Isle of Wight

Merston Manor (previously: Merestone) is a manor house in Merstone on the Isle of Wight, England. The manor was first mentioned in the Domesday Book. Prior to the Norman Conquest, Merston Manor was owned by the Brictuin family. The present home, built in 1605 in the Jacobean style by Edward Cheeke, was rebuilt in the Victorian era. This structure may be the oldest brick house on the Island. The manor now belongs to the Crofts family.

Merstone railway station, was an intermediate station situated on the edge of Merstone village on the line from Newport to Sandown incorporated by the Isle of Wight (Newport Junction) Railway in 1868

Merstone is a hamlet on the Isle of Wight. It is home to Merston Manor, built in 1605 in the Jacobean style by Edward Cheeke, and rebuilt in the Victorian era. Merston Manor was first mentioned in the Domesday Book, and the present structure is arguably the oldest brick house on the Island. Prior to the Norman Conquest, Merston Manor was owned by the Brictuin family. The manor now belongs to the Crofts family. According to the Post Office the population of the hamlet was at the 2011 Census included in the civil parish of Arreton. Although the manor was considered the most important residence, from 1928 onwards, the Latheys (distant relatives of Anne Boleyn - Henry VIII's second wife) were considered to be the most important family to reside in the hamlet, bringing about change and somewhat encouraging the residents to modernise more hastily. One prominent member of the Lathey family, Michael Lathey Jnr became infamous among the occupants of the hamlet due to a string of practical jokes paid on the townsfolk of Newport and its people. One of which was risking his safety to venture into Newport alone and steal the town crest during the great feud (see below) - which was only recently recovered in 1998. While Merstone has always been considered to be in the Newport district, conflicts have broken out between rival clans; the Merstone Goldwings and the Newport Broadleaves, the quarrels began after a farmer hailing from Merstone accused a man who lived in Newport of stealing three sheep. No-one was killed in the clashes but homes were torched and property vandalized. However, since the early 1900s the disagreements were settled as Newport residents thought it would be better for the town and hamlet to get along since the citizens of Newport needed to use the newly built railway to Ventnor. Merstone is near the centre of the Island, roughly equidistant from Blackwater to the northwest, Horringford to the east, and Godshill to the south. In 1875 Merstone station was opened on the Newport to Sandown railway line. In 1897 the station became the starting point of a branch opened by the Isle of Wight Central Railway to St. Lawrence, and completed to Ventnor West in 1900. In 1952 the branch closed, and in 1956, the station and original railway line skirting the hamlet were also closed. The island platform of the former station is still visible adjacent to National Cycle Route 23. Well-known island architect Percy Goddard Stone, born 15 March 1856, died in The Cottage at Merstone on 21 March 1934. Stone was responsible for many stone monuments on the Island, such as the County War memorial at Carisbrooke Castle, and war memorials in Arreton, Bembridge and Yarmouth, as well as the Queen Victoria memorial in Newport and churches in Wootton and Cowes. Public transport is now provided by Southern Vectis on Route 2, which operates between Newport and Sandown via Shanklin including intermediate villages.

Great East Standen Manor is a manor house on the Isle of Wight, England. Its history dates to the Norman Conquest; and it was allegedly once the residence of Princess Cicely, the daughter of Edward IV, following her third marriage to Sir Thomas. The front is 18th-century and includes five bays that are irregularly spaced. Grey headers and red brick dressings are featured, as are windows with slightly segmental tops and a large chimneystack, dated 1768. The 18th-century Standen House is nearby.

Blackwater is a village on the Isle of Wight, England. It is located about two miles south of Newport, close to the geographic centre of the island. It is in the civil parish of Arreton. The Newclose County Cricket Ground is just to the north of the village. Newport Junction Railway opened a railway station at Blackwater. Blackwater Station first appeared on railway timetables in June, 1876 and operated until June 6, 1956. The trackbed of the former railway line is now part of National Cycle Route 23. Public transport is provided by Southern Vectis bus routes 2 and 3, serving Newport, Ryde, Sandown, Shanklin and Ventnor. Former Wightbus 33 between Newport and Ryde, also serves part of the village.

Blackwater railway station was a station at Blackwater, Isle of Wight, off the south coast of England.

Rookley is a village and civil parish on the Isle of Wight. It is located five kilometres south of Newport near the centre of the island. It has a country park on the site of the last working Isle of Wight brickworks. There is a pub at the country park and another, the "Chequers", a short distance from the village. The latter was the centre of the island's smuggling trade in the 18th century. Southern Vectis bus route 3 serves the village on its way between Newport, Ventnor, Shanklin, Sandown and Ryde, including intermediate villages.The Village Association Playing Field in Highwood Lane hosts Godshill Cricket Club who compete in Division Two of the Harwoods Renault Isle of Wight League. It is also home to Rookley Football Club which is managed by Paul Wright. Rookley have two teams in the island leagues: their firsts in League 2 and reserves in Combination 2. Two major events are held in the field each year: Gardening Galore and Rookley Show.

The Wilderness is a Site of Special Scientific Interest which is located on the Isle of Wight, England. It is close to the village of Rookley in the valley of the River Medina. The Wilderness is an area of wet woodland over a quite deep peat soil with adjacent areas of unimproved acid grassland and wet grassland. The SSSI covers an area of 12.59 hectares (31.1 acres), the boundaries being reset in 1984 to exclude an area of grassland which had been artificially improved.

Standen House is an English country house located 1 mile (1.6 km) south of Newport, Isle of Wight. The 18th-century house has a brick front and features seven-bay windows, a porch with Doric columns, and triglyph frieze. Made of brick, it is located at the base of Pan Down. To its right is situated the park of Gatcombe, which itself lies in a valley which includes the winding River Medina. Gatcombe House lies opposite Standen House, separated by the river and woods. Great East Standen Manor is nearby.

The Great Budbridge Manor (original name in Domesday Book: Messetone or Marshton; also: Botebrigge, 13th century; Butbrygg or Northbudbrygge, 15th century) is a manor house just south of Merstone, near Arreton, Isle of Wight, England. Fish ponds on the grounds appear medieval.The manor's history has been traced to John de Lisle, Henry de Botebrigge and Walter Urry during the reign of Henry III (1207–72). Records testify its ownership by William Urry in 1280. Consequent to the conviction of Robert Urry, William's son, in 1312 for murdering the Constable of Carisbrooke Castle, part of his land was acquired. However, the manor remained in the name of the family till 1450. More than 200 years later, in 1633 the manor was bought by Sir Robert Dillington, 1st Baronet.

Pidford Manor is a manor house in Rookley, on the Isle of Wight, England. It is a five-bay Georgian style home on 11 acres (4.5 ha), accessed from the A3020 roadway. Built in the mid to late 18th century, the front is of red bick. A doorcase features an open pediment over an arched doorway, while the interior has a Chinese Chippendale well staircase. The stable (c. 1795) at Pidford Manor became a Grade II listed building in 1993.

Arreton Manor is a manor house in Arreton, Isle of Wight, England. Its history is traced to 872 AD to the time of King Alfred the Great and his parents. It was left by King Alfred by his will to his youngest son Aethelweard. Once owned by William the Conqueror, as mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086, in the 12th century it became part of Quarr Abbey and was used by the monks for over 400 years. In 1525, it was leased to the Leigh family. The manor was rebuilt between 1595 and 1612. Built in Jacobean style, it is in the shape of a "H".