Ride, about eight miles east from Newport, is a very pleasant village, situated one part on a rising ground, about a quarter of a mile from the other, which lies close to the edge of the sea. It is directly opposite to Portsmouth, and has the finest view of Spit head possible; of course the royal navy may be seen here with the most pleasing effect.

This village, which is divided into Upper and Lower, is of some extent. In the vicinity are a number of pretty houses, which are inhabited in the summer season by respectable families. Boats are continually passing to and from Portsmouth, a distance of about seven miles.

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RYDE is a large and handsome seaside town, municipal borough, railway station, and a parish, 7 miles east-north-east from Newport, 5 south-by-west from Portsmouth, in the rural deanery of East Wight, archdeaconry of the Isle of Wight and diocese of Winchester, and is beautifully situated, rising from the shores of the Solent, up the slope of a hill, from which Spithead, Portsmouth, Stokes Bay, and the Mother Bank are readily seen. Ryde, considered as a town, is wholly of modern date; a hundred years ago it was a small village, but the beauty of its position has caused it to become a fashionable watering place, and elegant villas and noble mansions have been built; the hilly nature of the site give many advantages of appearance and aspect, and the principal streets are open and well paved and regularly arranged, most of them crossing each other nearly at right angles: several of the best streets run parallel to each other in almost a direct line to the beach, and from their elevated position one above the other afford an admirable sea-view.

There is an extensive esplanade, affording a carriage drive of nearly a mile in front of the sea and a foot-path extending to Sea View, 3 miles east, where there is good bathing on fine sands.

Along the esplanade are fine gardens and numerous seats, many of which are covered.

The pier, which forms a pleasant promenade, is a structure of timber, extending from the Quay to low-water mark-a distance of nearly half-a-mile: it was opened in 1814, but has since received repeated additions amounting in all to no less than 1,000 feet: in 1864 a tramway with a double line of rails was laid down for the whole length; in 1886 horses were dispensed with and electricity substituted, and the entire line is now (1898) being reconstructed. The works, carried out by the joint railway companies, the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway Company, the London and South Western Railway Company, the Isle of Wight Railway Company and the Ryde, Newport and Cowes Railway Company, enable the traveller to step direct from the trains into the boats at Stokes Bay, Portsmouth and Ryde: at Ryde this involved a pier half-a-mile long, by the side of the existing pier, and a tunnel under part of the town: owing to the depth of the silt deposit under the pier and the treacherous nature of the soil, through which the tunnel had to be driven, this undertaking was attended with great difficulties, which, however, were successfully overcome by the engineers of the companies and their representative on the works, Mr. Ernest Benedict M.I.C.E.

From the railway stations, at the foot of the pier and in St. John’s road, the railway passes by Brading, Sandown and Shanklin to Ventnor, and a branch was opened on February 1st, 1875, from Sandown to Newport; there is also a third line from Ryde to Newport direct, and thence to Cowes, and a fourth line from Brading to St. Helens and Bembridge.

Steamboats ply between this place and Portsmouth, Southsea, Port sea and Stokes Bay every hour in, the day during the summer months, and from eight to ten times a day in the winter; there are also boats to Cowes and Southampton, and occasional excursions are made entirely round the island.

The municipal borough was incorporated in 1868, and comprises most of the parish of Ryde, and a small portion of St. Helen’s parish, and is divided into east and west wards: the corporation consists of a mayor, six aldermen and eighteen councillors. The borough has a commission of the peace. The police are under the control of the Corporation.

The town is lighted with gas and paved, under an Act of Parliament obtained in 1829: this Act was amended in 1847, and the jurisdiction of the roads within the town transferred from the Commissioners of Highways to the Ryde Commissioners; the Act was again amended in 1854, the purpose of conferring extended sanitary powers, including a supply of water, and for making the Commissioners an elective instead of a non-elective body: an additional Act was obtained in 1861 for the purpose of securing a further supply of water: the town and neighbourhood are now supplied with a constant service of water obtained from Knighton, near Newchurch and Ashey. The two reservoirs have a capacity of 500,000 and 600,000 gallons respectively.

