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Page 26
Analagous to the above mutation in the state of the land, is the
following singular fact related by Sir Rd. Worsley, of
Appuldurcombe, who, living as it were on the spot, was not likely
to be imposed upon. The reader is to picture to himself three very
high downs standing nearly in a line,--St. Catharine's, Week, and
Shanklin: the latter, when Sir Richard wrote the account in 1781,
he guessed to be about 100 feet higher than Week Down, but which
"was barely visible" over the latter from St. Catharine's, in the
younger days of many of the old inhabitants of Chale, and who had
also been told by their fathers that at one time Shanklin could be
seen only from the top of the beacon on St. Catharine's. "This
testimony, if allowed," says the worthy baronet, "argues either a
sinking of the intermediate down, or a rising of one of the other
hills, the causes of which are left for philosophical
investigation:" and so with respect to the haven and the church, we
leave it as a curious question to amuse our scientific
friends--whether it is the sea that has risen, or the land which
has subsided?
* * * * *
BEMBRIDGE.
>> _This is a peninsula about three miles long by one broad,
terminating abruptly on the sea-side in a range of_ SUBLIME CHALK
PRECIPICES. _The part easily accessible to strangers is White-cliff
Bay, two miles from the ferry._
* * * * *
On account of the inconvenient situation of Bembridge as to the
usual _routes_, it is not so much visited as Freshwater, whose
precipices are on rather a grander scale, and the most celebrated
in Great Britain of this magnificent species of coast scenery. For
this reason, and also as the cliffs of both places agree almost
precisely in their geological character (for they are but the
termini of the same chain of hills), we shall merge the _general_
description of the former in that of the latter; but we would
advise the stranger who may sojourn at Ryde, by all means to visit
Bembridge, if he should decline going to Freshwater; and if in a
good boat on a fine day, so much the better,--he will be well
gratified with the _brilliant_ spectacle which these noble "_white
cliffs of Albion_" present.
Before the year 1830, Bembridge seemed to be shut out from intercourse
with the world: it was very rarely visited; possessed no facilities of
communication; and had no charms to call the traveller aside from the
routine track. But owing to the WISE and spirited exertions of a
resident gentleman, it was soon rendered a populous village.
Among the first improvements was the erection (by public subscription)
of a handsome little church for the accommodation of the inhabitants,
who before had no place of episcopalian worship nearer than Brading: the
next consideration was the establishment of a horse-boat, and other
regular means of passage across the haven:--land was sold off on
eligible terms for building; several tasty villas were soon erected, and
ample shrubberies formed:--new roads were projected, the old ones
widened and repaired, and travelling altogether rendered more agreeable.
A respectable Hotel was also built at the same time, near the beach.
The face of the country about Bembridge is pleasant enough, being
agreeably checquered by grove and meadow, cultivation and open
pasturage: but it is THE SURROUNDING PROSPECT which yields the chief
pleasure. The situation of the Church and other principal buildings, is
sufficiently evident to the visitor from St. Helen's, or as he crosses
the ferry.
The chalk precipices of Bembridge are named _the Culvers_, from the
circumstance it is said, of their having been the haunt of immense
numbers of wild pigeons; and they are now, as has been already mentioned
(p. 21), resorted to in the summer months by prodigious flights of
various sea-fowl. There is a small cavern called HERMIT'S HOLE in the
face of the cliff, about thirty feet from the top; the descent to it
however is steep and narrow, and it is comparatively but seldom visited.
BEMBRIDGE LEDGE is a dangerous reef of rocks, stretching out into the
sea a considerable distance: a floating beacon-light called "the Nab" is
always moored within a short distance, to warn ships of their position.
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