Railway

The Shute

Newchurch Village was built on the top of a steep hill called The Shute.

Newchurch Shute today, looking over the church wall. The house you can see on the left used to be a pub or coaching inn called the ? Bells (I think).

The postcard on the right shows Newchurch on the hill at the end of the 19th century. On the back of the card it states that:-

"Newchurch is a pretty rustic village, formerly of considerable importance as the centre of a Parish which extended right across the Isle of Wight. It is now a peaceful little cluster of houses with an interesting old church, of which the 800th anniversary of the foundation was held in 1887."

Unfortunately the card isn't very clear because it is a card of a painting.

The Shute itself has been developed, widened and straightened but despite all that it has still kept its original "charm".

The card on the left shows the road winding down the hill down past the railway crossing to Langbridge.

The next card shows the Shute, unwidened, with a glimpse of the Pointer Inn - Mew Brewery.

This card shows the view from Langbridge up the Shute to Newchurch. Note the Thatched cottage on the right. In the early 1900's the building on the left (opposite Langbridge Chapel ) housed Newchurch Reading Room. This was an establishment for men onlywhere they could read the daily newspapers.

This card show the view down the Shute to Langbridge at the bottom. note the cottage on the left which is much the same today. At the bottom of the Shute the level crossing gates are closed as there must be a train due.

Click on the Button to find out more about the railway.

The final card is of the Brook which which flows along the bottom of the Shute. This brook is much the same today and with the closing of the railway it is possible to walk alongside this brook to Alverstone in one direction and to Horringford in the other.

Don't forget to click on the images if you wish to see them clearly.