Entries from 1885 Kelly's Isle of Wight directories
for Civic, West Cowes
1885 list of towns
Total number of matches found: 110
To account for missing numbers in Streets, it may be understood that either the house was empty at the time the revision was made, or let in weekly tenements, or that the information was refused.
| WEST COWES is a thriving town, seaport, railway station, and polling place for the county, in the civil parish of Northwood, 11 1/2 miles south-south-east from Southampton, 4 3/4 north from Newport and 10 west-south-west, from Portsmouth, seated on the declivity of the hill on the western side of the river Medina, which separates it from East Cowes, and is crossed by steam ferry. |
| It is a populous place, and many handsome houses and villas have been erected in various parts of the town. |
| The town is not incorporated, but is regulated by the Health of Towns Act, and a Local Board of Health of 15 members has been formed. |
| Gas was introduced in 1845, and a water company in 1847 ; the water works are now owned by the Local Board. |
| The attractions of yachting and the convenience of bathing have occasioned it to become the resort of much fashionable company ; the baths and machines are situated near the castle. |
| Cowes Castle is now let on lease by the Government to the Royal Yacht Squadron and used by them as their club house. |
| Cowes is the principal port in the island, and is both safe and convenient, the roads affording excellent shelter in severe weather, the anchorage being so good that ships seldom drift; from its excellent roadstead, ships can directly steer either west or east : the trade carried on is extensive, particularly in provisions for shipping. |
| The steamboat quay and pier were built by G. H. Ward esq. ; the Southampton and Isle of Wight Steamboat Company are the lessees. |
| In the Medina road is a commodious wharf and quay, designated the Medina Commercial Wharf, with storehouses and bonding warehouses for general merchandise ; here is extensive quay accommodation, furnishing at all times a ready means of discharging and loading ships of almost any burden in perfect security : a pier has been constructed at this wharf for the purpose of landing and embarking troops. |
| The Cowes and Newport railway was opened in 1862. |
| For ecclesiastical purposes West Cowes is divided into two parishes, formed in 1832 out of the parish of Northwood. : |
| St. Mary's church, rebuilt in 1867, is a handsome edifice of Swansea rubble, with Bath stone dressings, and contains a very handsomely carved reredos given by Pascall Atkey esq. and a fine organ presented by the late Miss and Mrs. Beckford :it contains 960 sittings, 200 of which are free : the cost of the building was 6,000GBP. |
| Holy Trinity church, erected in 1832, of brick in the Gothic style, at the sole expense of the late Mrs. S. Goodwin at cost of 6,687GBP ; it was enlarged in 1862 by the addition of chancel that wag beautifully embellished in 1880 at a cost of 800GBP ; the reredos is the gift of Charles Maw esq. ; it has 700 sittings, a third of which are free. |
| The Catholic church in Carvel lane, dedicated to St. Thomas of Canterbury, is a large brick building, with residence attached ; the Rev. Richard George Davis, priest. |
| The Congregational chapel is in Union road, erected in 1804 ; |
| the Baptist chapel, Victoria road, erected in 1877 ; |
| the Primitive Methodists', Market hill, erected in 1858 ; |
| the Wesleyan, Birmingham road, erected in 1831 ; |
| the Free Wesleyans, St. Mary's street, built in 1853 |
| United Methodist free church, erected in 1882 ; |
| the Primitive Methodist, Gurnard, erected in 1869. |
| A public cemetery was opened in 1855 ; it, is situated on the Newport road, about, half mile from the town ; the area has been recently enlarged to 6 1/2 acres : it has two mortuary chapels: a portion of the ground has been set apart for Catholics: the cemetery is under the control of a Burial Board of 9 members ; Henry James Damant, clerk and registrar. |
