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Blackgang ChineIsle of Wight |
Old postcards are sometimes poorly produced and grainy, I've done my best to scan them. Please click thumbnails for full size picture. Dates are from the card or my estimate (where possible).
Over the years Blackgang Chine, supposedly named after a smuggling gang, has suffered from a large number of falls, the Chine as it is now is barely recognisable from the cards below. The chine has the same owners as in the 19th century, it has now evolved into a theme park.
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The chine from the beach, no date but probably from about 1900 showing the 'water fall'. |
Blackgang chine from the beach, showing the footpath to the cliff top. This is no longer accessible. From about 1910. (Premier) |
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Blackgang chine, undated. Note the observatory at the top left, the buildings at the foot of the chine and on the left cliff. Buildings can be seen on the opposite cliff, most of which have fallen away. (Dennis) |
Card of Blackgang Chine dated 1944, but probably from the 1930's showing its extent. The house (top right) is long gone. |
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Blackgang Chine from beach 1905. (Wrench) |
A similar view, undated. The buildings at the top of the chine may be seen. (Ideal) |
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Another card from the 1930's, showing the chine from the beach. It is a hand tinted black and white card |
A later picture, probably from the 60's. Most of the area shown has now disappeared. Note the gnomes in the foreground. (Dixon) |
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Blackgang Chine illuminated, probably in the 1960's taken from a similar position to that above right. (Nigh) |
The gnome garden, a popular attraction which also raised money for charity. |
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The skeleton of a whale found at Gurnard, reputedly in 1842, was for many years used a bazaar at Blackgang. (Scott) |
The Blackgang Hotel and tea room 1928, long gone. Card appears to have authentic tea stains! (Sweetman for Cotton) |
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The Fragrant Minute was for many years
exhibited at the entrance to Blackgang Chine, and indeed may still be.
Click on card for larger version. (Nigh) |
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The Undercliff Blackgang to Niton
Freshwater | Totland | Alum Bay and the Needles | Yarmouth | Shalfleet | Newtown | Calbourne | Carisbrooke Castle | Newport and Carisbrooke | Cowes and Gurnard | Osborne House | Wootton, Fishbourne and Quarr | Ryde | Seaview | Bembridge | Brading | Sandown | Shanklin | Godshill | Arreton Valley | Ventnor | St Lawrence and the Undercliff | St Catherine's Lighthouse's | Niton | Blackgang Chine | Blackgang and Chale | Brighstone and Shorwell | Mottistone to Compton