The parish of Whitwell is a beautiful village nestled between the sea and hills of the Isle of Wight. There are many old interesting buildings in the village. The most interesting being St Rhadegund’s Church. The map below is the modern representation of the village. Move the curser over the map to see some information and pictures of the village.
The following is an extract from “The Village and Parish of Whitwell” by Alan C. Tarbat. 1938.
Whitwell was founded in 1297 and does not feature in the Domesday record. Its manor was probably included in the manor of Gatcombe, which was held then by William, son of Stur. The Stur family owned Gatcombe for a long period, and in 1292 it came to Sir William de Estur, a name that figures much in early records. In the 16th century it passed to the ubiquitous Worsley family of Appuldurcombe. In the parish are also the manors of Widecombe, Nettlecombe and Little Wolverton.
The importance of the last has steadily declined in recent times. The Parish Church dedicated to St Radegund stands as one of the most interesting churches on the Isle of Wight. Saint Rhadegund was the patron saint of the Estur family; hence her presence at Whitwell. She was a German princess who was taken captive to France at an early age and compelled to marry Clotaire, King of Soissons, at 18. Hating the dissolute life of the court, she devoted most of her time to the poor and suffering around her, and, on her brother being violently put to death, she claimed her liberty, taking veil at Poitiers in 594. Declining the office of Abbess, Rhadegund, who brought much treasure with her, insisted on performing the most menial duties, and loved best to care for the lepers. When nearly 70 she died “honoured in life and mourned in death”.
Opposite the turning to the old station is the Church House. The date of this building is 1574. It was held by the inhabitants of Whitwell from the lord of the manor. A church house was a kind of social club, a centre of mirth an merrymaking where “church ales”, a
special home-brew, not too intoxicant, was in vogue - and other festivities were held, and the whole parish indulged in good cheer. When hearts and tongues were opened, money was collected for the poor and for improvements in the church and services.
An old adage says that, though we feel friendliness itsel to dwellers in the surrounding streets, we “can’t abide them as lives next door.” This un-Christian trait has alas till recently been only too characteristic of Whitwell; and the bete-noir has always been Niton. Though only separated by a mile and a quarter of rural lane, should a Niton swain think of courting a Whitwell belle - well, he might just as well drown himself outright as be murdered by the thrashings bound to be received at the hands of his would-be-relations! Probably smuggling rivalries began the feud, which today has, we trust, abated. However, it is still a matter of satisfaction to good Whitwellians that the last occupant of the village stocks was a scoundrel from Niton caught poaching in the parish red-handed.
The isolation of the undercliff villages from the rest of the world - and from each other - till one might say, the present century, is best evidenced in their nomenclature. The difference in family names is indeed amazing. In Whitwell registers Russell, Harvey, Attrill, Bundel, Woodnutt, Reynolds and Jacobs preponderate, while those at Notin and Bonchurch show an entirely different list. Each village had its own specialised Christian names as well, Thomasin, Thomasina, Theophila, Philadelphia, Bethynia and Selah being unique here.
Click on any of the images below to see the full size document. These were kindly donated by Alfred Downer.
Whitwell is relevant to my family history as there are plenty of families that have roots in the Whitwell parish. This includes the following families: Attrill, Downer, Hendy and Harvey. The Attrill family have been a farming family in the parish for more than 150 years. Two of the farms below were run by the family. Namely Ash and Dean Farms. The Hendy and Downer families have had a close relationship with the church for many years. Henry Hendy 1827 - 1916 worked as an agricultural labourer throughout his working life. His youngest son Leonard 1872 - 1942, had two daughters, Alice and Agnes. Alice is remembered in the church on a
The plaque is on the church organ which she played from 1933 to 1974.
The Harvey family ran Youngs Farm for many years during the mid 1800’s. There are many graves relating to the Harvey family in the churchyard.
There is a link between the Harvey and Attrill families, when William Harvey married Mary Attrill on the 1st January 1810. Mary and William farmed in Nettlecombe. There are other links to the Harvey family by way of Edith Attrill marrying Henry Baker of Calbourne. The Baker family and Harvey family are very closely linked.
The Attrill family spread from Whitwell into Niton. Mainly running Jobsons Farm on the Newport Road out of Niton. This farm passed from William Attrill 1817-1876, to his second son, Albert Attrill 1843 - 1909. The farm was then bought by Albert’s sons, Edward and Mark with Albert’s brother Frank acting on his families behalf with the sale.
During the mid to late 1800’s Francis Harvey 1824 - 1910 ran the grocery store in Whitwell, next to the pub in the High Street.
