Given the confusion in the media about the history of Ryde Castle after the fire, VB has gone to the people who know – the Historic Ryde Society.
They’ve kindly allowed us to run this brief history of the building (below).
No connection to Henry VIII
We asked Diana Wood, one of the Founding Members of the Society, what the connection the building had to Henry VIII, which has been quoted by media around the world as the original builder of it, she said “None. I’m not sure where that’s coming from. The only thing there before 1833 was sand!”
We hope to bring you more details after Diana has managed to find an alternative venue for their regular meetings – They met at the Ryde Castle.
Ryde Castle: A Brief History
Ryde Castle was begun in 1833 by J Dashwood, as a private residence.
For sixty years, only the central part of the building existed, and entry was via the impressive gateway still in existence on Dover Street. Just inside this gateway was a complete turning circle for carriages.
The Duver
This was the first building to be erected on what was known as The Duver, an area of sand dunes which stretched along the seafront. At the time, what is now Dover Street was known as Wellington Street, which can be seen from an 1833 map in Sheridan’s Guide to the Isle of Wight. The name was changed from Wellington Street within the next couple of years.
The houses to the East of Ryde Castle were mostly built from 1843 onwards, and Ryde Esplanade was laid out in 1855/56.
Red Cross Hospital in WWI
In 1895, the then owner of Ryde Castle, Colonel Cradock, extended the house to include a large dining room, 30 feet by 20 feet. During WWI, he allowed Ryde Castle to be used as a Red Cross Hospital, and casuality lists were released in the local press.
Around 1930, Ryde Castle became a hotel. One of the bars later became known as The Hunter’s Den.
You can read more about Ryde history on the Historic Ryde Society Website.
Image: Wootton Bridge Historical