Ryde was formed into a separate parish in 1866; it formerly was attached to Newchurch, the parish church of which is about 7 miles from Ryde, but was separated by the Act 29 & 30 Vict. cap. cxi.

The parish church of All Saints, in the Queen’s road, was erected in 1870, at a cost of about £18,000, from the designs of the late Sir G. G. Scott R.A.: it is a magnificent building of stone in the Geometrical Early English style, consisting of chancel with north chapel, nave of six bays, aisles, north porch and a lofty tower on the north side, with arcaded pinnacles, and an octagonal spire relieved by dormer lights, and containing 8 bells: the fine north porch is flanked by buttresses with canopied niches, containing figures of SS. John and Andrew: in the gable is a cusped recess, inclosing a sitting figure of Our Lord; arcaded turrets rise above the buttresses, and on either side of the porch are three stained windows, with the arms, monogram and motto of H.R.H, the Prince Consort, erected by members of the Royal Victoria Yacht Club in 1872: the west front has arcaded pinnacles between the gables; the east and west windows and nine others are stained: an open parapet runs round the entire structure: the fine reredos, of alabaster and marbles, consists of three divisions, surrounded by a banding relieved with bosses: the church contains sittings for about 1,500, all of which are free. A large and commodious vestry was added in 1891. The chapel of the Good Shepherd was set apart for the convenience of the congregation at daily matins and evensong in 1894. The register dates from the year 1719. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £162, with residence, in the gift of the Bishop of Winchester, and held since 1892 by the Rev. John Shearme M.A. of Pembroke College, Oxford. The population in 1891 was 7,086.

The church of St. Thomas, in St. Thomas street, is a chapel of ease to the parish church, and was built by the Player family, to whom the building, although consecrated, belongs, and whose arms appear on the west front: it is an edifice of stone in a poor Perpendicular style, consisting of chancel and nave under a single roof, aisles and an embattled western engaged tower with octagonal spire, containing a clock: the church is overgrown with ivy: it contains 1,000 sittings, of which 100 are free. The Rev. Charles Rhodes Hall Assoc. of Kings College, London, has been curate in charge since 1898.

Holy Trinity is an ecclesiastical parish, formed in 1840. The church, in Dover street, occupying a commanding elevation, is a building of stone in the Early English style, erected in 1845 at a cost of about £7,200, consisting of chancel, nave of six bays, aisles, transepts, south porch and a western tower, with pinnacles and a spire rising to a height of 150 feet: the south transept was added in 1848, the north in 1860: in 1886 the church was thoroughly restored, the floor of the chance! raised and tiled, and oaken benches provided for the choir at a cost of £800: an oaken reredos was erected in 1888 by Robert Richardson esq. as a memorial to his sister and niece. The font of carved stone bears a Latin inscription by the Rev. John Keble, which states that the font was a thank offering by the Yard family for the preservation of Major Yard from diowning whilst rescuing a companion. There are several stained windows and 1,050 sittings, 500 being free. The register dates from the year 1846. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £227, derived from pew rents and fees, in, the gift of the vicar of Ryde, and held since 1893 by the Rev. William Mouat Cameron M.A. of Corpus Christi college, Oxford. The area is 137 acres; the population in 1891 was 3,401.

St. James’ church, Lind street, was erected in 1829 at a cost of about £6,000, as an Episcopal proprietary chapel: it is a low embattled structure of stone in a debased Gothic style, and consists of chancel, nave of six bays and aisles: the west front is ornamented with octagonal embattled turrets, and has a bell turret with clock: the east window is stained: there are about 1,100 sittings, 300 of which are free. The register dates from the year The living is a perpetual curacy, net yearly value £300, derived from offertories and pew rents, in the gift of and held since 1865 by the Rev. William Henry Redknap.

The Catholic church, dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and situated at the top of High street, was erected in 1845 at the sola cost of Elizabeth Julia Georgiana, Countess of Clare (d. 30 April, 1879), and is an edifice in the Lancet style, consisting of chancel, nave, aisles, baptistery, side chapel, north porch, and open turret with spire containing 4 bells: over the altar is a fine picture of the Crucifixion, with St. Mary and St. John, copied from an original in the Sistine chapel at Rome: it also contains a highly finished picture of the Annunciation; there is a stained trefoiled window memorial to Lady Glare (1881), and two other stained windows: the church was enlarged and the north porch added in 1883: here are 250 sittings: attached to the church is a presbytery. The Right Rev. Monsignor Provost John Baptist Cahill B.A. (Lond.), Vicar-General is priest: in 1893 the Lady Chapel was constructed and in 1898 the chapel of the Sacred Heart was completed.

