Whilst on holiday on the Island, I came across a book that had been digitised by the online Project Gutenberg. It had been published in 1910 and was entitled "Pictures in Colour of The Isle of Wight" by Jarrold & Sons. I believe the pictures were taken with a black and white camera and then colourised (although some look as though they might have been paintings).
Anyway, I recognised many of the scenes and it occurred to me that it would be interesting (in an obsessive compulsive sort of a way) to take photos of the same scenes 100+ years on to see what had changed. I didn't get terribly far on this particular holiday because of the amount of time we spent a Blackgang Chine but the gallery shows the results so far and I hope to go back to build it up over time.
Each scene is shown in pairs, the first being the 1910 view and the second the view in 2011. The photos are indexed below with my commentary following the original text
1) Apley Tower, Ryde.
"APLEY TOWER, RYDE.—Within one and a half miles of Ryde the wall is a continuation of the Esplanade in the direction of Spring Vale and Sea View. The wall furnishes a means of defence against the encroachment of the sea, as well as a thoroughfare for pedestrian traffic. Bicycles are also used on it to some extent. When the tide is out a wide stretch of sands is exposed, and crowds of children use it as a pleasure ground, finding beautiful seaweed and shells. The walk can be continued round the further point into Sea View."
As you can see, what is now the walkway was, at that time, a sea wall. I've never seen the sea so high in Ryde but I know that they import sand so perhaps that explains why it's so shallow at this end. We went into the tower a couple of years back to find a weird crystal shop...
2) Carisbrooke Castle
"GATEWAY, CARISBROOKE CASTLE.—This noble gateway tower was erected by Anthony Woodville, Lord Scales, in the year 1464, and is still in good preservation. The outer gateway was erected in the time of Queen Elizabeth, when a great extension of the grounds enclosed was made.
"The battled towers, the dungeon keep,
The loop-hole grates where captives weep,
The flanking walls that round it sweep
In yellow lustre shone." (Scott).
The old massive doors have been removed recently and replaced by a lighter structure."
Not much has changed in 100 years. English Heritage have done a good job preserving the entrance as you can see the details of the crenelations and even the windows have hardly changed at all.
3) Carisbrooke Castle: steps to the keep
STEPS TO THE KEEP, CARISBROOKE CASTLE.—As a memorial of a bygone age how interesting are the steps to the keep, the last resort of the besieged, from which it would be difficult to dislodge them, without great loss. The well which furnished them with water is now dry, but can still be seen. The battlements furnish the visitor with a magnificent view of the country in every direction. The steps, seventy-two in number, are somewhat steep. The walls are covered with climbing plants. Shelter is afforded by trees and bushes, while access is given at the back of the ancient buildings in the Castle, to facilitate escape in case of surprise.
Again, surprisingly little has changed. I wonder if, in 1910, an attractive young woman in a short skirt had just climbed the steps and the photographer was under strict instructions from his wife to wait until she got to the top? Now THAT would be spooky.
