The Isle of Wight County Press has been bringing Islanders the news since 1884.

We've delved into our archives.

120 Years Ago, April 1904

A FRESHWATER man shared his experience of Spanish brigands with local residents. Granville Ward was in Spain to pay accounts when he was ambushed by the robbers, who made off with around £400 of his belongings. Mr Ward, known by the Spanish as Don Edmundo, was accompanied by a village doctor but nothing of his was stolen. Mr Ward said that they "evidently regarded him, a Spaniard, as being as poor as a rat."

Sunshine and a cold brisk wind met the runners and riders of the Island's annual point-to-point races, on Wellow Down . A large number of spectators turned out to watch with queues of traffic and crowds of people four to five deep. The route of the four-mile course began from the front of the down to the Freshwater Road almost to Shalcombe, across to Tapnell Farm and back.

95 Years Ago, April 1929

There was considerable opposition at a St Helens council meeting for an application to build a public toilet in Seaview. It was planned that the toilet would be a two-storey construction with the men's on the bottom floor and the ladies on the top floor. The main opposition came from one councillor, who believed that crimes of a lewd nature would take place in the new building.

70 Years Ago, April 1954

Banking in Cowes took on a new form after a national accounting machine was installed. The machine automatically did the book-keeping for all of the bank's customers. Instead of receiving a hand-written pass-book of their accounts, customers now received typed statements, charting paid cheques, credits received and the balance of the account after each day's transactions.

An Island industry came to an end when Calbourne Mill stopped grinding flour. The mill continued to make cattle food but after four centuries of flour grinding it was decided by owners that the economy was not good enough to continue.

It was announced by Cowes Urban and District Council at a special meeting at Northwood House that it was to apply for a loan to reconstruct Cowes Pier. A Hamble marine company, which quoted £15,000 for the work, was chosen and an application was made by the council to the government. The pier had degenerated into a dangerous condition but had not been demolished due to the cost.


45 Years Ago, April 1979


Islanders cheered on their team on BBC hit gameshow It's A Knockout. The 16-strong team from the South Wight were competing against Bournemouth and Arun with the winner going on to the European contest.

Island jails were returning to normal after national union leaders called off industrial action among prison officers and resumed talks on a nine per cent pay offer. The union ordered all staff to restrict overtime to no more than five
hours a week. But the governor of Parkhurst declared a state of emergency preventing officers from following their union.