The Congregational church, in George street, erected in 1871, is a singular gabled edifice of Swanage stone, with Bath stone dressings, in the Geometrical Decorated style, and has a square tower diminishing upwards into an octagon and terminating in an arcaded turret with spire. There are other smaller Congregational chapels at Upton road, Week’s road and Green lane.

Christ Church Baptist chapel, also in George street, and erected in 1862, is a building of red and white brick in the Early English style, and has a turret with spire, and will seat about 600 persons; there is a good schoolroom at the back of the building.

Park road Baptist chapel was erected in 1870 at a cost of about £1,000, and will seat about 500 persons: underneath the chapel is a large room used for school, lectures and other purposes.

The Primitive Methodist chapel, Star street, was built in 1841, and enlarged in 1860, and will seat about 250 persons.

The Wesleyan chapel, in Garfield road, is a building of brick, erected in 1884—5, in a debased Italian style; the front gable is flanked by small turrets, and has a large Geometrical window, and a double entrance porch; on either side are wings with staircases.

The Free Wesleyans have a chapel in William street, Swanmore, which was erected in 1836; it will seat about 150 persons.

The Evangelical Protestant chapel, Newport street, is a red brick building with Bath stone dressings, erected in 1893 by Edward Crossley esq, of Halifax, and will seat 200.

The Bible Christians’ chapel, erected in 1860 in Newport street, is a simple structure of white brick in the Classic style, and will seat about 400 persons: there; is a minister's residence adjoining.

The Salvation Army Barracks, erected in 1888 in Gieen street, will seat 450 persons.

The Brethren make use of the Town Hall.

A cemetery, in West street, formed at a cost of £8,000, was consecrated in 1842, and has two mortuary chapels, and now comprises 10 acres: it is under the control of the Corporation, acting as the burial board.

The Market House and Town Hall is a substantial building of stone in the classic style, the foundation stone of which was laid in 1830 by John Lind esq.: the basement is rusticated, and the structure has a projecting colonnaded entrance with Ionic pilasters, pediment and balustrading: above is a square clock tower with an open turret, surrounded by Corinthian pillars, and finished with a cupola and vane. An organ was erected in July, 1898, as a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Memorial. The Royal Victoria Arcade contains 14 shops and a spacious room for the exhibition of works of art.

The Royal Victoria Yacht Club House, in St. Thomas’ street on the west side of the pier, contains a noble suite of rooms: the first stone was laid by H.R.H, the Prince Consort on March 2nd, 1846, and in 1864 the club house was enlarged and much improved: the club regatta is held in the month of August, the town regatta also taking place during the club regatta week.

The museum of the formerly existing Philosophical and Scientific Society is now placed in the rooms of the School of Art.

Ryde Young Men’s Christian Association and Literary Institute, in Lind street, erected at a cost of about £2,000, consists of a suite of rooms comprising lecture hall, reading room, reference and circulating libraries. Public lectures are given during the winter months. The reading room is supplied with the daily, local and religious papers, reviews, and a large number of magazines. The library contains upwards of 10,000 volumes.

The Temperance Hall, in the High street, was built in 1884, and will hold 200 persons.

The Odd Fellows’ Hall, also in the High street, and erected in 1880, is an edifice of brick in the Classic style; the front displays six columns of the Corinthian order, with cornice and pediment, enriched with the arms and supporters of the order.

The Foresters’ Hall, Warwick street, built in 1897—98, at a cost of about £2,500, is of red brick, with stone facings and will hold 600 persons. This hall is also let for meetings, bazaars &c.

The Theatre here is now (1898) only used occasionally by the Ryde Amateur Dramatic Society.

The Vectis Physical Recreation Courts, erected by R. Barrow esq. in 1889 are in Bennett street; the building is 100 feet long by 36 feet wide; one half of the floor is set apart as a racquet court; the other is furnished with every appliance for the exercise of gymnastics. There is a spacious gallery for spectators.

