The Isle of Wight is a
county and the largest
island of England, located in the English Channel,
3–5 miles (5–8 km) off the south coast of the county of
Hampshire, separated from
the mainland by a strait called the Solent. The island is known for its
outstanding natural beauty, its world-famous sailing based at the town of
Cowes, and its resorts, which
have been popular holiday destinations since the
Victorian times.
The island has a rich history,
including a brief status as an independent kingdom in the 15th
century. Until 1995, in common with Jersey and Guernsey, the
island had its own
Governor - most notably Lord
Mountbatten from 1969–1974, after which he became
Lord Lieutenant
until his assassination in 1979.
It was home to the poet
Alfred Lord
Tennyson, and to Queen
Victoria, who built her much loved summer residence and
final home Osborne House at
East Cowes. The Island's maritime and
industrial history encompasses boat building, sail making, the
manufacture of flying boats, the world's first
hovercraft and the testing and
development of Britain's space rockets. It is home to the
Isle of Wight
International Jazz - (source Wikipedia)
