522 FRESHWATER AND YARMOUTH. [AugUSt, 



trees, wood, lawn, hill, vale, all combine in forming a landscape, 

 rare even in the Isle of Wight. The village of Calbourne, a little 

 further onwards, is also pleasantly situated. The decayed town 

 of Newtown is on the right-hand, a mile or two from the road to 

 Freshwater. Before the passing of the Reform Bill this insigni- 

 ficant place had the privilege of returning two members to the 

 Imperial Parliament, though its population did not reach the 

 average immber of inhabitants to be found in most villages in 

 England. Newport, the metropolis, is now the only borough 

 in the island which enjoys the electoral franchise. 



The village of Freshwater, consisting merely of the church, an 

 inn, a shop, a farmhouse, and two or three tenements, is on the 

 west side of the Yar, about a mile from its source, and two miles 

 from its influx into the sea. The bridge across the river to 

 Freshwater is an ancient and rather picturesque object. The 

 river is tidal nearly to its source. Below bridge, when the tide 

 is highest, it has a good appearance, being from half a mile to a 

 mile in breadth. On both sides there is pretty scenery, but no- 

 thing very attractive. When the tide recedes, the tiny stream 

 meanders between the extensive mud flats or banks and is by no 

 means a pictorial object. 



Freshwater is a straggling place, being mostly detached farms, 

 with small rows of cottages scattered about on the roads to Alum 

 Bay and Freshwater Gate ; at both of which places there are 

 hotels for the accommodation of visitors, the latter being con- 

 sidered one of the most fashionable and aristocratic of the Vectian 

 bathing localities. Freshwater Gate is about a mile and a half 

 from the church, and Alum Bay is about double the distance. 



The little bay of Freshwater Gate is bounded on the north by 

 a low beach of very small extent, just affording room for two or 

 three bathing-machines, and a few boats, which may be hired by 

 the visitors. On the w^est side it is bounded by the lofty cliff, 

 called Freshwater Cliff, the loftiest in the island, bearing on its 

 noble headland what is termed the beacon, a sea-mark. This~ 

 cliff is about 600 feet high, and the downs to the north of it are 

 covered with the closest, shortest, and most nutritious vegetation. 

 The cliffs of Afton Downs enclose the east part of the little bay. 

 The walk along the sea is limited to less than half a mile. The 

 cliffs approach the deep water, and bar all approach to their base 

 except in boats. This is the case all the way round by the 



