Pictures in Colour of the Isle of Wight

by Unknown

FARRINGFORD, FRESHWATER, LORD TENNYSON'S RESIDENCE.—The residence of the late Laureate is in the neighbourhood between freshwater Gate and Alum Bay, secluded by trees almost to invisibility. The front is covered with greenery, a fine magnolia growing round and over the front door. From under the lateral branches of a fine spreading cedar tree the Poet could look into Freshwater Bay and yet himself not be seen. The park-like grounds are pleasant to walk in, and are open to the inspection of visitors on Thursdays at certain seasons. In his poem of invitation to Rev. F. D. Maurice in 1854 he well describes it:

"Where far from smoke and noise of town,
I watch the twilight falling brown,
All round a careless order'd garden,
Close to the ridge of a noble down."

Godshill Church.

GODSHILL CHURCH.—Built in a striking and conspicuous situation, Godshill Church is visible from many distant points of the surrounding country—a good example of Early Perpendicular architecture, a cruciform structure having two equal aisles of its whole length, with a fine pinnacled tower and sancte-bell turret in the south transept gable. The tower has been recently rebuilt, having been shattered in a thunderstorm in January, 1904, when the clock face was torn out and thrown out into the churchyard. It contains monuments to the Worsley family and the tomb of Sir John Leigh; also a fine painting, of the school of Rubens, of Daniel in the Lions' Den. There are tea-gardens in the village for the accommodation of the numerous visitors who throng there from Shanklin, Sandown, and other places in the vicinity. There is also the old village inn, the Griffon.

Little Jane's Cottage,
Brading.

LITTLE JANE'S COTTAGE, BRADING.—This cottage still retains its original appearance with thatched roof and diamond window-panes, a real old-fashioned Isle of Wight cottage, many of which are fast disappearing. The little forecourt and garden are well kept. The greenery covering the front, of plants of great variety, from the yellow jessamine to the red fuchsia, with flowers under and around the windows, combine in completing a picture of great beauty. Here Jane the young cottager lived when Rev. Legh Richmond was Vicar of Brading in the early part of last century. Her tombstone is at the back of Brading Church.

The Sundial,
Brading.