| The Capital and Counties Bank and the London and County Bank have branches here. |
| There are three good hotels, the "Fountain," in the High street, and the "Gloster" and the "Marine," on the Parade: there are also many respectable inns and good lodging houses. |
| The Isle of Wight Herald is published here on Saturday by Mr. J. Hall Smith, High street. |
| A recreation ground was given to the town by W. G. Ward esq. in 1859 : it covers an area of 9 acres; also very beautiful piece of ground called Princes Green, was presented to the town in 1864 by George Robert Stepbenson esq.: this delightful promenade is close to the sea, and upwards of 1,000 feet in length ; the green is provided with sixteen iron sittings, band stand and a handsome drinking fountain. |
| The principal establishments are the docks and ship-building yards of Mr. John White: these consist of two docks, Medina and Thetis, of the respective lengths of 330 feet and 140 feet, and 17 and 13 feet over sill; a patent slipway, and four building slips of nearly equal extent: the Mail Steam Packet Company's ships "Medina" and "Solent," of 1,800 tons, were built here, as also several of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Company's ships likewise many steamers of various sizes and many men of war, for the British and foreign navies: some of the Peninsular and Oriental Company's ships have been lengthened here, including the "Tay," and many belonging to the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company. In connection with the above premises is large boat-building establishment for building lifeboats for Her Majesty's navy; by a novel arrangement they will also form the bridges of the ships, and the " Tamar" and "Orontes," two of our largest troopships, have been thus fitted with boats capable of carrying 200 men, by order of the Lords of the Admiralty. |
| There are likewise the extensive ship and yacht building establishments of Messrs. Charles Hansen and Sons, who have also slipways. |
| There is a brass and iron foundry, conducted by Messrs. W. White and Sons. |
| The extensive ropery of Mr. Bannister also deserves notice, from its having been the first for the manufacture of wire rope. |
| Sail-making is also carried on extensively by Mr. C. Ratsey and Messrs. Summers and Hewitt. |
| The oyster fisheries in the Medina and Newtown rivers are formed into a called the Isle of Wight Oyster Fishery Company Limited; the chief office is at Tower House, West Cowes. |
| Twelve almshouses in Market place, erected in 1881 and endowed with 72GBP per annum, by the Rev. Thomas Binstead Macnamara, rector of Kingston, Isle of Wight. |
| The West Cowes Provident Dispensary, High street, was established in 1877. |
| Hoskin's charity of about 60GBP yearly is for distribution. W, G. Ward esq. is lord of the manor and principal landowner. |
| The area and rateable value are included in Northwood. |
| The population of the town in 1881 was 7,072, viz. Holy Trinity, 2,404 ; St. Mary's, 4,668. |
| Clerk and sexton (St. Mary's), W. Richardson. |
| Clerk and sexton (Holy Trinity), Thomas Bant. |
| POST, MONEY ORDER & TELEGRAPH OFFICE, Savings Bank, Annuity & Insurance Office. - Harry Mott, postmaster, High street |
| POST & MONEY ORDER OFFICE & Savings Bank, Medina road. - Walter Draper, post-master. |
| CONSUL : Belgium & Holland, T. W. Faulkner |
| VICE CONSULS : |
| For Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal, Brazil & Republic of |
| CONSULAR AGENTS |
| For France, T. W. Faulkner Uruguay, T. W. Faulkner |
| United States of America & Germany, W. J, Kemp |
| INSURANCE AGENTS |
| Commercial Union, Matthews & Sons, Shooter's hill |
| County Fire, A. Penton |
| Economic Life, J. B. May, 60 High Street |
| London Assurance Corporation, H. J. Damant, Sun hill |
| Norwich Union, A. Woodyear, 92 High street |
| Phaenix Fire, G. Wheeler, 63 High street |
| Provident Life, A. Penton, Oak cottage |
| Royal Exchange, H. C. Damant, Bath road |
| Wakefield Marine, G. Drover, High street |
| Westminster Fire, A. E. Marvin, 66 High street |
| PUBLIC ESTABLISHMENTS : |
