David Baldwin ringing St Boniface Old Church bell as it would have been on 25th July 1588
This week, history came alive in Ventnor as an enthusiastic group of walkers gathered at the atmospheric St Boniface Old Church to explore the Armada Coast 1588 Heritage Trail. The event, part of Heritage Open Days 2025—England’s largest festival of history and culture—offered a unique blend of storytelling, scenery, and discovery.
Introduced with a talk by David Baldwin, author of The Isle of Wight Armada Coast 1588, the group enjoyed a gentle yet inspiring walk along the coastal path, guided by informative heritage boards and blessed with sunshine and a bracing sea breeze. The trail brought to life the gripping events of 1588, when the Island played its part in one of the most dramatic chapters of English history.
The walkers visited the Longshoreman’s Museum, where they had the chance to delve into Baldwin’s richly illustrated book—brimming with over 50 years of meticulous research, rare maps, charts, and photographs.
Missed it? Don’t worry! There are two more chances to walk the trail with David Baldwin during the Isle of Wight Walking Festival on October 7th and 10th, starting again at St Boniface Old Church at 10am. Don’t miss this opportunity to step into history and see the Island’s coastline through the eyes of the past.
