ENGLAND 



Barton Manor ^ Isle of Wight 



ISLE OF WIGHT shares with Kent 



1 the title of the " Garden of England." 

 Sir Walter Scott said of it, " He who has once 

 seen it can never forget it." The Wight was 

 mentioned in the " Anglo-Saxon Chronicle." 

 It was invaded by Vespasian in the year 43, 

 and later on by Cedric the Saxon. In 66 1, 

 Wulfhere, King of Mercia, possessing it, be- 

 stowed it upon Ethelwold, King of the South 

 Saxons, and it changed hands pretty often, 

 Danes and Saxons taking part in conflicts for 

 it. William the Conqueror granted lordship 

 of the Isle or Wight to William Fitz-Osborne. 

 Later on it passed to the Crown. It was subse- 

 quently held by the Earl of Devon, William 

 de Vernon, styled Earl of the Isle of Wight ; 

 by King John, by Edward I, Edward II, 



7 



