River Medina
The River Medina is the main river of the Isle of Wight, an island off the south coast of England, rising at St Catherine's Down in the south of the Island and flowing through the capital here at Newport, towards the Solent at Cowes. Here the river is a navigable tidal estuary flowing northwards where it takes the form of a ria (a drowned valley). The Medina is 17 km long with a catchment area of 17 km2. The river flows northwards collecting the Merston Stream at Blackwater before intersecting the ridge at Shide. The Lukely Brook is a tributary to the main river rising in Bowcombe Valley and joining the river at the head of the estuary in Newport.
Its current state has occurred because the Medina used to be a tributary of the river Solent and have a much larger catchment area, as the Solent valley flooded and the island eroded the river received less water flow and more sediment, causing it to become more tidal.
The river is bridged at Newport. Cowes is connected to East Cowes by a chain ferry known as the Cowes Floating Bridge.
The name Medina came from the Old English Meðune meaning "the middle one", and the current pronunciation was first recorded as 'Medine' in 1196.
The river is used by yachtsmen as a very safe harbour. Along the banks of the Medina there are many old warehouses and wharves where in the past flying boats, hovercraft and steam ships were built and developed. The Classic Boat Museum displays much of the river's history alongside the history of yachting. The Island Harbour Marina, an old tidal mill, is also located on the river, about 1 mile from Newport.
Newport is a civil parish and a county town of the Isle of Wight. Newport has a population of 23,957 according to the 2001 census. The town is situated slightly to the north of the centre of the Island, at the head of the navigable section of the River Medina, which flows towards the Solent, and on which the town has this quay.
There are signs of Roman settlement in the area, which was probably known as Medina, including two known Roman villas one of which, Newport Roman Villa, is excavated and open to the public.
There was little later use until after the Norman conquest with the first charter being granted late in the twelfth century. In 1377 an invading French force burnt down much of the town while attempting to take Carisbrooke Castle, then under the command of Sir Hugh Tyrill. A group of French were captured and killed, then buried in a tumulus later nicknamed Noddies Hill, a "noddy" being medieval slang for a body. This was later corrupted to Nodehill, the present-day name for a part of central Newport – a name confusing to many as the area is flat.
In 1648 Charles I and a group of Parliamentary Commissioners concluded the Treaty of Newport, an attempt at reaching a compromise in the Civil War, undermined by Charles's negotiations with the French and Scots to intervene on his behalf. The Treaty was repudiated by Oliver Cromwell upon returning from defeating the Scots at The Battle of Preston leading to Charles's execution.
The town was incorporated as a borough in 1608. The town's position as an area of trade accessible to the sea meant it rapidly took over from Carisbrooke as the main central settlement, eventually absorbing the latter as a suburb. The borough ceased to exist in 1974 after the incorporation of the larger Borough of Medina, which was itself superseded in 1995 by a single unitary authority covering the whole of the Isle of Wight.
In recent times, Newport has undergone an influx of changes, with two shopping centres and all new road directions to show for the town's recent development efforts. Newport Quay has also been re-developed, with art galleries such as the Quay Arts Centre, and new flats converted from old warehouses. Newport Harbour is a secure haven in all weathers and seasons and an ideal base for exploring England's biggest island. Using the harbour as a base you can explore unspoilt countryside, spectacular coastline, charming villages and visit a variety of attractions. Attractions beside the harbour include the Quay Arts Centre, the Riverside Centre and a recently established nautical museum called the Classic Boat Museum. The compact town centre is only a few minutes walk away and offers a wide range of shops, including branches of most leading national High Street retailers and several "superstores". There are modern leisure facilities and many pubs and restaurants catering for most tastes and budgets.
Speed within the Harbour is restricted to 4 knots.
The building in the background is Jubilee Stores, which is owned and run by Quay Arts, and is an attractive arts complex overlooking Newport Harbour. It houses a Ceramics Workshop, Jewellery Studio, General Workshop with print facilities, and seven Artists' Studios. Most of Quay Arts' Classes and Workshops programme takes place in this creative facility.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Medina
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newport,_Isle_of_Wight
onthewight.com/2013/01/09/quay-arts-start-up-studio-call-...
