The Isle of Wight's Victorian history of violence and crime

Mrs Thatcher famously wanted “a return to Victorian values” - but then she’d never looked at the County Press Victorian archives.

Island life then was full of petty crime, drunkenness and loutish behaviour of every type.

Vandalism was common, ranging from tying steel wires between trees on either side of York Avenue, East Cowes, to catch horses by the throat, to the smashing of gravestones in Mount Joy Cemetery, and even the mutilation of farm animals.

If ever there was a golden age when people could go out leaving their houses unlocked, this wasn’t it.

These three court reports all come from the same week in December 1884.

The two women and the cyclist are in Shide Path, which has been transformed into today’s Medina Avenue. In the far-left distance is the signal post just before Shide Station, which stood on the site of what is today’s National Tyres. (Image: Brian Greening Collection/County Press)

“George Perkis, a sailor, pleaded guilty to using obscene language in Lind Street.

“PC Watson deposed that he saw the defendant with a crowd of 30 or 40 people round him.

“He requested him to go away and not to use such filthy language.

“Shortly afterwards, defendant came back, using obscene language again.

“Fined 1s. and 10s. 6d. costs, or seven days hard labour.”

The next County Press report demonstrates a love of flowery headlines.

It was headed: A Pugilistic Inebriate.

“James Bridle, labourer of Haylands, was summoned for having been drunk and disorderly in Lind Street.

This is Brading High Street in Edwardian times. On close examination, the butcher’s shop on the far right is owned by a Mr. O.H. Brading. (Image: Alan Stroud/County Press)

“PC Cousens stated he heard the defendant making use of very bad language.

“He requested him to leave, but he then got into the road where he took off his clothes and wanted to fight witness.

“Defendant went up the High Street with his clothes off, wanting to fight ‘the best man in Ryde,’ and creating a disturbance right through the street.

“Fined 2s. 6d. and 9s. 6d. costs.”

The same week, George Cross was summoned for “wilfully damaging a railway carriage”.

“At Brading, defendant got into a compartment, of which he was the only occupant.

“He got out at St John’s Road, Ryde, and on the arrival of the train at the pier head it was found that the whole of the cushion at the back of the carriage had been ripped up with a knife, and the window straps had been cut off.

“Fined £2, with £3 damage, and £1.14s. 6d. costs or one month’s hard labour.”

Readers of a certain age will remember Murdochs record and music shop on the corner of Newport High Street and St Thomas Square. Teagues Records just across the road was better stocked with the latest singles and albums and was usually first choice. (Image: Alan Stroud/County Press)

In October 1897, under the headline: Diabolical Outrage at Freshwater, the County Press reported: “Another brutal outrage has been perpetrated at Freshwater.

“On Saturday night, some fiend or fiends entered a field at Farringford, where there was a flock of sheep, and six of them were terribly cut."

In lighter news, laughter could often be heard in court, as this report from June 1896 shows.

“John Little was charged with the larceny of 30 shillings in postal orders by means of a trick.

“Inspector Coleman said Miss Dore identified him as the man who had stolen it from her about an hour previously by means of ringing the changes,” (Tricking someone out of money when paying for goods by repeatedly changing the coins and notes on offer).

“Prisoner told witness he would tell where the postal orders were if he would send for Miss Dore.

“Prisoner then said to her: Well, if there is any mistake, I will make it up to you sooner than have any bother.’

“He then said: ‘Excuse me,’ put his hand up to one side of his nose, gave a good strong blow with his nose, and out flew the three postal orders from his nostrils (laughter).

“Prisoner remanded until Saturday.”

On November 26, 1898: “Frank Rose, dairyman, of Shide, was charged with permitting a cow to stray in Pan Lane on the 8th inst. – P.C. Kenny gave evidence of faulty fences round the field occupied by defendant, who denied the charge.

“When told he could be sworn in, he replied: ‘No, I don’t want to swear, Sir’ (laughter).

“The bench inflicted a fine of 2s. 6d. and 4s. costs, in default seven days.”

And finally, on May 6, 1899, under the headline: A wonder his tongue did not drop out, the following appeared: “Frederick Reeves, Nelson Street, Ryde, was charged by PC Warne with having used obscene language on the Esplanade.

“The constable produced the language which he alleged the defendant used, written on paper.

“Defendant, on being shown the paper, told the witness it was a wonder his tongue did not drop out.

“Fined 10s. and 8s. 6d. costs.”

And with that, court is adjourned.