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Isle of Wight History of Brighstone Village (formerly Brixton in the 19th century) |
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Smuggling was a major occupation in
Brighstone during the 18th and 19th century with some smugglers rowing
across to France & the Channel Island in long boats. A barrel of
brandy still full was found in recent years down the road from Carrier
Stable when the building was being converted. Some stone/chalk
buildings have a small old square rig sailing ship designs carved into
them and some say that this was a symbol that these were safe houses to
store contraband. Many of these smugglers went on to be crew on the
first local lifeboats. Brighstone is steeped in history with a Norman church of over 800 years old with a rectory next to the graveyard dating back to 1347. There are many fine thatches and stone buildings in and around the village, North Street in the centre being a fine example Originally there were two public houses in the centre of the village one is now the village hairdressers, previously the 'Five Bells Inn' the second was called the 'New Inn' till it was renamed 'The Three Bishops' as there has been three local churchmen who have gone on to become bishops (Thomas Ken, Samuel Wilberforce and George Moberely). Bronze age burial mounds can be found on
the downs above Brighstone, the picture at the top of the home page was
taken just to the side of one of the mounds. The Romans also lived in
the shadow of the downs where the remains of a villa were found similar
to that found in Newport, only a 400 yards up our road on farm land
further up the road close to a spring, the stream from this runs
through a now converted mill house then flows past just 130m from
Carriers Stable. Skeletal remains were found in the building when
building stone was being removed for reuse back in the 19th century. |
![]() North Street in village centre (old stone thatched cottages) includes the library and village museum. |