Historic Ryde Society

‘Giving Ryde’s Past to the Future’

Historic Ryde Society Quiz Night Thursday 28 December 2023 at Yelf's Hotel, at 7p.m. for 7.30pm.   The Museum of Ryde will be closed from 24th December 2023 to 4th February 2024. We are opening Monday, 5th February 2024. We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

A FROZEN SEA
To the Editor of the Isle of Wight Times &c Sir – Although not claiming to be the oldest inhabitant in Ryde, I have seen a good many sharp winters, but do not recollect one to equal the present, so far as the Island is concerned.
Taking a consitiutional on the Esplanade about noon on Sunday, I was surprised to find floating ice extending, I should say fully one hundred yards from the wall out to sea.
Thinking it possible that it might be only drift ice from some fresh water stream, I tasted of it, and found it unmistakably salt, and on closer examination found it had evidently been formed out of the sea.
I have talked upon the subject with several other older than myself and I cannot hear of such an occurrence within the memory of any even of the patriarchs of Ryde, I thought the fact might be interesting to your readers.
Yours truly,
OUT IN THE COLD

[We can corroborate our correspondant’s statement, having been on the Esplanade about the time he names. “Out in the Cold” is scarcely a suitable name for any one promenading on the Esplanade on Sunday as the sun was shining brightly, and the air was quite genial on the sea front; but turn up George-street, or Union-street, on the shady side, that was quite another thing.] ED I W T

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