Bonchurch is a beautiful village to the east of Ventnor, on the Isle of Wight. It is situated on the Undercliff, which itself is subject to regular landslips.

This page, recently corrected for grammar and spelling by a former childhood resident, requires a great deal of input to do justice to this beautiful village.

DEM BONCHURCH CREW

A local group whose territories stretch from the village's eastern borders to St. Boniface Road Tennis Courts. Not very much is known about the organization. Their aims are to protect Bonchurch from the kind of anti-social behavior which adversely affects so many other town centres.

A very poor history of BONCHURCH

From the year dot, this area was used by Celtic tribal islanders because of its fertile qualities and good climate. These settlers left many flint tools and other evidence of their occupation.

AD 43. The Romans invaded, called the island Vectis, and built a fort (now covered by the sea). Many married local girls but their army was recalled by AD400. Bonchurch people rejected many of the ideas and lifestyles including Christianity brought by the Romans and they returned to pagan ways.

675. St Boniface our Patron Saint was born.

1070. After the Norman Conquest the whole Island was given William Fitz-Osberne. He allowed monks from the French abbey of Lyra to land at “Monks Bay “and build a church.

1085. The Doomsday Book records Bonchurch as “Bonecerce”, cerce being the Anglo Saxon word for church, i.e. the church of St Boniface.

1325. Quarries set up, supplying stone for local building, Carisbrooke Castle and later for Portchester Castle and Portsmouth dockyard. The population of the village was only 100.

1545 the French Army invaded with 500 men but the brave English forces assisted by local Bonchurch women with bows and arrows waited until they struggled to the top of the Downs, before they killed them during the Battle of Bonchurch.

1800. The population had dropped to only 69 because farming and fishing, and even the odd bit of smuggling, could not support any more. However, rich and influential people, who had become used to holidaying on the Mediterranean Coast, were now unable to travel because of war in France and they suddenly discovered a similar climate and scenery close to home here at BONCHURCH.

This started the boom in visitors and building developers from London. Even the Vicar’s wife was involved in buying up farms and providing large impressive houses for the growing list of famous Victorian writers and poets; Swinburne, McCauley, Dickens, Sewell and members of Queen Victoria’s entourage, all of whom found Bonchurch to be an ideal location to work and relax.