An exhibition highlighting the particularly rich and diverse history of transport in the Cowes area was the subject of an exhibition staged in 2008.
Cowes Transport Through The Ages included a huge number of pictures, plus fascinating text and objects – all intended to give a graphic insight into bygone forms of conveyance associated with the town.
Cowes had a remarkable number of public transport ‘firsts’ on the Island. The first scheduled stage-coach service began in 1770, linking the town with Newport; the first reliable cross-Solent steamer service operated between Cowes and Southampton from 1810; the railway first came to the Isle of Wight in 1862, with the opening of the Cowes-Newport link; the former Cowes Airport at Somerton operated in the 1930s a pioneering airline service; and it was from Cowes in 1633 that the first settlers sailed to Maryland.
Augmenting the static displays is a specially made 78 minute DVD, now available for sale at various retail outlets on the Isle of Wight and through Shop on this web site.
Bedford Coaches at Northwood Garage
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Bern Groves office under the Pontoon
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Fountain coach at Gurnard Pines
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A World War 1 J Samuel White-built converted seaplane
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Locomotive at Cowes station
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Open top bus at Egypt Point
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Lord Mountbatten 'paying fare' to Richard Stanton-Jones for his hovercraft ride.
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Joy riders at Somerton, post World War II.
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Prince Bernhardt greeted at Somerton, post World War II.
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Level crossing Smithards Lane
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Geoffrey Hughes at the exhibition
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