Author: Sal and Simon
Steephill Cove Lighthouse Holiday Home
Wednesday, 9th July, 2008 at 1:03 pm, Isle of Wight
We’ve been contacted by a number of people asking for our opinion of a newly constructed holiday home in Steephill Cove.
You might’ve noticed it when looking along the coastline from Ventnor towards Steephill.
It looks like a rather squat lighthouse, clad in white shutterboard and is noticeable from Ventnor as you look down the coastline to the West.
We’ll be honest, our response has been pretty much either “We don’t really have a view on it” or “It’s not something that concerns us”, however, it seems that many of our readers felt differently, so we’re putting up this post for comments.
We called Mark Wheeler, the owner, for a chat about the building, “It’s a bit unusual, but it’s in keeping with its marine setting.
“It’s highly possible that a ‘normal’ building that might not have got planning permission.”
“We tried to make it look like a lighthouse, but obviously lower than they usually are.”
On the point of its popularity or otherwise, Mark tells us that “hundreds of people have been stopping to tell us how much they like it.”
Background
Permission for the application to build the holiday home and replace the nine beach huts was granted permission back in September 2005. It hadn’t come to our attention at the time and one of the people who contacted us told us that one Town Councillor cannot remember it being passed before the TC Plans Committee, but we find hard to imagine that’d be the case.
Public comments to the application are not available online on the IW council planning site, but are only accessible in person at the Seaclose Offices, so if you want to see what others thought of the plans, you’ll have to make a trip to Newport.
It has been some time since the build was completed, so views may’ve changed from when it was first constructed.
The application details and plans can be viewed however, on the Isle of Wight Council Planning Web site.
What do you think? Do you Like it or Loath it? Feel free to comment, but please avoid making any claims that cannot be backed up or that are over-personal.
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July 9th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
OK, I’ll go first.
I think it’s a very attractive and innovative development and a huge improvement on what was there before.
I just wish (a bit) that it didn’t stand out quite so much in the view from Ventnor looking west along the coast but it’s a small gripe.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
I think it is a quirky and attractive building which adds to the architectural diversity of the area. I would imagine that it will be popular as a fun place to stay for holidays - a friend of mine from Oxford was busy noting down the details when she was down here a month or so ago …
July 9th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
So thats what is was!
I noticed it the other week whilst looking and photographing the headland from the end of The Haven. I thought it was a marquee from a distance and someone was having a knees up. A bit bright if you ask me…..
July 9th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
I think it is very stylish. It does look a bit bright, but presumably will weather - particularily given it’s position.
July 9th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Acceptable, yet definately not anything to get overly excited about in terms of design.
July 9th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Two sugars in mine please …. Oh, you mean it’s not the tea tent then?
July 9th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
It’s a funky building in a brilliant setting, what more could you want for a holiday residence.
July 10th, 2008 at 6:39 am
It’s a blight on the landscape, completely ruined the view from the Winter Gardens over La Falaise. On a bright day it looks like a huge sardine tin! What on earth did they use for the roof, when the sun shines off the building it could blind the fishermen. When I first saw what I thought was flashing lights I thought it was a boat in distress.
Another planning decision (?)- could they not at least have imposed a condition that it had to blend with the surrounding landscape. There’s no substitution for common sense, for which there are no guidelines for our learned council. Then again as built, was it approved by the council?
July 10th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
It is fantastic. Certainly beats some of the run down skanky old b&bs gracing our streets! People just are not happy unless they’re moaning.
July 16th, 2008 at 6:21 am
Shut you’re eyes and listen,
waves lapping,
children screaming with delight,
dogs barking with fright,
waves crashing!
rockpools forming.
seaweed swirling’
deckchair canvas flapping.
The beach hut ghost
July 30th, 2008 at 9:49 am
Onw big storm and it will blown into the sea!
July 30th, 2008 at 10:55 am
Who’s kidding who? Since when are lighthouses short, squat and shiny?
“We tried to make it look like a lighthouse, but obviously lower than they usually are.”
It’s a bit unusual, but it’s in keeping with its marine setting.
In keeping with which marine setting, Water World?
…and this said it all!!
“It’s highly possible that a ‘normal’ building that might not have got planning permission.”
—does the IOW planning committee ever do “normal?”
July 30th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Gah! It’s surely with thanks to the Wheeler family that Steephill Cove remains such a special place? Give the ‘lighthouse’ time to blend in - as it surely will. These guys have worked very hard to create a successful and stylish offer with all of their ventures down at the cove. I hope that it’s as fully booked as the Boathouse is - good on them!
Beryl Stewart Cummings Says:
—does the IOW planning committee ever do “normal?”
Too often Beryl, too often.
At least this time they saw the bigger picture.
July 30th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
All good and well for the Wheelers but no one owns the Cove its part of Gods creation
July 30th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
Helen are you related to the wheelers?
July 30th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
“one big storm and it be blown into the sea”
Is that what you want, Bob?
