Ryde

For other uses, seeRyde (disambiguation).

Rydeis an English seaside town andcivil parishon the north-east coast of theIsle of Wight.The built-up area had a population of 24,096 according to the2021 Census.Its growth as aseaside resortcame after the villages of Upper Ryde and Lower Ryde were merged in the 19th century, as can still be seen in the town's central and seafront architecture. The resort's expansive sands are revealed at low tide. Their width means the regular ferry service to the mainland requires a longlistedpier– the fourth longest in the United Kingdom, and the oldest surviving.

Ryde
Ryde viewed from theSolent
Ryde Location within theIsle of Wight
Population	24,096 (2021 Census)
OS grid reference	SZ591923
Unitary authority	Isle of Wight Council
Ceremonial county	Isle of Wight
Region	South East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	RYDE
Postcode district	PO33
Dialling code	01983
Police	Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Fire	Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Ambulance	Isle of Wight
UK Parliament	Isle of Wight East

History

In 1782 numerous bodies of men, women and children fromHMSRoyal George,which sank suddenly atSpithead,were washed ashore at Ryde. Many were buried on land that is now occupied by the Esplanade. A memorial to them was erected in June 2004.

There are a series of Regency and Victorian buildings in the town with important buildings such as All Saints' Church, designed by the eminent George Gilbert Scott, andRyde Town Hall,which was completed in 1831.Up until the pier was opened in 1814, ferry passengers landing at low tide were brought almost half a mile into the shore by horse and cart.

Governance

Ryde Town Hall

Ryde Town Council represents the residents of Ryde. Ryde Town Council is a statutory consultee in planning matters regarding Ryde. Their views are taken into account by the local planning authority, Isle of Wight Council.

Ryde residents are represented by Ward Councillors on the Isle of Wight Council.

Transport

Hovercraft leaving Ryde

There is ahovercraftservice to Southsea, which takes nine minutes. It is operated byHovertravelnear the Esplanade close toRyde Esplanade railway stationand the bus station. Acatamaranservice run byWightlinkoperates from Ryde Pier toPortsmouth Harbour,which connects with bothIsland Linetrains and mainland trains toLondon Waterloo.

The Island Line Trains service runs fromRyde Pier Headvia Ryde Esplanade toShanklin,a distance of 8.5 miles (14 km).Ryde St John's Road railway stationlies further south in the town.

Thebus interchangelies between Ryde Pier and the Hover Terminal on the Esplanade. Ryde is the second busiest stop in theSouthern Vectisnetwork afterNewport.The busiest route is No. 9 to Newport, running every 10 minutes in the daytime. Others include Nos 2, 3, 4 and 8 and local route 37.An open-top bus service,The Downs Tour,runs in the summer.

Amenities

Ryde Pier seen from Ryde

Union St

The town's large and long esplanade area has always been an attraction for tourists, especially those day-tripping from the mainland, as the amenities are all available by walking from the pier. A swimming pool, bowls club, bowling alley, and boating lake are among the attractions, and there are various children's playgrounds, amusement arcades and cafés.

Ryde has few large public open spaces beyond the esplanade, but areas for public recreation include Appley Park, Puckpool Park, Vernon Square, Simeon Street Recreation Ground, St John's Park, St Thomas' churchyard, Salter Road recreation ground, and Oakfield Football Club.

At one time Ryde had two separate piers; the other being the Victoria Pier, no longer in existence. Ryde has its owninshore rescueservice, which mostly deals with people stranded on sandbanks as the incoming tide cuts them off from the shore. The pier is also a feature on the 67-mile (108 km)Isle of Wight Coastal Path,which is marked with blue signs bearing a white seagull.

Ryde has a small marina located to the east of Ryde Pier. It is tidal and dries out at low water, hence it is more suitable for smaller sailing (bilge keel) and motor cruisers. It has provision for up to 200 boats, either on floating pontoons or leaning against the harbour wall. It has a full-timeharbour master,who posts information outside the harbour office, including weather reports, tide times, cruise-liner movements and anniversary events.

The town centre is on a hill, with local shops and chain retailers.

Buildings

See also:List of current places of worship on the Isle of Wight

All Saints' Church

The twin church spires visible from the sea belong toAll Saints'(the taller) andHoly Trinitychurches.All Saints' Churchis located in Queens Road on a road junction known asFive Ways.It was designed byGeorge Gilbert Scottand completed in 1872. The spire is 177 feet (54 m) tall.Holy Trinity Churchis in Dover Street. It was designed by Thomas Hellyer and completed in 1845. Holy Trinity Church closed in January 2014 and the building became the Aspire Ryde community centre.

St James'is a furtherChurch of Englandchurch in the centre of Ryde, on Lind Street. It was constructed in 1827 as aproprietary chapeland continues to be active, with services at 10:30am and 6:30pm each Sunday and a range of youth and mid-week groups.

