The History of Shops in Cowes

Just published:

A book charting the history of shops in Cowes.

The Pubs of Cowes, Northwood & Gurnard

A brand new book with 152 pages detailing the history of pubs, inns, taverns, hotels & beer houses in Cowes & district. Loads of pictures and stories.

King Ward and his huge Isle of Wight Estate

The story of Northwood House & the Ward Family. A new book complied by George Chastney, charting the history of Northwood House and Park. A fascinating look at a family that at one time owned almost one fifth of the iIsland.

Cowes Piers

Just published

A book about the history of piers in Cowes.

Transport through the Ages

An Isle of Wight town's history of public transport

DVD £12.95

Cowes in the 1950s.

Yet another successful exhibition. There were nearly 1800 visitors during the three weeks we were open. Thank you to those who wrote the many positive comments; this makes our efforts seem well worth while.

We were very pleased with the praise for those who did the research and put together the boards and folders. A great deal of new material was found which has been added to our ever growing archive.

If anyone has an interest in Cowes, its history & rich heritage please contact us.Read more about Cowes in the 1950s.
Seventieth anniversary of the bombing of Cowes

An exhibition featuring the terrible events of the weekend 4th/5th May 1942 including the part played by ORP Blyskawica in the defence of Cowes.

As part of the events being held over the weekend 4th to 7th May 2012 Cowes Heritage staged an exhibition.

Read more about Seventieth anniversary of the bombing of Cowes
Businesses of Cowes

Cowes Heritage's 2011 exhibition has now finished; it was a huge success.

Read more about Businesses of Cowes
The Story of Northwood House

The Story of Northwood House plus the once influential Ward family and its many Isle of Wight properties.

With fascinating displays also showing this well known listed Cowes House was a school, nunnery, wartime Red Cross hospital and venue for glittering balls.

Read more about The Story of Northwood House
Churches of Cowes, Northwood & Gurnard

In past decades, when it was the norm for a high proportion of the population to attend a church or chapel on Sundays, was the subject of the latest exhibition staged by Cowes Heritage.

Read more about Churches of Cowes, Northwood & Gurnard
Cowes at War

Newly formed, Cowes Heritage sought to capture what it was like living in Cowes at a time when England faced the threat of destruction.

Read more about Cowes at War
White's of Cowes

A Cowes shipyard that made a huge impact on the industrial life of the Isle of Wight.

Read more about White's of Cowes
The Changing Face of Cowes

An exhibition that featured changes in the street scene at Cowes over the years.

Read more about The Changing Face of Cowes
Maritime Cowes

The story of many local companies that have helped maintain the town as a centre for building and servicing yachts, and as a centre for yacht racing.

Read more about Maritime Cowes
Transport through the Ages

The rich and diverse history of transport in Cowes was the subject of an exhibition staged in 2008.

Read more about Transport through the Ages
Schooldays

Cowes Heritage examined how schooling had evolved in the Cowes area over the centuries.

Read more about Schooldays
Cowes at Play

Leisure activities of yester-year were celebrated at a 'Cowes at Play' exhibition.

Read more about Cowes at Play

News

Apr

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"Who do you think lived here?"

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Transport through the Ages

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.