jimi
Well-Known Member
Is it named after the Wight Link ferries?
Why is the Isle of Wight so named?
- Thread starter jimi
- Start date
Blueboatman
Well-Known Member
Iss awlwight mate innit, that Isle of Wight,Chalky
MrG_2
Well-Known Member
You're both wrong its named after a bird that used to live in the cliffs around the Needles.
It was the Ring Necked Widget, the problem was it used to dig so far into the chalk it destroyed its own home, which is why we have the Needles today and not a solid lump of chalk..
Wight is just a term thats been taken up over the years since Norman times (I think)
It was the Ring Necked Widget, the problem was it used to dig so far into the chalk it destroyed its own home, which is why we have the Needles today and not a solid lump of chalk..
Wight is just a term thats been taken up over the years since Norman times (I think)
BlackJacksGaff
Well-Known Member
Around 1900 BC the Beaker people arrived - so called from their distinctive pottery. They called the Island Wiht (weight) meaning raised or what rises over the sea. Then the Romans arrived in 43 AD and translated Wiht into the name Vectis from the Latin veho meaning lifting.
The Roman rule started under Vespasian and continued peacefully for over four hundred years. Then followed a period of strife starting with the Saxons under Cerdic and Cynric in 530 AD. Many of the natives were slaughtered and four years after Cerdic's death the government was divided between his two nephews Stuf and Wihtgar. In 544 Wihtgar died and was buried at Carisbrooke. In 661 AD, Wight changed hands again when it was taken by Wulfhure, King of the Mercians, but it was in 686 AD that the West Saxon King, Caedwalla, conquered it and brought Christianity to the Island.
For two centuries the people of Wight then led a fairly peaceful life until the Danes arrived this far south. In 897 AD their visits for 'burning and killing' went on for over 100 years so the Islanders lived in constant fear.
Alledgedly !
The Roman rule started under Vespasian and continued peacefully for over four hundred years. Then followed a period of strife starting with the Saxons under Cerdic and Cynric in 530 AD. Many of the natives were slaughtered and four years after Cerdic's death the government was divided between his two nephews Stuf and Wihtgar. In 544 Wihtgar died and was buried at Carisbrooke. In 661 AD, Wight changed hands again when it was taken by Wulfhure, King of the Mercians, but it was in 686 AD that the West Saxon King, Caedwalla, conquered it and brought Christianity to the Island.
For two centuries the people of Wight then led a fairly peaceful life until the Danes arrived this far south. In 897 AD their visits for 'burning and killing' went on for over 100 years so the Islanders lived in constant fear.
Alledgedly !
stephenh
Well-Known Member
OED :-
wight = a creature a) super natural = unearthly
b) human but implying contempt or commiseration !!!!!!!!
wight = a creature a) super natural = unearthly
b) human but implying contempt or commiseration !!!!!!!!
BlueSkyNick
Well-Known Member
This is a yachting forum. Don't you know you're supposed to use Google for questions like this ?
MYStargazer
Well-Known Member
Corruption of 'Vectis' the Roman name for the island. Latin 'V's were pronounced as 'W's.
"the Beaker people": yes, they're muppets alright (I'm allowed to say that as a caulkhead myself).
"the Beaker people": yes, they're muppets alright (I'm allowed to say that as a caulkhead myself).
tazzle
Well-Known Member
Yes, absolutely.
On a similar note, whilst I was in Edinburgh recently I paused on Waverley Street to look up and admire that fine castle. But one thing puzzled me. Why did they choose to build it so close to the railway?
On a similar note, whilst I was in Edinburgh recently I paused on Waverley Street to look up and admire that fine castle. But one thing puzzled me. Why did they choose to build it so close to the railway?
jimi
Well-Known Member
Aha ... another year older and still as ugly ... erm I mean stupid. FWIW I weally weally think its cos its the first island on the right after the Dover straits and all the wiking waiders had lithps and could'nt say the first island on the right but said "the fiwst island on the wight" ..
stephenh
Well-Known Member
I thought it was "corkhead" - I didn't realise ...
Where's that from ?
and what is it's (real) local meaning ??
Where's that from ?
and what is it's (real) local meaning ??
guernseyman
Well-Known Member
Is it known for certain that Vectis was the Roman name for the Isle of Wight or is it one of the guessed names from the Antonine Itinerary - like those of the Channel Islands?
Cornishman
Well-Known Member
So they didn't have far to walk to the station?
jimi
Well-Known Member
Do'nt think so, think it was cos it was a lot easier to bring the stone used for building it in by train rather than by lorry co they had'nt invented tar for the roads yet when the castle was being built
MYStargazer
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
I thought it was "corkhead" - I didn't realise ...
Where's that from ?
and what is it's (real) local meaning ??
[/ QUOTE ]
It could be as well. We're a broad church.
I thought it was "corkhead" - I didn't realise ...
Where's that from ?
and what is it's (real) local meaning ??
[/ QUOTE ]
It could be as well. We're a broad church.
claymore
Well-Known Member
It is a yachting topic really - its only a matter of time before Jimi sails into it.
Andrew_Fanner
Well-Known Member
Its a garlic and six fingers thing...
MYStargazer
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Its a garlic and six fingers thing...
[/ QUOTE ]
Less of a family tree, more of a twig.
Its a garlic and six fingers thing...
[/ QUOTE ]
Less of a family tree, more of a twig.
Tisme
Well-Known Member
It's because of the large numbers of Average Wight Boats which are to be found there.
Sans Bateau
Well-Known Member
Jimi
if you win the roll over talked about in another post you could buy it and call it jimi Island or something to your taste. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
if you win the roll over talked about in another post you could buy it and call it jimi Island or something to your taste. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Sans Bateau
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Less of a family tree, more of a twig
[/ QUOTE ]
Not so much of a gene pool, more like a damp patch
Less of a family tree, more of a twig
[/ QUOTE ]
Not so much of a gene pool, more like a damp patch
