Isle of Wight

Wight, Isle of

(wīt), island and county (1991 pop. 126,600), 147 sq mi (381 sq km), S England, across the Solent and Spithead channels from Hampshire. The administrative center is NewportNewport,
town (1991 pop. 19,758), Isle of Wight, S England. It is also a port and the commercial center of the island, with agricultural markets and light industries (plastics, soft drinks, and woodworking). In the 17th cent.
..... Click the link for more information. . The island is 23 mi (37 km) long from the eastern Foreland to the Needles (detached chalk formations at the western extremity) and 13 mi (21 km) wide. The Medina, which almost bisects the island, and the East Yar and the West Yar are the chief rivers. Numerous small streams on the southern coast have cut a series of picturesque gullies in the soft rock. The climate is mild, and the scenery, as a result of the contrasting geological strata, is varied. Quaint villages, such as Ventnor, and a beautiful coast line make the island a popular resort. CowesCowes
, town (1991 pop. 16,134), Isle of Wight, S England. A resort town with lovely promenades, it is also the main port of the island and the center for yachting in the British Isles.
..... Click the link for more information. is an important port.

The island was conquered by the Romans in A.D. 43 and probably settled later by the Jutes. It was annexed to the kingdom of Wessex in 661 and Christianized c.700. The Isle of Wight was the headquarters of the Danes at the end of the 10th cent. William I bestowed the lordship of the island upon William Fitz-Osbern. In 1293 it returned permanently to the crown. At Carisbrooke Castle, now in ruins, King Charles I was imprisoned (1647–48). In 1890 the island was established as a separate administrative county; administratively, it became a unitary authority in 1995. Queen Victoria's seaside home, Osborne House, is near the famous yachting center at Cowes. Parkhurst, a major British maximun security prison, is on the island.

Wight, Isle of

an island that is located in the English Channel and belongs to Great Britain. Having an area of 381 sq km, the Isle of Wight is composed chiefly of cretaceous limestones. It is a hilly plain with a maximum elevation of 240 m. Economic activity includes fishing and the farming of fruits and vegetables. There are resorts, such as Sandown, on the island. Newport is the county seat.

Isle of Wight

Isle of Wight

Isle of Wight

Wight, Isle of

Wight, Isle of

Isle of Wight

Synonyms for Isle of Wight

noun an isle and county of southern England in the English Channel

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