Chillerton and Gatcombe Parish Council – Isle of Wight
Statement from Buckingham Palace
Both my wife and I are enormously grateful to all the communities, families, neighbours and friends who are coming together across the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth to mark our Coronation.
We greatly appreciate everyone’s efforts to organise such celebrations, and very much hope that they will be enjoyable and happy occasions.
As we look towards the future, we feel deeply touched and sustained by the heartfelt good wishes and support of so many kind people around the country.
CHARLES R. CAMILLA R.
The coronation is to be screened live in The Gallybagger in Chillerton from 10am (Sat 6th May). On the following day (Sun 7th May) St Olave’s church is organising a street party in Gatcombe and the CGCA is organising a (ticketed) Tea at The Gallybagger.
We hope that the information contained in these pages will be useful to Gatcombe and Chillerton residents and will illustrate the work and workings of the Parish Council. We hope it will also be of interest to people who may have links with the villages.
This rural Parish comprises the villages of Gatcombe and Chillerton and lies 3.5 miles southwest of Newport. It contains two hundred dwellings ranging from Gatcombe House (former home of Charles Seeley, M.P. for the Isle of Wight in the nineteenth century) to the development of brand new, sympathetically designed houses via traditional stone and picturesque thatched cottages.
There is a primary school in Chillerton.
Within the parish there are approximately 25 miles of footpaths, bridleways and greenways, offering peaceful and tranquil walks and some spectacular views.
The pretty Parish Church of St Olave’s is one of the island’s oldest churches. It was completed c. 1292 and the tower was added in the fifteenth century. Burnt and scarred timbers from HMS Thunderer, which served in the Battle of Trafalgar, can be found in the porch. The Chancel windows are the work of William Morris and his Pre-Raphaelite Group.
The Isle of Wight Foxhounds have been kennelled at Gatcombe since 1927.
Dominating Chillerton is the mast which can be seen from most parts of the island. At a height of 750 feet (and built on a site 550 feet above sea level) it was opened in August 1958 and used to transmit TV signals to the south and southeast coastal areas of England. Although no longer used for this purpose, it does still transmit radio signals, including IW Radio and is also now used by NTL for transmitting mobile phone signals.
Chillerton Down is a popular site for hang gliding and paragliding.