River Medina
The River Medina is the main river of the Isle of Wight, an island off the south coast of England, rising at St Catherine's Down in the south of the Island and flowing through the capital here at Newport, towards the Solent at Cowes. Here the river is a navigable tidal estuary flowing northwards where it takes the form of a ria (a drowned valley). The Medina is 17 km long with a catchment area of 17 km2. The river flows northwards collecting the Merston Stream at Blackwater before intersecting the ridge at Shide. The Lukely Brook is a tributary to the main river rising in Bowcombe Valley and joining the river at the head of the estuary in Newport.
Its current state has occurred because the Medina used to be a tributary of the river Solent and have a much larger catchment area, as the Solent valley flooded and the island eroded the river received less water flow and more sediment, causing it to become more tidal.
The river is bridged at Newport. Cowes is connected to East Cowes by a chain ferry known as the Cowes Floating Bridge.
The name Medina came from the Old English Meðune meaning "the middle one", and the current pronunciation was first recorded as 'Medine' in 1196.
The river is used by yachtsmen as a very safe harbour. Along the banks of the Medina there are many old warehouses and wharves where in the past flying boats, hovercraft and steam ships were built and developed. The Classic Boat Museum displays much of the river's history alongside the history of yachting. The Island Harbour Marina, an old tidal mill, is also located on the river, about 1 mile from Newport.
Newport is a civil parish and a county town of the Isle of Wight. Newport has a population of 23,957 according to the 2001 census. The town is situated slightly to the north of the centre of the Island, at the head of the navigable section of the River Medina, which flows towards the Solent, and on which the town has this quay.
There are signs of Roman settlement in the area, which was probably known as Medina, including two known Roman villas one of which, Newport Roman Villa, is excavated and open to the public.
There was little later use until after the Norman conquest with the first charter being granted late in the twelfth century. In 1377 an invading French force burnt down much of the town while attempting to take Carisbrooke Castle, then under the command of Sir Hugh Tyrill. A group of French were captured and killed, then buried in a tumulus later nicknamed Noddies Hill, a "noddy" being medieval slang for a body. This was later corrupted to Nodehill, the present-day name for a part of central Newport – a name confusing to many as the area is flat.
In 1648 Charles I and a group of Parliamentary Commissioners concluded the Treaty of Newport, an attempt at reaching a compromise in the Civil War, undermined by Charles's negotiations with the French and Scots to intervene on his behalf. The Treaty was repudiated by Oliver Cromwell upon returning from defeating the Scots at The Battle of Preston leading to Charles's execution.
The town was incorporated as a borough in 1608. The town's position as an area of trade accessible to the sea meant it rapidly took over from Carisbrooke as the main central settlement, eventually absorbing the latter as a suburb. The borough ceased to exist in 1974 after the incorporation of the larger Borough of Medina, which was itself superseded in 1995 by a single unitary authority covering the whole of the Isle of Wight.
In recent times, Newport has undergone an influx of changes, with two shopping centres and all new road directions to show for the town's recent development efforts. Newport Quay has also been re-developed, with art galleries such as the Quay Arts Centre, and new flats converted from old warehouses. Newport Harbour is a secure haven in all weathers and seasons and an ideal base for exploring England's biggest island. Using the harbour as a base you can explore unspoilt countryside, spectacular coastline, charming villages and visit a variety of attractions. Attractions beside the harbour include the Quay Arts Centre, the Riverside Centre and a recently established nautical museum called the Classic Boat Museum. The compact town centre is only a few minutes walk away and offers a wide range of shops, including branches of most leading national High Street retailers and several "superstores". There are modern leisure facilities and many pubs and restaurants catering for most tastes and budgets.
Speed within the Harbour is restricted to 4 knots.
The building in the background is Jubilee Stores, which is owned and run by Quay Arts, and is an attractive arts complex overlooking Newport Harbour. It houses a Ceramics Workshop, Jewellery Studio, General Workshop with print facilities, and seven Artists' Studios. Most of Quay Arts' Classes and Workshops programme takes place in this creative facility.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Medina
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newport,_Isle_of_Wight
onthewight.com/2013/01/09/quay-arts-start-up-studio-call-...