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St. James's Square, Newport - Photo: Isle of
Wight Tourism |
The docks were once the hub of
commercial shipping - some warehouses still
remain. Frequent French raids led the Normans to
build Carisbrooke Castle in the 11th
century on the site of a Roman fort. It was
expanded and strengthened over the next 500 years.
Charles I was brought here by his supporters after
he lost the Civil War in 1647. Instead of reaching
a truce he was imprisoned and moved to the
mainland’s Hurst Castle the following year.
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A ‘must see’ is the Museum of
Island History which gives an overview of the
island’s turbulent past, using touch-screen
computers, hands-on exhibits and audio
experiences.
