Niton - Whites 1878 - - Page 1

Niton, sometimes called Crab Niton, had 732 inhabitants in 1871, and 1335 acres of hilly land, including most of lofty St. Catherine's Hill, and St. Catherine's Point. It sits at the south-eastern base of St. Catherine's Hill, above the romantic Undercliff, where its parish has several large and marine villas and two good inns; and upon the broken grounds which slope from the cliffs to the sunny beach there is a fine promenade, extending westward to the Great Landslip and Blackgang Chine, and eastward to Ventnor.

St. Catherine's Point is the most southern point of the island and has a handsome octagonal stone tower Lighthouse, which was built in 1839-40, at a cost of about 13,000GBP, in lieu of the old one, which stands on the top of St. Catherine's Hill, and is now disused. The Lighthouse is at the western end of the Undercliff and is about 50 feet above high-water mark, its lantern is 142 feet above the sea. About nine years ago a foghorn was erected close to the lighthouse, but a siren recently replaced it.

The late Major Dawes, Widcombe, possessed a Papal Bull ordering one of the lords of that manor to build a little chapel of St. Catherine's, on St. Catherine's Downs, Niton, of which there remains only the tower, which was also a lighthouse, and the foundations of the walls. Here the lord was to provide funds to maintain a priest to say masses for the souls of those sailors lost at sea on that coast for his having shared the plunder of a ship wrecked off the coast.

Near the Lighthouse is the natural harbour called Puckaster Cove, the hamlet of Knowle, Buddle Inn, and the Royal Sandrock Hotel. The latter is a large and commodious hotel, visited in 1834 by the Queen and the Duchess of Kent.

A great portion of the parish now belongs to Miss Elizabeth Kirkpatrick, of Windcliff House, a neat villa, near the Sandrock Hotel.

The Ordchard, a pleasant villa on the Undercliff, is the occasional residence of, and belongs to, Lady Gordon, of Northcourt.

Westcliff, a handsome villa, overlooking the Undercliff, is the seat of Netlam Giles, Esq.

Puckaster House, the pretty modern mansion of F. L. Popham, Esq., M.A., J.P., with grounds descending in terraces to the beach.

Cleveland Cottage is the occasional residence of Sir Henry Daly, K.C.B.

Thorncliffe, Mount Cleves, and Verlands are neat marine villas.

The Victoria Baths are now in ruins, the encroachments of the sea having rendered them unsafe without keeping up the sea-wall ; a storm completed their destruction in 1866 by washing out the foundations.

Niton Church (St. John the Baptist) is an ancient freestone structure. The church was repaired in 1851, at a cost of 290GBP, and completely restored in 1864, at an outlay of more than 1,000GBP.

A new National School was built in 1869, at the cost of about 950GBP, raised by subscription, augmented with 200GBP, left in 1858 by the Rev. Richard Dixon. This school is endowed with a house and garden, given in 1790, by the Rev. John Barwis, who was rector here 40 years.

A British School was established in 1849 by subscription, and is supported by annual contributions, amounting to about 45GBP, Government grant of about 50GBP., and children's pence.

The Baptists and the Wesleyans have chapels here, that belonging to the latter was built in 1864.

Post, Money Order, and Telegraph Office, Savings' Bank, and Government Insurance and Annuity Office at Mr. Charles Colenutt's.

Carriers to NEWPORT, Charles Jacobs, daily ; Walter Hayles, Tues., Thurs., and Sat. - to VENTNOR, Isaac Fripp and Henry Cotton, daily.

Attrill Thomas, farmer, Niton farm

Attrill William, farmer, Jobson's farm

Barker Rev. George Varley (Baptist), North house

Berry Enos William and Mrs. Sarah, National school teacher

Bloxam Mrs. Mary, Thorncliffe

Colenutt Abraham, builder and lodging house, Channel view

Colenutt Charles, postmaster

Colenutt Isaac, lodging house, 2 St. Catherine's terrace

Colenutt Samuel, plumber and glazier

Creeth William, plumber and glazier

Dear Clement, grocer

Eldridge Edward, shoemaker

Everett Mr. R., Myrtle cottage

Flux Robert John, grocer

Forster Henry Reginald, St. Catherine's house

French George, chief coastguard

Fripp Isaac, carrier

Giles Mr. Netlam, Westcliff

Gordon Lady Mary, The Orchard

Gutridge Charles, shoemaker

Hale Mr. William

Hayles George, builder

Hayles George, victualler, Buddle Inn

Hayles Walter, carrier

Hayton Rev. George, M.A. rector, The Rectory

Holman Charles Henry, surgeon, St. Catherine's terrace

Howard Benjamin, victualler, White Lion

Jackson Mr. William, Reeth lodge

Jacobs Charles, carrier

Kingswell Edwin, tailor

Kirkpatrick Miss Elizabeth, Windcliff, and Newport

Lacey Walter, farmer, Kinggates farm

Mortimer Mr. William, Mount Cleves