blackgang chine abandoned village & landslip exploration

[beingatliberty]

I went several times as a child around 1983 it was a magical place, strange to think thta most of its gone for good, ner to be seen again.

[manicmunkey666]

whatever the first unknown building was someone left the window open

[FoxTechnoMantra]

So Much has Gone Since the early 90s, went there once as a kid b4 it fell Late 80s. I slightly remember. 

[topsamite]

Just visited for the first time on Saturday. Thanks for all the advice and information here, MrW. It was fascinating but getting very risky; a couple of stretches of the established access path from Blackgang are now not much more than a foot from the cliff edge. It was terrifying - I was going "OMG,OMG,OMG,OMG" all the way across. Mrs Topsamite has asked me nicely not to go that way again...

[MrWilliestrokes]

@topsamite ive read your blog on this area and is very informative. as you say it really is a unique part of the country. i agree when you mention the path running very close to the cliff edge. ( the `elf and safety man would have a fit ).my partner will not venture there , so i have to go with my dad . must return as i have not visited it for over a year and one day this will all disappear forever.PS THANKS FOR THE NAME CHECK ON THE BLOG .ALWAYS GOOD FOR THE EGO .

[topsamite]

> will not venture there

Yep: Clare likewise. Pity, because we both like this kind of landscape (we've walked the Lyme Regis and Hooken undercliffs). I have to admit, it was a sufficiently memorable experience - and there's a sufficiently small club of people who've been there - that I'm strongly considering getting a small "TAR AND THE RO" tattoo above my IoW one.

[severnvalleyleafer]

I visited this place back in 1975 when i was a teenager it was brillient, on a organised holiday, revisited back in 1994 with my family only to find it had dissappeared, that was a sad day pathways leading to now where just the veiw of the sea.

[SnappyPenguins]

Really sad to watch this, makes you wonder how long it'll be until the whole village is gone.

[pimlicobrighton]

i wonder what happened to the rose bud expert who lived in the first structure on the right as you enter the estate ? his home was burnt down about 4 years ago but by whom and why ?

also, there was a white stone monument that sat above the drinking fountain , built by thomas lets, in the 1860's ? it was certainly there in the 1990's.. i wonder if that was also stolen ?

[MrWilliestrokes]

@pimlicobrighton i didnt know about the rose expert.this old back road is full of history & interesting characters.the stone monument ( or folly ) built above the fountain i guess was pinched. seen it in lots of old photos from the early 1900`s. go to a web site called " itn archive " then punch in " blackgang isle of wight " it has a couple of video news reports of the 1994 landslides around the undercliff featuring some of these buildings.

[MrJasonrobbie]

been working at southview for 3 months work has now stopped due to all you nice thieves who cant just enjoy your walk but feel the need to steal a working mans tools and any other items that you cant be bothered to work for

[MrWilliestrokes]

@MrJasonrobbie i am and have always been a working man and proud of it.so who are you to insinuate i would consider nicking your kit.it is a golden rule you never pinch a working mans tools etc.

i only look around these sites , its others that might pinch stuff so get your facts straight sunshine.

[alijanlondon]

Additional info: Southview holiday estate was owned by Matt and Dorothy Ross until 1967, they had a daughter called Tanya. They sold it to someone called Bert Rate, he tried to make it more commercialised. He naively looked forward to the road slipping so he could control who came on to the estate. Part of the road slipped in the early 70s trapping his cars, he had his jag airlifted off the estate and there was a BBC south report about it. in the 60s there was a BBC report about the estate.

[MrWilliestrokes]

@alijanlondon thanks for the additional info on southview estate.ive learned something new today.now all i have to do is find those old bbc news reports.thanks again.

[alijanlondon]

You walked into the old Southview Holiday Estate. Used to have holidays there in the 60s. I remember the owner selling in the knowlege that it would probably end up in the sea. But most of it seems to have survived landslips. Loosing the road killed it. I remember little cottages along that road and the owners knew they'd loose them to nature at some stage. Amazed to see Southview House still standing.

[MrWilliestrokes]

@alijanlondon thanks for your memories of southview.i have seen lots of old postcards of the old road,but none of the old houses in their prime.someone out there must have some old cinefilm of the area when the holiday estate was in its heyday.southview house is being done up.getting building materials on site must be a nightmare.

[alijanlondon]

@MrWilliestrokes Well my father took many slides in the 60s. Not sure if he had ones of the cottages by the road. I'll try to look next time I visit him. Knowing my luck, I bet he chucked them all out when he moved. Last time I looked at some of them they were quite faded. In fact I remember that many adults had cameras and were photographing the landscape etc., knowing that it may all fall into the sea, so there must be a many hundreds of photos, but where they are heaven knows.

