📽 MY BLACKGANG CHINE - VLOG - 51 YEARS IN THE MAKING - MY LOVE OF A THEME PARK - 1972 to 2023

[@simondabell6591]

Well done Stefan -- a great little video thanks!

[@ISLEOFWIGHTARCHIVE]

Thank you Simon . Coming from yourself is a fantastic endorsement.

[@sarahstrong7174]

Thankyou for showing us.

[@Appley81]

Great video,,, I also have a fascination with BG , , after 94 it never seemed the same. I also love the nursery land because it's only part that original to me. The cliff edge besides it echoes the past memories. Thanks again,,

[@Garethuk2006]

This was great. Thanks

[@robertbenton1367]

Thanks for putting this little film together. It was great to see the flashback photos interspersed throughout. My Mum was from Niton, she grew up in a house named Lyndhurst at the top of the village and she worked at the Blackgang gift shop during the late 50's where she met my Dad. We'd go back to the Island (still do) every summer holiday, which for me was the 80's, and I still remember the placement of some of the older attractions. A good day out was lunch at the Buddle, afternoon on Sandown beach, an early evening tea at Barney's on the Military Road followed by Blackgang with the lights on 😄👍🏻

[@ISLEOFWIGHTARCHIVE]

Great memories. I had my wedding do at the buddle a few years ago and pop in regularly for a beer.

[@minorthing8970]

Lunch at the Buddle! I remember too but I don't remember Barney's. It's strange how some memories are blank and others like yesterday! 🤣

[@alisonmike2912]

Thank you so much for this, i grew up on the isle of Wight and went to blackgang chine pretty much every year from about 1972 ish until I left home aged 18 in 1983 . I came back to the island to live in 2005 and went back to blackgang that year and barely recognised it and haven't been back since but I've made a decision that in 2024 I'm going to go back for old times sake. My overriding memories as a child was at the entrance throwing pennies at the bells to make them ring , the funny mirrors, the crooked house, frontier land , the dinosaurs that I remember Blue Peter doing a piece on, the maze and the fountains and the steps ,oh my the steps that went down and down and then having to come all the way up again . Also outside i remember a kiosk that sold fruit and we always bought some peaches because back then they were a treat and to this day the smell of peaches takes me back to blackgang .

[@minorthing8970]

Enjoy your visit in '24 for old times sake. 👍 It might be totally different but mark the occasion well. 🤩

[@liabatson6043]

I did that this year, having not been for about 15 years. Even though I knew what was coming, it was sad seeing so much missing 😢❤

[@michaelabatchelor405]

This is amazing. I have the same memories of Blackgang Chine.

[@stephen170]

Great video,I started going in the early 70s and you bought back some great memories.Glad i am not the only one who loved the place since then.For me my whole holiday was spent looking forward to Blackgang when it was floodlit and the water gardens ,just magical and then the wax works at brading was also a high point.thanks for sharing.😉

[@ISLEOFWIGHTARCHIVE]

It's funny how blackgang chine and the waxworks do go hand in hand with a lot of us. So much do I now own a few of the old waxworks from Brading since closing down .

[@judybee]

Awww, what a lovely nostalgic video of your memories of Blackgang through the years. Brought back lots of memories for those of us who have been there many times over the years and watched the changes. Your love of Blackgang absolutely shines through...I could have sat and watched more of this! Tiny remnants of the past hidden away for old fans to look for. I'm so glad I saw it as it was back then. I have a fab framed picture of me, my husband and our grandkids taken there a few years ago which sits on my table and reminds me just how much fun we all had that day. I also have pictures of their mum (my daughter) taken in Nursery land in the early 80s. Magical memories! Just love it! Thank you IOWA! x J x

[@Thesunnychameleon]

10:03 was one of my favourite places in the park and it’s still the first place I go to when I visit there! It’s a shame that it’s probably gonna be gone soon since a lot of people are loosing interest :/

[@Deehiggins4799]

I went here when I was 4 when the boot in nursery land was brown.ive been recently and gawd its changed x

[@playmotherthankmelater]

Even though I’m definitely younger than everyone else in the comment section but I do share nostalgia for the classic crooked house and the weather wizard. I’ve always just loved the quirkiness of blackgang. I also heard what they did to all the old model dinosaurs of dinosaurland and it broke my heart. 😢 also underwater kingdom used to be smuggler’s cove and I used to be scared of the octopus when I was younger. 😂

[@alisonmike2912]

Oh no, what did they do ?

