Monday 20 April 2015

Walk 31 Victorian St Lawrence - 5 miles

This is my first springtime walk this year, so just a local circuit. For my second year of walks it will be hard to find new routes, so I decided to revisit some of my usual haunts on the basis that there is always something new to be seen throughout the seasons.

Today's walk heads from Ventnor to St Lawrence, a sprawling village nestling in the Undercliff. There has been a settlement here since the 12th century, but it was the Victorians who were inspired to build the many attractive villas along the rugged slopes of the Undercliff.

Not far from my home, the Italianate belvedere tower villa Ravenscourt perches on the slopes of the downs, dating from 1840-50.
Castellated villa of Ravenscourt, Ventnor


Ravenscourt, ocean view rd,ventnor
From Ocean View Rd, descend Gills Cliff Rd to Whitwell Rd, passing elevated villas with steeply banked gardens in spring bloom.
single bloom of yellow calendulafield of muscari, grape hyacinth and wallflowers
cherry blossom
Here begins the Paradise Walk which runs parallel to the road before winding down to St Lawrence.
signpost Paradise Walk Public Footpath V71 st lawrence niton
Pink bluebells
grassy path among trees on paradise walk ventnor to st lawrence
Head downhill by this wooden sign to reach Pelham Wood.
Paradise Walk sign v72 to Niton


Path descening through trees in Pelham Wood, Ventnor
Celandine flowers in field
The Undercliff is an ancient, yet active, landslip zone and the path runs below the Upper Greensand cliffs of the road above.
Isle of Wight Undercliff at St Lawrence ridged cliffs
This intriguing staircase leads to other paths through the wood but I ignored it, following the main path to come out on Undercliff Drive.
Wooden steps in Pelham Wood Ventnor


meadow of wild flowers in Pelham Woods
 At the road you have two options to reach the coast and return to Ventnor. Turn left for the shorter route and pick up the footpath by Bank End Farm to meet the coastal path where it runs behind the Botanical Gardens, as seen here from the coastal end here.
Coastal path to Bank End Farm, Ventnor
For the longer route via the parish church, cross the road and take the detour behind the wall to come to St Lawrence Well.
Footpath sign to St Lawrence Well
It is said the the roadside spring was used by early Christian pilgrims, but during the 19th century it was enclosed in a Gothic grotto within the grounds of Sir Richard Worlsley's Marine Villa. An annual well-dressing here is a more recent tradition.
Entrance to St Lawrence Well


St Lawrence Well, Ventnor Isle of Wight
 Heading up the lane beside the village church will lead past this bank to the 12th century old church, one of the smallest in the country.
Flowery bank on walk in St Lawrence Isle of Wight


St Lawrence Village Hall
Continue along Undercliff Drive to the west to come to another Victorian gem, the parish church, which dates from 1867 and is remarkable for its fine collection of stained glass windows by Morris and Co.
St Lawrence Parish Church and churchyard


St Lawrence Parish Church
The windows by the Pre-Raphaelite artists Edward Burne-Jones and Ford Maddox Ford originally adorned the chapel of the nearby Royal National Hospital for Diseases of the Chest until it closed in 1969.
St Lawrence Parish Church Stained Glass window by Burne Jones
 Along the south wall are three apostles, St John, by Burne-Jones, (above),
St Lawrence Parish Church stained glass window by Ford Maddox Ford
 St Luke, by Maddox Brown
St Lawrence Parish Church stained glass by Burne Jones
 and St Peter, also by Burne Jones. The parable of the sower is by Walter Tower.
St Lawrence Parish Church stained glass by Walter Tower


St Lawrence Parish Church stained glass window detail
The stunning Hospital Chapel West window is the work of Sir William Reynolds-Stephens, a follower of the later Pre-Raphaelite School depicting ministering angels.
St Lawrence Parish Church stained glass by Reynolds-Stephens



St Lawrence Parish Church stained glass by Reynolds-Stephens 
In a lightbox on the north wall are windows designed and produced by William Morris.
To get to the coastal path continue a little way and turn left along Woolverton Rd to meet the coast by some white cottages. It is possible to go a little further and take a footpath to the same place. Another fine late Victorian villa appears through trees on the left, St Rhadagund's, now a Christian retreat and holiday centre.
St Rhadagunds Holiday Centre seen through trees


Footpath to Woody Bay
Another fine villa is passed, Tower Lodge, once part of Woolverton Manor estate.
Tower LodgeThe path emerges by chalk cliffs at Woody Bay viewed through white blossom.
cliffs at woody bay, isle of wight in spring


Blackthorn blossom at Woody Bay, Isle of wight


Blackthorn blossom at Woody Bay isle of wight


Woody Bay isle of wight coastal path
This is one of those spots where it is definitely a bad idea to keep to the path!
Disused path due to Coastal erosion at Woody Bay Isle of Wight


Coastal path near Woody Bay isle of wight
The coastal path offers good views of the Undercliff properties.
Niton Undercliff from the coastal path
The coastal path was lined with blackthorn bushes in full blossom.
blackthorn blossom
The Lighthouse B and B at Steephill Cove appears hazily through trees.
The Lighthouse B and B, Steephill Cove
We pass Ventnor cricket club, one of the few flat spaces in the town.
Ventnor Cricket Club
After about 45 mins, we reach the outskirts of Ventnor at Flowersbrook.
Ornamental pond at Flowerbrook, Ventnor
and emerge at the  beginning of the bay above the Spyglass Inn.
Ventnor Bay Isle of Wight


Walk 31details Ventnor to St Lawrence
Walk Details:
Distance: 5 miles
Time:  3 hours
Refreshments and WC: Ventnor seafront, Steephill Cove