Ventnor Blog

The reason we’re putting these photos up is to show Couthy Butts, both inside and outside, so those who weren’t able to visit on the open day that the owners ran (many did) can get a stronger understanding about the building.

Looking at the photos might bring you to the same conclusion - Why would the planning officers want this, the only example of Georgian worker’s cottages on the Island, demolished and all of the material removed from the site? (more…)

Here’s a bit more background, this time a video, on Couthy Butts and the confusing case where the planning has requested the demolition of the building.

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Have you read or heard about the Couthy Butts saga?

Here’s a brief summary - It’s a building that is thought to be over 250 years old and is the only example of a Georgian farm worker’s cottage on the whole of the Isle of Wight.

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It was with great dismay that we heard on Tuesday evening that the Planning Committee refused the application for conversion and continued use of cottages as shepherd’s accommodation at Couthy Butts, Downcourt Farm, Godshill. As our readers will be aware, these are the last remaining examples of Georgian workers cottage on the Wight and now the planning officers have their wish, it is likely that the owners will be required to demolish the 200 years+ buildings.

As we were unable to attend the committee meeting, we’re grateful to Professor Russell from the CPRE for allowing us to publish his report below. If you don’t have time to read through all the details, skip to the Councillor’s Discussion at the bottom for the guts. Ed

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It was with great surprise that we read the story last week in the County Press about a pair of Georgian agricultural cottages whose fate currently lies with the Planning Department.

Back in 2000, the owners of the cottage were informed by the Health and Safety Executive that they needed to make safe the dilapidated buildings which date back nearly 200 years.
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A good school with outstanding features is how the government’s schools inspectorate - Ofsted - describes Godshill Primary. Inspectors visited the school in the 13th and 14th November and gave Godshill a Grade 2 rating. (more…)

Please give a warm welcome another new contributor to the Blog, Adel Jinnos. She’s a woman who likes good food, and given she has a great style of writing, we thought she’d be an excellent addition to the Blog.

She starts off with a review of The Essex in Godshill. Hope you enjoy it. Ed

Essex Girls Arrive in Style

Didn’t we have a luverly time the day we went to the Essex
A beautiful day, crashed the car on the way, and all for five pounds a bite you know
The main course was good, and so was the pud, but we’ve had to take out a mortgage
A wonderful meal, but was it a deal, cos we’re stoney broke

Some while ago I’d read a partly-forgotten article extolling the virtues of the fine dining to be had at the Essex – the name also appealed as hubby and I met in Essex some hundred or so years ago, and I knew this would be an up-market occasion for his birthday in which dress, style, presentation, arrival etc would all play a part.

So with my usual panache, I spent more than the usual five minutes getting ready and after some time emerged newly washed, powdered, made-up and dressed in my new menopausal-pink frock. The next half hour was spent persuading hubby out of his sweaty “I’m not dead yet” t-shirt (Spamalot – the best musical ever) and into something more presentable.
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Godshill Organics have managed to produce some mega pumpkins this year and are running a ‘guess my weight’ competition (that’s the pumpkin’s weight, not mine).

You have to guess the combined weight of the three largest pumpkins and whoever comes closest to the actual weight will win £100 in vouchers to spend in this superb establishment.

We tried to lift them, and the only clue we can give you is … they’re very heavy, taking two people to move them.

The weigh-in will be on Saturday 29th October and you only have to part with 50p to have a go!