[@liabatson6043]

So sad they removed the smugglers' cave. That was magic back in the 90s x

[@minorthing8970]

Few memories of my childhood Blackgang (60's) except walking through the ribs of the whale but some of your old pics jogged a memory, some not. My vivid memory was when I introduced my daughter to the magic of Blackgang in early '80's in the days of platform shoes! I skidded downhill uncontrollably on the wet pathways and a family member took my photo wrapped around a 'dinosaur' that had mercifully broken my fall into further humiliation! 🤣

[@gentryrangel7486]

Wow. This video really takes me back. I worked in the old Blackgang Hotel 40 years ago in the Summer of 1983. Coming down from Scotland it was an eye opener. I have to agree with you, the bus journey down to the roundabout with it all opening before you was delightful. Many a night spent in the Ship Ashore pub. Also did no know that the old staff house where we all lived,was the birthplace of Sheila Hancock! Happy days. Thanks for relighting old and happy memories.

[@sarahstrong7174]

If you have not been to the model Village at Babbacome, Torquay, South Devon. It is a great work of art. Allow several hours.

[@susanwilson3892]

Thank you Stefan, I really enjoyed the video.

[@100SteveB]

What a lovely surprise for a Sunday morning! A real pleasure to watch this because it covers exactly the same time frame of my own memories of Blackgang. I remember everything exactly how you have described it here. From the old entrance that went behind the fence to Nursery Land, right through to that little chap that used to reside on the structure that once stood at the end of the bridge that led over the old road towards Rumpus Mansion. And yes, the old fibreglass whale did originally house an aquarium, all the tanks down either side. My first visit must have been around 1972, Will never forget the magical atmosphere of walking down chimney pot walk in the evening - a totally unique and memorable experience. My mum and dad must have taken me and my sister there a few years in a row after that. And then, from 1977 until 1980 I went on the summer school camp to Bembridge each year. And for each of those years we would have an evening at Blackgang - back in the days when it stayed open until 10pm. A couple of my close school friends and myself had a whale of a time (pun intended). Blackgang was so much bigger back then, and we made sure to explore every little bit. All of the steep paths certainly kept you fit! We were just told to meet back at the car park at closing time, by then of course the teachers had retired to the Ship Ashore. Throughout the 80's me and friends would holiday on the island, so naturally Blackgang was visited each time. Sadly, by the time my own children were old enough to appreciate Blackgang, so much had been lost to the sea. I remember taking them for the first time a couple of years after the big landslide, will never forget finding so many of the paths now led to nowhere - just fenced off, and what used to be down them just memories. But of course, at around that time the bridge was built across the old Niton road, leading to new areas to explore - Rumpus Mansion, the old Triassic club for instance. And then the relocated Cowboy town of course. But, I much preferred it's old location in amongst the trees and vegetation much lower down in the park. But like you, I have to admit it's current location is rather spectacular sitting below the cliffs. And my own children absolutely loved Blackgang. And a decade or two later my grandaughter also absolutely loved the place. Sadly we have not visited since 2014, but through your continued videos I get to see what's been resigned to history, along with what's new. I did not realise that the Sawmill and St Catherine's Quay were gone? When did that happen? I remember when it was a separate attraction, and then in later years I seem to remember it became part of Blackgang itself? But anyway, thanks for this video, certainly stirred a lot of good memories.

[@ISLEOFWIGHTARCHIVE]

We pretty much had a parallel time line at blackgang. Great memories . Hope you still have the old guidebooks ?

