BONCHURCH POND In the seventeenth century the whole area which we know as Bonchurch consisted of three farms: Marepool Farm and Mackett’s Farm, both owned by Joseph Hadfield, and Bonchurch Farm, which in 1826 was convened by its owner, Mr. Surman into East Dene. On Hadfield’s land there was an osier bed, or withy bed as they are known in the lsland, from which the local longshoremen would collect lengths of willow to make and repair their crab and lobster pots. There was a feeling in the village that the swamp-like nature of the withy bed was the cause of many diseases and fevers which were prevalent amongst the local inhabitants, and they were quite pleased when Mr. Hadfield (who became known as the Father of the Undercliff) announced his intention to remove the osier bed. Hadfield duly had the willows grubbed from the area, and taking advantage of the natural springs which existed, converted the swamp into the now famous Bonchurch Pond. The numerous distinguished Victorians who visited Bonchurch in the next few decades enthused about the picturesque scenery of the village, and particularly the pretty little pond which was now its centrepiece. Visitors still come to see the village pond today, and few now realise that it is not a natural landmark, but a man made piece of scenery, created out of a swamp which once yielded the materials of the crab fishermen’s trade.
Posted on: Sun, 23 Nov 2014 20:27:29 +0000
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