Ryde has several good hotels; among the most conspicuous may be named the Royal Pier Hotel, the York Hotel in George street, the Albany and the Royal Eagle Hotel in Pier street, and the Esplanade Hotel. The lodging houses are very numerous.

The Capital and Counties Bank and the National. Provincial Bank have branches in Union street.

Three newspapers are published in Ryde: ‘ The Isle of Wight Observer, ’ the ‘ Isle of Wight Times, ’ and the ‘ Ryde News ’: all papers give a weekly list of fashionable arrivals, and addresses of the resident families.

The Ryde Dispensary, Swanmore road, was established in 1842, and during the year 1897 there were 453 patients treated here.

The Royal Isle of Wight Infirmary, in Swanmore road, was erected in 1849 at a cost of upwards of £2,000, and is supported by public subscriptions: the Infirmary was enlarged in 1866, and again in 1882 and 1888, and has 54 beds: a children's ward is now (1898) in course of erection: in 1897 the number of in-patients was 467, of out-patients 1,012, and of dental patients 546.

Wilder’s Almshouses, in Newport street, consist of six houses, and were erected in 1854 in memory of Francis Boyle Shannon Wilder esq. by his widow Augusta: the houses are intended for 12 widows or spinsters of the Church of England, who reside here rent free and receive sundry gratuities of coals &c.: the almshouses are under the charge of the vicar and churchwardens of Ryde: there are gardens in front, and over the entrance an impaled shield of arms.

The Almshouses, in Player street, consist of six dwellings, erected in 1891 by Miss Bragstocke, of Stone Pitts, and is under the charge of the vicar and churchwardens of Ryde.

The neighbourhood abounds with objects of interest, including Binstead Quarries and Church, and the ruins of Quarr Abbey.

The area of the parish is 3,812 acres of land and 298 of foreshore; rateable value, £70,565. The population of the borough in 1891; was 10,952, viz.:-East Ward, 5,689; West Ward, 5,263.

St. John’s, Oakfield, was formed into an ecclesiastical parish in 1844 out of St. Helen’s, and is a fashionable suburb of Ryde, within the borough, and adjoining the town on the east. The church of St. John, built in 1843 for a district comprising the north-western portion of the parish of St Helen's, is a cruciform structure of stone, in the Early English style, consisting of nave of 4 bays, south porch and aisles and a western turret containing 2 bells: the church was enlarged in 1831, and has 560 sittings, of which 430 are appropriated and 130 are free. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £120, chiefly derived from pew rents, in the gift of the vicar of St. Helen’s, and held since 1898 by the Rev. Arthur Kingston M.A. of St. Peter’s College, Cambridge. The ancient park of St. John’s is now nearly covered with houses. Appley Towers, the seat of George William Hutt esq. is a handsome building in the Elizabethan style, with lofty tower rising from the centre and a fine clock-tower over the east wing. The principal landowners are George W. Hutt esq. Col. F. Vernon Harcourt, Lieut.-Gen. the Hon. Somerset John Gough Catthorpe and Commander Sebastin Gassiot R.N. The area is 950 acres; the population in 1891 was 2,996.

YEOMANRY CAVALRY

Hampshire (E Troop) (Carabineers), head quarters, West street, Capt. J. E. B. Seeley, commanding.

VOLUNTEERS

Hampshire Regiment, 5th Isle of Wight (Princess Beatrice’s) Volunteer Battalion, Lind street, B Co. Capt. H. Sweetman; A Co. Capt. & Hon. Major J. Ellery, commanding.

PLACES OF WORSHIP, with, times of services.

Ryde Parish Church (All Saints), Queen’s road, Rev. John Shearme M.A. vicar; Rev. C. R. Hall, Rev. H. T. St. John Thrupp M A. & Rev. W. C. G. Sharp B.A. curates; 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.

Holy Trinity Church, Dover street, Rev. William Mouat Cameron M.A. vicar; 8 & 11 a.m.; 3 & 6.30 p.m.; daily, 8 a.m. & 5.30 p.m. except wed. & fri.; wed. 11 a.m. & 8 p.m.; fri. 11 a.m. & 5.30 p.m.

