View of Brighstone from Limerstone Down, looking south-west, with the English Channel in the distanceBrighstone village
Brighstone is a village and civil parish[3] on the Isle of Wight, 6 miles southwest of Newport on the B3399 road. Brighstone was previously known as "Brixton". The name derives from the Saxon name "Ecgbert's Tun".
Brighstone is the largest village in the area locally known as the Back of the Wight[4] and extends toward Limerstone and Mottistone.
In Roman times a villa was built to the north, to take advantage of the clean waters of the Buddle Brook.[5]
History
Brighstone history dates back to the 9th century when it was given to the Bishopric of Winchester by King Egbert.
St. Mary's Church, Brighstone is a venerable old church that has stood for more than eight centuries. The village also features Brighstone Shop and Museum, owned by the National Trust, displaying exhibitions on village life in the 19th century and contains a wealth of information about the Brighstone lifeboats.[6]
In 2021 a newly-identified species of dinosaur was named Brighstoneus simmondsi to reflect that its fossilised remains had been discovered at a nearby excavation site;[7][8] it was discovered alongside another dinosaur, Neovenator salerii in 1978.
Today
Brighstone is popular with tourists for its thatched cottages and local shops. Several large events are hosted in the village each year, including the Brighstone Show, Art exhibitions and the Brighstone Christmas Tree Festival. The local scout hut functions as a Youth Hostel during the summer.[9]
Notable residents
The village pub is called The Three Bishops, named after three rectors of Brighstone parish who went on to become famous bishops.[10] The first was the 17th-century Bishop Ken who wrote the famous hymns "Awake my soul and with the sun" and "Glory to Thee my God this night". Bishop Samuel Wilberforce became rector in 1830, and used to entertain his father, anti-slavery campaigner William Wilberforce. Wilberforce Road is named after him, and Brighstone's village hall is called the Wilberforce Hall. The third bishop, Doctor George Moberly, was headmaster of Winchester College before becoming rector of Brighstone in 1866 and bishop of Salisbury a few years later.
Another notable person who lived in the village in the 19th century was the clergyman and amateur palaeontologist William Fox, who discovered several species of dinosaur in Brighstone Bay.
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