[@kellycrabb1249]

Fantastic video thank you for explaining where things were we all remembered as a kid in growing up in the 70s and 80s brought back many happy memories, I always remember the flashing star shape lights as you pull up to the original carpark the excitement as child was overwhelming Thank you for your video

[@chiselcheswick5673]

Great video and great info. Thanks so much!

[@loopypoodle]

Thanks for that video I love Blackgang Chine, me and husband visited on our first holiday together in 83 or 84. I love it there such good memories over the years. He had been before and couldn't wait to show me the lights when the sun went down.

[@LarraineJackson-c6d]

Lovely memories brought back to me. I lived at st Catherine's in the early seventies when it was a hotel. The Blackgang chine was facing the hotel. Until it fell into the sea and was moved to the hotel grounds and surrounding land. I used to play and go swimming at Five rocks with Alex Bruce and Penny the children of Mr dabell.

[@michaelwilliams650]

Amazing video, thank you for sharing with us. So many wonderful memories of Blackgang Chine over the years. Alot has changed since I first stepped foot onto this magical land back in the 80's. Nurseryland was always the first destination followed by a walk through the water garden which looked amazing when illuminated in the evenings. Didn't the park used to stay open into the evening every day during the Summer? as I recall the times when I visited many years ago when it was becoming dusk and the park being fully illuminated.

[@ISLEOFWIGHTARCHIVE]

Thank you for your kind comments and your blackgang memories. Here's some film I have of those blackgang chine illuminations. 👇 kzbin.info/www/bejne/omWso6OljqZnsNk

[@grumbo39]

Love this!! I went with my family, sometime around 1974 or 75, I'm near 52 now so I only have memories of things that made a real impact. I loved anything you could go inside, so the Old Woman who lived in a shoe is fantastic to see, today is the first time Ive seen the whales mouth since then, and for some reason I thought there was a crocodile/alligator but you came out of a teapot house kind of thing? Also the crooked house where I thought it was very strange that all the rooms were inside big windows and there was tomato sauce on the wall. And a huge spider in one room. I also remember a wooden fort i wasnt allowed on and a pier, I THINK possibly in Shanklin, where we stayed in a hotel just above the pier (I can remember my Brother running down for a Kitkat lol). The man who owned the hotel had a lounge/bar at the back with an electrnic organ he played, and it was the first time I ever saw a dumb waiter beng used, although I couldnt work out how it was a lift with no people and also i couldnt understand where the kitchen was as our kitchen was next to our dining room ( I was only 3 or 4). Sadly never been back to I of W as we fell in love with Devon & Cornwall after that. Thank you for posting, at least I know some of my memories survived!! :)

[@ISLEOFWIGHTARCHIVE]

Thanks for your great memories. Here are some I have from blackgang going back through the decades. kzbin.info/aero/PLPHssr-slPmKQaWE6X0UC7eWz38RTD5BM

[@jackryanmiller]

Thanks for this video, unbelievable how much has changed over the years - I used to go as a child in the 90s. The Triassic club with Winston the dinosaur was my favourite

[@NekoFever]

Lovely video. We used to go regularly when I was a kid in the 80s and into the 90s. Started going again with nieces and nephews about five years ago. Still a magic to the place, even if a lot has changed or disappeared.

[@jamescourt4703]

Hello there and a great video. This brought back so many happy memories for myself. My first visit to the island was in 1967. I remember the boat being called norris castle. A blue and cream boat that took me to ryde pier head. I was 13years of age and was staying at westbrook as a young crusader. My days out took me to alum bay, seaview and the fantastic blackgang chine. This vid brings it all back to me. I will visit again next year and visit all the old haunts that ive thought about for so many years. Thankyou for posting this great vid.

[@rancidschannel3206]

Love the old five rocks house. Would love to see inside. Fine Old House, love to see pics of the old pool

[@johnnicholls9023]

I went there on a school trip funny enuf it was my 12th birthday in 91 we went in the late evening it was magical with lights we spent hours on the snakes and ladders snakes being slides so sad to see @ least 65% gone 😢

[@bluefunkt]

Fabulous video, I still miss 'Esther' who was the model with a wig that sat in the car park booth prompting for parking donations! I remember the gardens and fountains too, I suppose beautiful landscaping isn't enough to entertain people now. I was horrified when they stuck those Dodos on the last bit of nice garden!

