The Bembridge / Bembridge Harbour area
Bembridge is a village and civil parish located on the easternmost point of the Isle of Wight. It had a population of 3,848 according to the 2001 census of the United Kingdom,leading to claims by residents that Bembridge is the largest village in England and occasional claims that it is the largest village in Europe. Bembridge is home to many of the Island's wealthiest residents
Bembridge sits at the extreme eastern point of the Isle of Wight. Prior to land reclamation the area of Bembridge and Yaverland was an island unto itself, separated from the remainder of the Isle of Wight by Brading Haven. Prior to the Victorian era Bembridge was a collection of wooden huts and farmhouses, which only consolidated into a true village with the building of the church in 1827 (later rebuilt in 1846). The historical heart of the village is located close to the church in the North of the village, consisting of a number of shops, pubs and restaurants, along with the Village Hall and site of the former Parish Council hall.
The Lane End district is located to the South of the village. It is largely composed of modern bungalows and a small shopping area which includes a Co-Op store. The lane comes to an end at the beach, where Bembridge Lifeboat station and the Bembridge Coast Hotel are situated. Formerly many of the bungalows were on the land of a cottage where Cecily Cardew lived,[citation needed] after whom an Oscar Wilde character was named.
Moving inland from Lane End one finds Forelands middle and Bembridge primary schools, along with the local community centre, all of which are connected by a large recreational playing field. At the other end of the vilage is the Windmill the only remaining windmill on the Isle of Wight, is located to the west of the village. Dating from around 1700, it is a National Trust property generally open from April to October
Great for:
Walking holidays
Rural / countryside retreats
Beach or lakeside relaxation
A winter sun break
Cycling holidays
Water-sports
Horse Riding
Golf less than 15 mins walk
Fishing
