WIGHT, Isle of, England, off the south coast, in the county and opposite to the main land portion of Hants, is separated from the mainland by the roadstead or channel of Spit head on the east, and by the Solent or continu ance of this on the west. It is about 23 miles in length from east to west, by 15 miles broad; circuit about 70 miles; area, 146 square miles. The land is rolling, affording agreeable scenery; the air is remarkably healthful. Only a small portion of the surface is waste. The downs, which cross the island from east to west and form excellent sheep-walks, separate it into two districts, which in their general character con trast with each other, the soil on the north side being generally a stiff, cold clay, and on the south side a fertile sandy loam. On the prom that forms the western extremity of the are three notable chalk cliffs locally called the °Needles.* Celtic tumuli occur on a num ber of the chalk downs, and there are mono liths of geologic interest. Excellent cement is manufactured at the works on the west side of the Medina, and largely exported. The chief imports are cattle, coal, timber and building material. The island is well defended, being protected on the east side by Sandown Fort, E% mbridge Fort and Battery, and by other forts which lie between the island and the mainland.
The western approach is guarded by Hurst Castle and other forts. The chief towns are Newport (the capital), Ryde, Cowes, Ventnor, Brading, Yarmouth and the fashionable health resorts of Sandown and Shanklin on the south east coast. Osborne, near Cowes, was a resi dence of Queen Victoria, and with its beautiful grounds is now a national memorial, the gift of Edward VII. Its most recent use is as a college for naval cadets. Among the antiqui ties of the Isle of Wight the most inter esting is Carisbrooke Castle, which stands a little southwest of Newport, and consists of and well-preserved picturesque ruins. It has many historical associations: it is supposed to have originally been a fortress of the Britons, was afterward repaired and en larged by the Romans, was considerably strengthened under Cerdic, who founded the kingdom of Wessex, and rebuilt in the reign of Henry I. During the Parliamentary War it be came the asylum of King Charles I on his es cape from Hampton Court, and afterward his prison. Another interesting remain is Quarr Abbey, about two and one-half miles from Ryde, which was built in 1132, and is now a farmhouse. Pop. 90,000. Consult Thomas's 'Isle of Wight' (Boston 1912).