The town'sRoman Catholicchurch, St Mary's in High Street, was built in 1846 at a cost of £18,000, provided by Elizabeth, Countess of Clare. It was designed byJoseph Hansom,inventor of thehansom cab.Other churches include the AnglicanSt James ChurchandSt. Michael and All Angels, Swanmore.There are also Baptist, Methodist, United Reformed and Elim churches in the town.

Ryde Castle

Ryde Castle, situated on the Esplanade, was built about 1840 as a private house increnellatedstyle and is now a hotel. It was heavily damaged by a fire in 2012 and underwent major restoration in 2013.

Beldornie Tower on Augusta Road was at one point a property of theEarl of Yarborough.Dating back to the 16th or early 17th century, the house was virtually rebuilt about 1840 in Gothic-Jacobean style. A west wing was added in 1880.

Ryde School With Upper Chinestands oppositeAll Saints' Church.The chief building, Westmont, is Grade II listed.

Entertainment

Sited on the Esplanade are an ice rink and a pavilion. The former is no longer open to the public, and the Isle of Wight's ice-hockey team, theWightlink Raiders,has disbanded. The pavilion houses a bowling alley and night club.

The town's local football team, for many yearsRyde Sports F.C.,has given way to Ryde Saints F.C. and Ryde F.C.

Speedway is staged just south of the town atSmallbrook Stadium.The Isle of Wight Islanders started as members of the Conference League before moving up to the Premier League.

Carnivals

Ryde has five carnivals in a typical year: the Mardi Gras in June (known as the Arts Parade from 2003 to 2012),Children's, Main and Illuminated processions at the end of August, and a Lantern Parade in December. The Carnival at Ryde is England's oldest.

Notable residents

In alphabetical order:

• Raymond Allen(1940–2022), a TV screenwriter (Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em), attended Ryde Secondary Modern School.
• Iris Brooke(1905–1981), artist and author, was born in Ryde.
• Sam Browne(1824–1901), the soldier after whom the belt was named, lived the last years of his life in a house called Argosy in East Hill Road.
• Sir Charles Clifford, 4th Baronet(1821–1895), barrister andLiberalmember of Parliament, lived at Westfield House.
• Seb Clover(born 1987), sailor, was educated atRyde School with Upper Chine.
• Melvyn Hayes(born 1935), actor, currently lives in Ryde.
• Cornelius Jabez Hughes(1819–1884), a Victorian photographer and daguerreotypist, worked and died in Ryde.
• William Hutt(1801–1882), a colonial administrator, was educated in Ryde and resided atAppley Towers.
• David Icke(born 1952), conspiracy theorist, broadcaster and author, lives in Ryde.
• Mark King(born 1958), aLevel 42musician originally fromGurnard,opened a pub in Union Street in the 1980s.
• Sir Charles Locock(1799–1875), obstetrician toQueen Victoria
• F. G. Loring(1869–1951), writer and naval officer, was born in Ryde.
• Karl Marx(1818–1883) and his wifeJenny Marx(1814–1881) visited Ryde for health reasons in the summer of 1874, staying in Nelson Street.
• Anthony Minghella(1954–2008),Hollywooddirector, was born in Ryde.
• Nicholas Morrill(born 1957), cricketer, was born in Ryde.
• Philip Norman(born 1943), writer, attendedRyde Schooland has written of his childhood in the town.
• Adam Pacitti(born 1988), internet personality, grew up in Ryde.
• Kieran Page(born 1983), professional road and track cyclist
• A. C. Pigou(1877–1959), economist, was born in Ryde.
• Albert Pollard(1869–1948), historian, was born in Ryde.
• Michael Sheard(1938–2005), actor (Mr Bronson inGrange Hill;Star Wars), lived in Ryde and died there.
• Walter Toogood(1874–1914), a professional golfer, was born in Ryde.
• M. J. Trow(born 1949), military historian and detective fiction writer, taught history and politics at Ryde High School.
• Edward Vernon Utterson(1775/1776–1856), lawyer and one of theSix ClerksinChancery,literaryantiquary,collector andeditor,moved in 1840 from Newport to Beldornie Tower, Pelham Field, Ryde, and set up the Beldornie Press there. Has a memorial tablet in St Thomas's Church.
• Sarah Elizabeth Utterson(1781–1851), translator and author, moved in 1840 from Newport to Beldornie Tower, Pelham Field, Ryde. Has a memorial tablet in St Thomas's Church.

Gallery

• 
  Ryde from the air
• 
  Map of Ryde from 1945
• 
  Ryde, seen fromRyde Pierand showing the twin spires
• 
  Ryde Marina

See also

• Ryde Lifeboat Station

External links

• "Ryde".Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 23 (11th ed.). 1911.
• Ryde Social Heritage Group
• Pictures of old Ryde
• Ryde Old Postcards
• Historic Ryde Society
• Ryde Guide and Video