Godshill

Name

The name means 'the hill associated with a Christian or heathen god' from Old English god and hyll. It could also mean a pagan god, as the hill the church was built on was a site for pagan worship. However, even if it is associated with a Christian god, it could still be implying that it was used for pagan worship, and then transferred to Christian.

1142-1147: Godeshul

~1145: Godeshelle

1183: Godeshull

1255: Godeshille

1311: Goddeshulle

1449: Godyshille

History

Ford Farm near Godshill was the site of the first Isle of Wight Festival in 1968, which attracted 10,000 people to see acts such as Jefferson Airplane and Arthur Brown.

Godshill Park House dates from about 1760 and was built as a home farm to serve the Appuldurcombe Estate. In around 1860 the house was extended, adding the Regency front, and became a private residence. It was used in the Second World War as an army hospital.

Today

Godshill is a much-visited tourism destination on the Isle of Wight. The village has thatched cottages and All Saints Church on the hill. There are tea rooms, gift shops and two pubs: the "Griffin", with a griffin-shaped maze and children's playground, and "The Taverners".

Public transport is provided by Southern Vectis buses, routes 2 and 3.

Governance

Godshill is part of the electoral ward of Central Rural, previously Godshill and Wroxall. The population of the previous ward at the 2011 Census was 3,212.

Godshill Model Village

Since 1952, Godshill has been the home of a model village portraying itself and Shanklin's old village at a scale of 1:10. It is so detailed and on such a large scale that it contains a scale model of the model village. Within that second model there is a third, even smaller model of the village. The site is also an RHS Partner Garden showcasing around 2,000 conifers and shrubs. Many are coarse bonsai-treated trees, to retain scale with the models.

All Saints' Church

Main article: All Saints' Church, Godshill

The parish church is a medieval building noted for its medieval wall painting of a Lily crucifix, and a stained-glass window by William Morris.

References

References

1. [https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/query/construct/submit.asp?forward=yes&menuopt=201&subcomp= Office of National Statistics: QS102EW - Population density] retrieved 30 May 2017
2. "Civil Parish population 2011". Office for National Statistics.
3. (2004). "English Parishes and Welsh communities N&C 2004". www.statistics.gov.uk.
4. "Civil Parish population 2011".
5. "Pictures of England - Location map of Godshill". www.picturesofengland.com.
6. Mills, A.D. (1996). "The Place-Names of The Isle of Wight". [[Shaun Tyas]].
7. "Isle of Wight Festival History - 1968". www.isleofwightfestvial.com.
8. "Isle of Wight Tourist Guide - The Griffin in Godshill". www.isleofwighttouristguide.com.
9. "Godshill and Wroxall ward population 2011".
10. "Isle of Wight Attractions - The Model Village, Godshill". www.iowight.com.