National Gazetteer (1868) - Niton

NITON, (or Neighton), a parish in the liberty of East Medina, Isle of Wight, county Hants, 8½ miles S. of Newport, its post town, and 5 W. of Ventnor. The village, which is of small extent, is situated at the southern extremity of the Isle of Wight, under St. Catherine's Down, and near Blackgang Chine. In this parish is situated St. Catherine's lighthouse, 101 feet in height, completed in 1840. There are three principal roads, that on the N. leading to Newport and the centre of the island, and the others E. and W. There is a mineral spring in the neighbourhood. Charles II., after enduring a severe storm, landed at Puckaster in this parish on the 1st July, 1675. The tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of £368, and the glebe comprises 22 acres.

The living is a rectory* with the vicarage of Godshill and the perpetual curacy of Whitwell annexed, in the diocese of Winchester, joint value £600, in the patronage of Queen's College, Oxford. The church, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, is an ancient freestone structure, with a short spired tower containing two bells. Close to the churchyard are the ruins of an ancient cross, which was once raised upon steps, and had a basin on the top, supposed to have been used as a baptismal font. The Baptists have a place of worship. There is a school, with an endowment of £270.

[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868) - Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003]