[alijanlondon]

@alijanlondon also I notice you say southview house is being done up. I wonder how much land the owner owns - probably just the house? It's certainly survived being damaged by fire, years of abandonment and probable abuse by hippies - everyone was convince it would end up in the sea.

[MrWilliestrokes]

@alijanlondon the whole area of the landslip was sold at auction for £30,000 , that includes the old bit of remaining road plus the houses and shacks,toilet block etc.the bidding started at £20,000..this was told to me by a friend who has spoke to the land owner several times on his visits to the landslip area. he dosn`t plan to live in it on a permanent basis.cant see the house will ever be inhabitable what with vandals and squatters etc.

[alijanlondon]

@MrWilliestrokes I assume the owner isn't a 'get off my land' type of person and wouldn't get cross if he came across people following the old road? Some of the hippie squatters thought they had a claim to it and I heard one or two were quite nasty to unsuspecting walkers. By the way the Road led to niton but am not sure when the niton-end slipped away. I'm pretty sure we used to have evening walks down that way to Niton and to the Buddle Inn or go on a lighthouse tour

[andie8989]

I hate nature. How many people must have lost their homes?

[andie8989]

Thjis is so sad :(

[topsamite]

That is brilliant. We visited Blackgang last week; next time we'll give this a try. BTW, your MusicShake track is astonishing and heartrending.

[MrWilliestrokes]

@topsamite thanks for the kind comments , the house at 3 mins 12 secs is privately owned , though it looks derelict , so a number of people have told me. it was bought for £30,000 at auction.when you visit the area you wonder how they get building materials to the site ! directions to this area are listed in the comments to this video below. DON`T GO ALONE FOR OBVIOUS SAFETY REASONS.

[LovableLaura22]

Next time I go i.o.w, I hope to discover this lost village :) Thankyou, this video is really helpful. I'd love to know more about the blackgang lost village, if you have any info feel free to tell me x

[robiow]

Excellent, that's my next weekend planned for me and the woman! Ta very much, was wandering everywhere but around the park!

[robiow]

where is this please :) tried looking today, found the roundabout near merlins and the tank site, but unsure of where the rest of it is

[MrWilliestrokes]

@robiow stand in front of the massive pirate by the entranceof the chine.turn a quarter of a turn left.walk along the road that runs in front of the car park ( you will see a small row of cottage bungalows on your left ) follow road around under the bridge that takes you to rumpus mansion ( you can`t miss it ) keep walking and the road gets thinner then stops at the cliff.where the road ends turn left and follow an unofficial cliff path for 5 minutes . DONT GO ALONE AS IT IS ALL UNSTABLE

[LovableLaura22]

@MrWilliestrokes is it the one that has a gate on the right side of the road saying ' private road, staff only ' ?

[MrWilliestrokes]

@LovableLaura22 hi. it is the road that runs along the bottom of the blackgang car park to the left of the big pirate smuggler as you face the chine entrance.see my other reply on this video ( to robiow ) for full directions

[LovableLaura22]

@MrWilliestrokes ok, i think it is the right road, on the left of the big giant. Is it really dangerous and unstable? and also does it feel rather creepy going into the old town? just wondering, as you have discovered it, and been to it . regards, laura.

[Twinklyist]

And here's me thinking only I was still interested in ths place, it fascinates me and always has, since the 70's .. I love creeping about but getting real dangerous now Great vids :o)

[PhantomDog666]

Wahayyy a namecheck!!! Great pictures buddy,one tiny error tho, that car isnt a reliant , it is actually a Dutton kit car using Ford Escort Mk1 parts and Bedford CF van rear lights.

The beach below you is still a nudist beach, In the summer only of course!!

I remeber that roundabout and the armoured vehicles, they used to get so hot in the 1970s summers!!

[spenceisadork]

Incredible set of photos, really enjoyed this set. Would love to see more from either of you if you can visit. Went as a child before it caved in.

[mk3stargazer]

@spenceisadork I went there yesterday, for most of the route watch?v=lF27_I-uZwQ and another video is being uploaded later showing the rest of it.

[GuildfordGhost]

Ooh, I got a namecheck! Cheers! Loved this and love your comments. You've found so much more of it than I did in 2006. I so want to get back there in the summer - with someone else (for safety's sake!) and see all these parts. Yes, by the way, it WAS a nudist holiday camp.