Gatcombe   Contents

Kelly's Directory 1886 - Gatcombe

"Gatcombe is a parish and small village, in West Medina liberty and rural deanery, Isle of Wight archdeaconry and diocese of Winchester, 3.5 miles south-south-west from Newport, situated on the Medina river. The church of St. Olave is an ancient edifice of stone in the Norman style, having chancel, nave and square tower containing 3 bells; the chancel has been entirely rebuilt, the nave has been restored, and the old pews been replaced by open seats of stained deal; the fine old tower arch has been opened, and the western window (Perpendicular) in the tower may now be seen from the other end of the church: the east window is stained: the most interesting object in the church is a cross-legged oaken effigy of a knight in complete armour, lying on his right side, and his feet supported by a rude, curiously-carved animal: at the head a cherub with outstretched wings - it is supposed to represent"St Rhadegund", who was the patron saint of the church. The register dates from the year 1560. The living is a rectory, yearly value £647, with residence, in the gift of the University of Oxford, in trust for St. Edmund Hall; the Rev. Edward Moore D.D., principal of St. Edmund Hall, has held the rectory since 1864, and the Rev. Charles Edward Wilkinson B.A. St. John's College, Cambridge, is the officiating curate. Near the church is Gatcombe House, the property of Charles Seely esq. M.P., D.L., J.P.; the park contains some fine trees of luxuriant growth: it is wholly screened from the south-west winds by a lofty hill, at the foot of which it stands, clothed with hanging groves, which are continued along the steep sides of a valley: near the house is a small lake on the opposite side of which, at Gatcombe Hill, is the parsonage. Charles Seely esq. M.P., D.L., J.P. is lord of the manor and sole landowner. The soil is loam; subsoil chalk and freestone. The chief crops are wheat, barley &c. The area is 1,398 acres; rateable value, £2,090; the population in 1881 was 228." (From Kelly's Directory of the Isle of Wight, 1886)