WIGHT, ISLE OF, off the south coast of England, part of Hampshire, separated from the mainland of Hampshire by the Solent and Spithead. It is 221 m. from east to west and 134 m. from north to south. The area is 147 sq.m. The south coast is chiefly cliff-bound and there is beautiful scenery both inland and along the northern shores. The climate is mild and healthy. As a result there are numerous watering places. Chalk downs range from east to west, terminating in the Culver cliffs and the Needles. These downs are from 400 to 700 ft. high. North of this ridge the chalk dips beneath Tertiary rocks with heavy soils, which support extensive areas of trees.
Three rivers, the eastern Yar, Medina and western Yar, drain the island. The Medina bisects the island. The structure of the island is that of a simple monocline, the central chalk ridge form ing an almost vertical limb. To the south of this, the dip of the beds is southward at a very low angle and there is a second range of downs, in the extreme south, between St. Catherine's Point and Dunnose, which exceed Boo ft. in St. Catherine's Hill. Below these heights on the seaward side occurs the remarkable tract known as the Undercliff, a terrace formed by the sliding of the Chalk and Upper Greensand upon the unctuous surface of the Gault clay. The upper cliffs shelter this terrace and the climate is remarkably mild. This part of the island affords a winter resort. Along the south coast the action of small streams on the soft rocks has hollowed out steep gullies. Many of these are of great beauty ; the most famous are Shanklin and Blackgang chines. The western peninsula shows the finest development of sea-cliffs. Off the westernmost promontory rise three detached masses of chalk about 1 oo ft. high known as the Needles, exposed to the full strength of the south-westerly gales. During a storm in 1764 a fourth spire was undermined and fell.
Newport at the head of the Medina estuary is the chief town ; Cowes at the mouth, the chief port. The principal resorts are Cowes (headquarters of the Royal Yacht Squadron) Ryde, Sandown, Shanklin, Ventnor, Freshwater Gate and Yarmouth. Others are Totland Bay, Gurnard (Cowes), Seaview and Bem bridge (Ryde). The principal communications with the main land are between Cowes and Southampton, Ryde and Portsmouth, and Yarmouth and Lymington. The island is well supplied with railways and roads. The island shares in the defences of the Solent, and the entry to Portsmouth ; there are batteries at Puck pool, on the eastern foreland, and the west coast. Osborne House, near Cowes, a residence and scene of the death of Queen Victoria, was presented to the nation by King Edward VII. in 1902.
The island is divided into two liberties, East and West Medina, excluding the boroughs of Newport and Ryde ; and contains the urban districts of Cowes, East Cowes, St. Helens, Sandown, Shank lin and Ventnor. The island has for many centuries belonged to the see of Winchester. Pop. (1931) 88,400• History.—Relics of the Roman occupation following the con quest by Vespasian in A.D. 43, are the villas at Brading and Caris brook, the cemetery at Newport, and remains of foundations at Combly Farm, Gurnet, and between Brixton and Calbourne. The Jutes probably settled here and in 661 it was annexed by Wulf here to Wessex and subsequently bestowed on the king of Sussex. In 998 it was the headquarters of the Danes.
From the 14th to the i6th century the island was under fear of invasion by the French, who in 1377 burnt Yarmouth and Franche ville (the latter being subsequently rebuilt and known as New town), and so devastated Newport that it lay uninhabited for two years. In 1419, a French force landed and demanded tribute in the name of King Richard and Queen Isabella, which was re fused, and the French returned home. Another raid was attempted in 1545 when a French fleet of 225 ships drew up off Brading Har bour and wrought much destruction. As a result an organised system of defence was planned. Forts were constructed at Cowes, Sandown, Freshwater and Yarmouth. Charles I. was imprisoned in Carisbrook Castle in 1647-48 and, in 165o, his two children, the princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Gloucester, the former dying there.
The lordship of the island was granted by William the Con queror to William Fitz-Osbern, but escheated to the crown. It was bestowed by Henry I. on Baldwin de Redvers, whose descen dant Isabella de Fortibus sold it to Edward I. in 1293.
In the Domesday Survey 29 mills are mentioned, and salt works at Boarhunt, Bowcombe, Watchingwell and Whitfield. The island quarries have been worked from remote times, that of Quarr supplying material for Winchester cathedral. Alum and sand for glass-making were formerly obtained at Alum Bay.
One member is returned to parliament for the whole island. Antiquities include British pit villages (Rowborough), prehistoric tumuli on several of the chalk downs, the so-called Long Stone at Mottiston, a lofty sandstone monolith, well-preserved examples of tesselated Roman pavements near Brading, Carisbrooke Cas tle, a beautiful ruin built upon the site of an ancient British strong hold, and remains of Quarr Abbey near Ryde. The most note worthy ancient churches are those of Bonchurch (Norman), Brad ing (transitional Norman and Early English), Shalfleet (Nor man and Decorated), and Carisbrooke, of various styles.