Wootton Bridge

infobox UK place
country = England
map_type = Isle of Wight
official_name= Wootton Bridge
latitude= 50.7263
longitude= -1.2321
population = 3,618cite web|url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do;jessionid=ac1f930cce6b7851a04995942a0830f8cea84387bd7?a=7&b=791881&c=PO33+4QU&d=16&e=15&g=412973&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1220465406074&enc=1&a=7&b=791881&c=PO33+4QU&d=16&e=15&g=412973&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779&nsjs=true&nsck=true&nssvg=false&nswid=1003|title=Office for National statistics - Wootton Bridge|publisher=www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk|accessdate=2007-05-20]
unitary_england= Isle of Wight
lieutenancy_england= Isle of Wight
region= South East England
constituency_westminster= Isle of Wight
post_town= Ryde
postcode_district = PO33
postcode_area= PO
dial_code= 01983
os_grid_reference= SZ542921

Wootton Bridge is a village and civil parishcite web | year = 2004 | url = http://www.statistics.gov.uk/geography/geographic_area_listings/downloads/EnglishParishes&WelshCommunities_N&C_2004.xls | title = English Parishes and Welsh communities N&C 2004 | publisher = www.statistics.gov.uk | accessdate = 2007-05-03] with about 4000 residents on the western bank of Wootton Creek on the Isle of Wight in southern England.

Wootton Bridge was established as a separate village based at the crossing-point of the creek, but it has now merged with the village of Wootton on the eastern bank of Wootton Creek. The two villages have grown together and are currently one settlement which is often referred to as simply 'Wootton'. However, the "official" name for this community is 'Wootton Bridge'.cite web|url=http://www.woottonbridgeiow.co.uk/History/Wootton.htm|title=Wootton Bridge Historical - Wootton|publisher=www.woottonbridgeiow.co.uk|accessdate=2008-10-02] Wootton Bridge is found midway between the towns of Ryde and Newport, which are 7 miles apart.

In 1969, 100,000 people visited Woodside Bay at Wootton Bridge for the largest pop concert to that date, the Isle of Wight Festival. Bob Dylan was the main act that was featured at the concert.cite web|url=http://www.isleofwightfestival.com/isle-of-wight-festival-1969.aspx|title=Isle of Wight Festival History - 1969|publisher=www.isleofwightfestival.com|accessdate=2008-09-03]

Southern Vectis bus routes 4 and 9 link the village with the towns of Newport, Ryde and East Cowes, including intermediate towns.cite web | year = 2008 | url = http://www.islandbuses.info/r4.shtml | title = Southern Vectis bus route 4 | publisher = www.islandbuses.info | accessdate = 2008-05-04] cite web | year = 2008 | url = http://www.islandbuses.info/r9.shtml | title = Southern Vectis bus route 9 | publisher = www.islandbuses.info | accessdate = 2008-05-04]

Wootton Creek and the bridge

There is a millpond on Wootton Creek formed by a sluice gate in the eponymous bridge. At one time there was a second sluice gate in the bridge that would use the tidal water from the millpond to power a mill grinding flour. The mill was demolished in 1962 to make room for more houses.cite web|url=http://www.wightstay.co.uk/context/wootton.html|title=Netguide to Wootton on the Isle of Wight|publisher=www.wightstay.co.uk|accessdate=2008-09-05]

The pond is part of a Special Area of Conservation and is important for wildfowl and for bats. The heron has been adopted as the symbol of the village.cite web|url=http://www.woottonbridge.com/|title=Wootton Bridge - Homepage|publisher=www.woottonbridge.com|accessdate=2008-09-05] Firestone Copse is a Forestry Commission woodland open to the public which is situated on the edge of the pond.cite web|url=http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/recreation.nsf/LUWebDocsByKey/EnglandIsleofWightTheForestsoftheIsleofWightFirestoneCopse|title=Forestry Commission - The Forests of the Isle of Wight - Firestone Copse|publisher=www.forestry.gov.uk|accessdate=2008-09-05]

Features

The village has a station which is the western terminus of the Isle of Wight Steam Railway.cite web|url=http://www.iwsteamrailway.co.uk/|title=Isle of Wight Steam Railway - A Journey Along the Line|publisher=www.iwsteamrailway.co.uk|accessdate=2008-09-05]

St. Edmund's Parish Church in Wootton Bridge dates from the 11th century.cite web|url=http://www.wightchurches.co.uk/edmonds/page2.html|title=St Edmund's Parish Church, Wootton - History|publisher=www.wightchurches.co.uk|accessdate=2008-09-03] The Sloop Inn in Mill Square is another prominent building in Wootton Bridge. The Sloop Inn is about 150 years old.cite web|url=http://www.vintageinn.co.uk/thesloopinnwootonbridge/|title=The Sloop Inn - Wootton Bridge|publisher=www.vintageinn.co.uk|accessdate=2008-09-03]

Notable residents

Victorian admiral Sir John Baird, who died in 1908, is buried in the churchyard in Wootton Bridge.

References

External links

* [http://www.woottonbridgeiow.co.uk/history/ Official history website for Wootton Bridge]
* [http://www.woottonbridge.com/ Official Wootton Bridge parish council website]