Godshill - Whites 1878 - - Page 1

Godshill parish had 1197 inhabitants in 1871, and extends over 6625 acres of land and three of water.

The land stretches southward to Steephill Castle, near Ventnor, and northwards to Gatcombe, including the small hamlets of Stenbury, Roude, Sandford, and Rookley-with-Week, the extensive park and mansion of Appuldurcombe, many scattered farmhouses, &c. ; and Rew Down, Black [Bleak ?] Down, Week Down, and other hills.

Part of the village of Godshill is in the parish of Arreton.

The parish is in two manors, Reginald Freke Williams, Esq., is lord of South Godshill, and Frank Barton, Esq., is lord of the manor of North Godshill. But a great part of the soil belongs to a number of smaller free and copy holders.

The Church stands on the summit of an abrupt hill overlooking the village. Tradition says it Saxon founders began to erect it in the valley, but on returning to their work one morning the masons were surprised at finding the foundations removed to the top of the hill, which they afterwards called God's-hill. It contains various monuments of the Worsley and other families.

There is a small Wesleyan Chapel in the village, and one belonging to Bible Christians at Sandford.

In the 16th century Lady Ann Worsley left 20 marks per annum for the support of a Free Grammar School at Godshill. Her grandson, Sir Richard Worsley in 1615 gave a house, orchard, garden, and close of land, to be occupied by the schoolmaster, and also a yearly rent-charge out of Appuldurcombe estate. In 1814 the schoolmaster's house was rebuilt, at the cost of 1,200GBP, by the Rev. Henry Worsley, but is now the property and residence of the vicar, who is nominally the head master. The school has been for many years conducted as a National School. The school was rebuilt in 1824, by the late Earl of Yarborough, whose successor erected a good house for the master in 1818. The scholars pay from 1d. to 6d. per week.

Appuldurcombe was the ancient seat of the Worsley family. The name Appuldurcombe is said to be a corruption of the British word, Y pwl y dwr y cwm, signifying a pool of water in the hollow or recess of a hill. The present mansion was erected about the beginning of the last century,by Sir Robert Worsley, on the site of a priory of Benedictine monks, which was founded by Isabella de Fortibus in the reign of Henry III., and dissolved by Henry V., among the rest of the alien priories, as it was then subordinate to the abbey of Montesbury, in Normandy. The ruins of the Priory House were in existence till 1710, when they were taken down, and the present mansion commenced. The last Sir Richard Worsley dying in 1805, Appuldurcombe became the property and occasional residence of the first Earl Yarborough, who married Sit Richard's niece and heiress. After his decease, in 1846, the estate remained for some time unoccupied. In 1855 it was sold by the second Earl of Yarborough to the father of its present owner, Reginald Freke Williams, Esq. The Earl had previously sold the deer in the park, and the fine collection of pictures and sculpture in the house, to various purchasers. On the summit of the principal hill is an obelisk of Cornih granite, nearly 70 feet high, erected to the memory of Sir Robert Worsley, Bart. Appuldurcombe is now occupied by the Rev. William Pound, M.A., and his son, the Rev. Robert William Pound, M.A., who have a school there for gentlemen's sons.

Post Office at the Exors. of Mr. Robert Rowson

Carrier from Ventnor to Newport, passes through - John Thomas, daily

Carrier from Wroxall to Newport, passes through - Oliver Heal, Mon., Wed. and Sat.

Attrill Danie!, farmer, Dean farm

Attrill Daniel, farmer, Week farm.

Attrill James, harness maker

Beavis Robert, farmer, Rew farm

Bishop John, shoemaker, Rookley

Brading Edmund, National schoolmaster and postmaster, Rookley

Brown Robert Hicks and Mrs. Harriet, National school teachers, Godshill

Cole Alfred, registrar of births and deaths and district relieving officer

Creeth Frank, farmer & vict., Griffin

Flux Henry, farmer, Redhill farm

Ford Mr. William, Lodwell cottage

Fowler Charles, farmer, Appuldurcombe dairy farm

Gillingham David England, farmer, Park farm

Griffin James, farmer

Griffin Thomas, shoemaker

Hardley Thomas Wheeler, farmer, Stenbury farm

Hibbard Frederick, shopkeeper, Rookley

Hibberd William, farmer, Span farm

Hills Henry, carpenter, Sandford

Hills Misses, Albert villa, Rookley

Hollis Francis, grocer

Hollis Joseph Jerome, farmer, Rookley farm

Hollis Thomas, farmer, Littlebridge

Hollis Walter, shoemaker

Jackson Alfred, assistant master, Appuldurcombe

Jacobs Mrs. Eliza, farmer, Bagwick

Jacobs James, farmer, Lessland

Jacobs Thomas, farmer, Millbank farm

Jolliffe Mr. James William, Southview cottage

King Alfred Cole, grocer

Lidgeard Thomas, farmer, Sainham

Lovell Mr. Henry, Woodbine cottage

Morris John, letter carrier

Pound Rev. Robert William, M.A., school, Appuldurcombe

Pound Rev. William, M.A., school, Appuldurcombe

Quickfall John, farmer, Sheepwash farm

Ratcliffe Rev. Thomas, M.A., vicar, The Vicarage

Reynolds James, victualler, Bell Inn

Rowson Robert (Exors. of), carpenter and postmaster