Shide, Isle of Wight facts for kids
Shide is a small place on the Isle of Wight. Part of it is very close to the town of Newport. It's a quiet area with some interesting history and natural spots.
A long time ago, there was a big house here called Shide Hill House. It was taken down in the 1970s. This house was special because it was where John Milne (1850–1913) lived and worked. He was a clever inventor! John Milne invented the horizontal pendulum seismograph. This amazing machine helps scientists detect and measure earthquakes. He moved to Shide after working at the Imperial College of Engineering in Tokyo, Japan. Today, you can still see the old Gatehouse and the Domestic Quarters, which are now called Milne House. The building where his laboratory was still stands, facing the fields towards Blackwater.
Just south of Shide, you'll find the Isle of Wight County Cricket Ground. This is a place where cricket games are played. There's also a nice cycle path that connects Shide to Merstone. If you need to travel around, Southern Vectis buses on routes 2, 3, and 38 can take you there. Shide also used to have a train station, Shide railway station, which opened in 1875 but closed in 1956.
Discovering Shide Quarry
Shide Quarry is located to the east of Shide. A quarry is a place where materials like stone or chalk are dug out of the ground. This quarry was used to dig out chalk during the first half of the 1900s. The big slope facing west is a well-known sight on Newport's skyline.
A Special Place for Nature
Today, Shide Quarry is no longer used for digging. It has become a very important natural area. It is now a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Local Nature Reserve. This means it is protected because of its unique plants and wildlife. The Isle of Wight Council owns it, and it's open for everyone to visit and explore.
What Makes Shide Quarry Special?
The quarry was first recognized as special in 1971 because of its amazing natural features. You can see all stages of how nature takes over a disturbed area here. This is called "succession." It starts from bare chalk rock and slowly changes into a woodland with Ash trees. Shide Quarry is one of 41 SSSIs found on the Isle of Wight. It's a great place to learn about how ecosystems develop over time.
