Godshill with the church tower at the back (photograph courtesy of Dave Parker, IOW)

Godshill is one one of the islands favourite tourist attractions with some delightful cottage that are scattered along the road and has as a background all that is left of its long lost priory, the largest old church on the island which is most 15th century. A pillar of a cross which is 700 years old with a sundial is a suitable partner for the porch.

The name of Godshill is attached to the foundation of the church which was in the reign of King Edward the Confessor (1042-1066) and it derives from the tale that the builders had made three attempts to built the church on a specific site, and each time the stones were mysteriously moved during the night to a different place, The thought at the time was that God was not pleased with the new church being built and he had chosen the site himself by moving the stones the church was built on Gods Hill.

The village is full of charming thatched cottages and a winding main street and is said to be the quintessential English Village. It is centrally situated between Shanklin and Newport as can be easily accessed. Another of its major attractions is the Old Smithy which was a former blacksmiths shop.

Godshill is the home of a model village of both itself and also Shanklin's old village and it is so detailed that within the second model there is a third even smaller model of the village.

Photo reproduced by courtesy of Gwynn White

Appuldurcombe house was a mansion built in 1710 and abandoned in 1909. During WWII, in 1943, damage occured when it was hit by a landmine and is now just a shell without a roof.