“All good and well for the Wheelers but no one owns the Cove its part of Gods creation”
No, Bob. “God” does not exist. The cove was created by the people and families who have lived there for centuries.
I go down to the Cove quite often and Dave Wheeler can be seen clearing up the rubbish left by tourists/kids/dogs in all weathers.
Good luck to Mark and Vanessa I say and stop looking at “it” through your green eye!
July 30th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
The coast is owned by all of Gods children, not by one family, it’s time we don’t hide behind a web address!
July 30th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
You have shown a your green weakness Freddie life is much more complicated monney can’t buy the Cove, bless you poor freedie!
July 31st, 2008 at 6:27 am
Bob, I think you’ll find that Steephill Cove actually belongs to God and that he’s lent it to the Wheelers to look after.
To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. Deuteronomy 10 : 14
As far as I’m aware there hasn’t been any change since then.
July 31st, 2008 at 8:01 am
Just the other day I said to a visitor who’s staying at Steephill, (possibly the Helen that commented) that Ventnor and Steephill are absolutely little bits of heaven.
I have sent photos to the “blog” comparing the view from Ventnor to Steephill before and after the “lighthouse” (unfortunatley couldnt insert them here)- and there can be no doubt about it, the “lighthouse” that now disturbs the tranquil view is certainly not heaven sent.(unless some little space ship accidently landed from the heavens).
At least it could have been the same colour of another blight on the landscape - the green monster on Church St. also to be seen on Ventnor postcards(another architectural “innovation”for Victorian Ventnor).
Let’s just pray that the brilliant white and shiny roof does weather sometime soon.
We all know that the present Mr. Wheeler or his forefathers didnt create Steephill Cove but I think it’s all getting a bit out of hand isnt it with “Bob” and “Freddie” and certainly off the subject?
July 31st, 2008 at 9:09 am
“it’s all getting a bit out of hand and certainly off the subject”
Point taken BSC and I apologise unreservedly to Bob.
However, having seen at first hand the misery caused by religious zealots trying to impose their views on others by the most vile means possible, I get a little cross when people introduce religion into their opposition to something and especially those who quote from the Bible to bolster those views.
I understand that there will be those who do not like the lighthouse, but we cannot live in a time warp. What was there before was old, dilapidated and worn out. A bit like Cedar Lodge on the Esplanade, but apparently there are those who would prefer to have an old wooden shack to a brand new 3 storey building more in keeping with its neighbours. No accounting for taste.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:40 am
Woah there, Freddie.
You’re starting to sound a little over-zealous yourself, my friend.
I believe Bob’s original point was that, in his opinion, the cove was not ‘created’ by the family that now live and run their businesses there. (I suspect it’s in Dave’s interest to keep it tidy, it keeps the deckchair rentals up!) I merely introduced a verse (about God) to back up a point that he owns the world. (You don’t have to agree)
Your use of terms like ‘misery’ and ‘vile’ based, presumably, on your unfortunate first hand experience, is surely liable to offend somebody, although I doubt very much that this was your intention.
For some people their ‘religion’ is a central pillar of who they are. Would they be less entitled than you to pass an opinion merely because this happens to be the case?
July 31st, 2008 at 9:51 am
Shock Horror Beryl I am a Ventnor resident and no Bob, not related to the Wheelers. Or God.
Sheesh…
This building could quite easily have been built by John Hambrough if he’d thought of it …. but would possibly have been cuckoo-clock shaped instead.
Now there’s a thought.
July 31st, 2008 at 11:37 am
Its nice to know that god (or gods) own the world..you now have someone else to blame from the never ending tradegy they are responsible for.
If you don’t like people deriding your ‘religion’ don’t enter it into irrelevent conversations
July 31st, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Tradegy? Irrelevent? What, no spell check,kj?
btw, cheers for the advice, buddy. I, for one, will be sure not to enter it into irrelevant conversations from now on.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Thats alright then
and no…no spellchecker, This is a blog, not a classroom
August 3rd, 2008 at 5:44 pm
just wanted to say it’s great to be able to hear what’s going on in the best town in the uk. miss the pub life here in busselton western Australia but until we get a government that hears what the voters what i wont be coming back soon !!!!!
August 26th, 2008 at 12:11 am
We came across this beautiful cove by accident, having spent the day at the Botanical gardens. I have been to the Isle of Wight dozens of times - holidaying and also often fly in (I own a small four seater aeroplane and often fly in to Sandown. I was so amazed that I didn’t know about Steep Hill Cove - it is gorgeous and all the beautiful buildings compliment each other. The ‘Lighthouse’ is something else and to me, it absolutely makes the cove! Fantastic design, very attractive, enhances the Cove and I want to rent it ou as soon as I can - with some friends!
September 13th, 2008 at 10:48 am
isn’t funny how people come out to defend the Wheelers lighthouse, where were the people when the botanical gardens Easter island head was removed shame on you all
October 13th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Oh John Elvers, now you’re talking - that was a great and original piece of art, not something that you could confuse with the tea tent or lighthouse thingy