| Cemetery, Newport road, Henry James Damant, clerk & registrar to the. burial board |
| County Police Office, Sun hill, Thomas Loughlin, sergeant, & 5 men |
| Cowes Town Pier, Fountain Quay |
| Custom House, Birmingham road, Henry C. Manners, collector, superintendent of: mercantile marine & receiver of wreck ; A. Smith clerk; E. Southcott, examining officer; Watch house, Watch House lane |
| Royal London Yacht Squadron |
| Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes Castle, H.R.H. the Prince of Wales K.G. commodore; Marquis of Ormonde, vice- commodore; E. N. Harvey, librarian ; Rev. J. Bailey, chaplain ; Sir W. & W. Hoffmeister M.D.S. surgeons ; Richard T. A. Grant esq. J.P. secretary |
| Engine Houses, Union road and The Cut ; keys kept by the police & at the Watch house & the brigade James A. Sargeant, superintendent, 1 Bernard road |
| Inland Revenue Office, 40 High street, Thomas Halliday, officer |
| Shipwrecked Fishermen's & Mariners' Benevolent Institution, W. J, Kemp, hon. sec. |
| Hampshire Regiment 5th Isle of Wight (Princess Beatrice) Volunteer Battalion ; Company, Captain, Stanley Redfern Russell |
| West Cowes Dispensary, Elmstead cottage, Bernard road. John Jones M.D. & James E. Gibson M.D. medical officers William Marden, sec. |
| PUBLIC OFFICERS |
| Assistant Overseer, Thomas Halliday, 40 High street |
| Certifying Factory Surgeon, John Jones; Dagmar house, Birmingham road |
| Clerk & Registrar to Northwood Burial Board & Clerk to West Cowes Local Board, Henry James Damant, Bath road |
| Harbour Master, Frank Osborne, 34 High street |
| Lloyd's Agent, H. C. Damant, Bath road |
| American Lloyd's, George Drover, agent, High street |
| Liverpool Underwriters, George Drover, agent, Medina road |
| Medical Officer & Public Vaccinator, Cowes district, Isle of Wight union & Medical Officer of Health to East Cowes urban sanitary district, William Hoffmeister M.D. Townsend house |
| Registrar of Births & Deaths for Cowes, sub-district, Henry Griffin |
| Relieving Officer, Cowes district, Henry Griffin, Mill Hill road |
| Sheriff's Officer, James Moore, Southsea |
| Stamp Distributor, Samuel Kinsman, High street |
| Sub-Commissioner of Pilots under the Trinity Board, William Williams |
| PLACES OF WORSHIP |
| St. Mary's Church, |
| Holy Trinity Church, Queen's road |
| St. Thomas of Canterbury, Catholic, Carvel lane |
| Baptist, Victoria road |
| Congregational, Union road |
| Primitive Methodist, Market hill |
| Free Wesleyan, St. Mary street |
| Wesleyan, Birmingham road |
| United Methodist Free Church, Newport road |
| Salvation Army Barracks, St. Mary street |
| SCHOOLS : |
| National (mixed), York street, erected in 1862/3 for 600 children; average attendance, boys, 250 ; girls, 160 ; infants, 120 ; Charles Cooper, master ; Mrs. Maria Cooper, mistress ; Miss Moth, infants' mistress |
| National (mixed), Cross street, built in 1821, closed in 1863 : re-opened & enlarged in 1875 for 500 children ; average. attendance, boys, 180 ; girls, 120 ; infants, 90 ; William Marden, master; Mrs. A. Dimmock, mistress ; Mrs. Elizabeth Durham, infants' mistress |
| NEWSPAPER. - Isle of Wight Herald, John Hall Smith, proprietor ; published saturday, at 96 High Street |
| Railway Station, James R. Thomas, station master |
| Railway Station, Mill hill, Christopher Weeks, station master |
| Railways, London, Brighton & South Coast & London & South Western Passenger Booking Office, Fountain quay |
| GENERAL CARRIERS (per rail & water) to all parts of the island daily - Lancelot T. Wilkinson, & agent to the South Western Railway, Company ; Pickford & Co. & agents to the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway Company |
| CARRIER TO NEWPORT. - Samuel Mundell, daily (sundays excepted), from 'Duke of York' |
| WATER CONVEYANCE : |
| Steam packets to and from Ryde, Southsea, Portsmouth & Southampton, several times a day ; Edwin Hillyer, agent |
| Steam packets to Yarmouth & Lymington, daily, during the summer months, from the Fountain quay |
| To Southampton & Portsmouth, by the Steam Packets Company & Pickford & Co. |