The history of the Solent Inn Monkton Street, Isle of Wight.

We don't have a lot of information about The Solent Inns past. Whilst surfing the net, I read somewhere it was built in 1749 at some point it became The Beach Tavern, which seems to make sense, as in those days before the Strand was constructed ( on reclaimed land ) it would have been on the beach front. Evidence of this can be found by walking from the pub, towards the end of Castle Street, you can still see hooks or the remains of them sticking out of the walls of the tiny fishermens cottages, used to hang up and dry their nets. When The Strand and the new Esplanade were constructed, in the mid 1850's, the pub would have been cut off from the shore, this is probably why it was renamed The Strand Tavern.

In this quote from Ryde Pubs by Kevin Mitchell: The Strand Tavern, first appeared in the Kelly's Directory of 1852, with a Landlord by the name of Thomas HARRIS. He is listed in the 1847 Directory as a carpenter - it is logical to presume he opened the premises as a pub around 1850. It was renamed the Solent Inn, in 1900 and still thrives today.

Does anyone have any photo's or more information about its past?
Please email me: click here