St. Michael & All Angels, Swanmore, Rev. W. F. J. Hanbury M.A. vicar; Rev. H. R. Allen, curate; 7, 8, 10.30 & 11.30 a.m. & 7 p.m.; mon. wed. & fri 7 a.m. & 5.30 p.m.; tues, thurs. & sat. 8 a.m. & 5.30 p.m.

St. Thomas’ Church, St Thomas street, Rev. Charles Rhodes Hall, curate in charge; 11 a.m. & 3 p.m.

St. James’ Church, Lind street, Rev. William Henry Redknap, incumbent; 11 a.m.; 3.15 & 6.30 p.m.; wed. 11.30 a.m. & fri. 8 p.m.

St. John’s, Oakfield, Rev. Arthur Kingston M.A. vicar; 11 a.m. & 3 & 6.30 p.m.

St. Mary's Catholic, High street, the Right Rev. Monsignor Provost John Baptist Cahill B.A.Lond. priest; Rev William T. Cotter, assistant priest; low mass, 8 & high mass, 11 a.m.; vespers, sermon & benediction, 6.30 p.m.; holy days, 7.30 & 9 a.m. & devotions & benediction, 8 p.m.; daily mass, 8 a.m.

Congregational, George street, Rev. Henry Coley, 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; wed. 7.15 p.m.; sat. 8 p.m.

Congregational, Upton road; 10.30 & 6.30; tues. 7 p.m.

Congregational, Week’s road; 11 & 6.30; thurs. 8 p.m.

Congregational, Green lane; 10.30 & 6.30; tues. 7 p.m. Baptist, George street, Rev. E. Bruce Pearson,; 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; thurs. 8 p.m.

Baptist, Park road, Rev. Frederick William Walter; 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; thurs. 7 p.m.

Bible Christian, Newport street, Rev. William Henry May; 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.

Primitive Methodist, Star street, Rev. James Phillips Read; 11 a.m. & 6 30 p.m.; wed. 7.30.

Primitive Methodist, Oakfield; 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.

Catholic Apostolic, Daniel street.

Wesleyan, Garfield road, Rev. Frederick B. Swift; 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; thurs. 7 p.m.

Free Wesleyans, William street, Swanmore; 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.

Salvation Army Barracks, Green street.

Evangelical Protestant, Newport street, Rev. Arthur Andrews; 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; mon. & wed. 7.30 p.m.

SCHOOL BOARD

Formed March 1, 1871—7 members.

Offices, 11 Lind street.

Clerk to the Board, Edgar Hunt, 11 Lind street.

Treasurer, Harold G. Nutt, Capital & Counties Bank.

School Attendance Officer, Robert Fry, Mount street.

SCHOOLS

Ryde School of Art, 37 George street, Francis Newman F.S.I. chairman of council; William Henry Dann B.A. sec.; & William Cox, master.

Board, Bettesworth road, built in 1877, at a cost of £5,900 for 180 boys, 200 girls & 220 infants; average weekly attendance, boys 120, girls 123, infants 157.

Board, St. John’s road, built in 1883, at a cost of £4,700, for 180 boys, 183 girls & 210 infants; average attendance, 147 boys, 100 girls & 215 infants.

Board School, Ashey (mixed), built in 1876, for 75 children; average attendance, 37.

Higher Grade School, for 190 boys; average attendance, 186.

National, Green street established in 1812, with residences for master & mistress, at a cost of about £2,000, for 600 children; average attendance, 120 boys, 99 girls, 87 infants.

Holy Trinity National, Player street, for 280 children; average attendance, 100 boys, 87 girls & 82 infants.

St. John’s, Oakfield, built in 1878, & since enlarged, for 470 children; average attendance, 139 boys, 131 girls & 1100 infants.

St. Mary’s Catholic, High street (mixed), the Sisters of Mercy are the mistresses; built in 1883, for 70 children; average attendance, 47.

WATER CONVEYANCE

Steam Packets to & from Ryde, Portsmouth, Sonthsea, Portsea & Stokes Bay at frequent intervals daily, summer & winter; excursion trips, during summer also to & from Ryde, Cowes & Southampton.