[@Ian-1957]

Went there in 1971. I had an aunt who lived in Cowes

[@ISLEOFWIGHTARCHIVE]

Some film we have of Blackgang, taken in 1971. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oaPWaYmDncd6Zskfeature=shared

[@liabatson6043]

Miss the museum and sawmill with the moving models 😢

[@scottydoggy1969]

Thanks for bringing back so many good memories, i remember the Water Gardens and Model Village areas well ( RGB underwater lighting was REALLY SPECIAL back then in the 70's ) I also remember the area at 13:50 well too, you could throw coins at little bells to get them to ring and the money often went to charity too. The Red Roofed building at the far left was the Arcade and Hall of Mirrors, they had a Hot Drinks machine by the door that did Oxtail Soup, It was probably revolting by todays standards but i LOVED it at 8 years old.... Happy Days

[@mattwhitham3394]

Great Video Stefan! Tanners/Hillside we’re demolished a few years ago, jsut leaving the mount in the park now. Cliffhanger has installed in 2005 after the failure of Tornado x

[@playmotherthankmelater]

Apparently tornado was too insane for a family park I’ve heard.

[@mandyedavis7978]

Fantastic video. I probably had my first visit at the age of 18 months in 1969 as my Nan worked in the gift shop up to retirement in 1977. I know much of the changes have been caused by erosion but it is heartbreaking to see what it looks like today. We used to visit most summers to see new things installed. I used to love going down to the old Buffalo Creek even though it was a fair old climb back up hill and clambering all over the vehicles and the dinosaurs. I always used to be an appetiser in the Triassic Club but I think I would be main course now😂

[@ISLEOFWIGHTARCHIVE]

Great to hear your blackgang chine memories. I reckon I would be an all day breakfast in the triassic dinner club in 2023 🤣

[@MrWighteagle]

Great Video Stefan, 51 years.... a little longer than my 43! although. the memories do fade over time, just like you a wander through certain areas brings them all flooding back! Maybe a part 2 could be in order?

[@ISLEOFWIGHTARCHIVE]

Glad you enjoyed it. Maybe a part 2 , or I really want to do a book. But I have not the time, and the same as everything I always think that I could have done it better .

[@rancidschannel3206]

Cowboy town great rain or shine

[@littlebitoftis74]

Hi Stefan, I really enjoyed this. My Blackgang experience is about 48 years. I was born in 74 and the Isle Of Wight was my family holiday destination for many years. Like you, going over that hill at Blackgang and seeing the roundabout is magical. I have never managed to get to the lost village. On the days I have gone it's been very wet and slippy. I also panicked as I was on my own, going into the unknown. I remember and miss the Water Gardens, Buffalo Creek etc. I remember going om Moss Coach Trips to see the Blackgang illuminations. So much of my childhood is in the video.

[@ISLEOFWIGHTARCHIVE]

Fantastic memories and a tiswas fan too . I wouldn't advise the blackgang village on your own, having been many times myself.

[@Frvbemn]

Thank you for that lovely video. I am 67 and only vaguely remember our family trips to Black Gang Chine. In particular I remember the coloured lights on a walk down to the beach. It was very magical as we thought there may be pirates and smugglers down there 🤣🤣

[@ISLEOFWIGHTARCHIVE]

Thank you for your kind comments and memories. Here is film of Blackgang Chine at night from the 1960s. kzbin.info/www/bejne/o4HQlGOffddpptU

[@garethbramley1]

An absolutely splendid video! Thankfully, you saw fit to include some of the great, old postcard images, etc!! WELL DONE SIR!😁 The building you show at12:20 I think you will find is 'The Mount'. The White House and Hillside have gone and Tanners was right on the edge of the broken road - and now also seems to have gone. The Mount was just behind it to the right so this will be it. It does not show on the 1862 OS map so will have been built after this time. I'd love to see a picture of it in it's glory days. Bracadale is cited on the 1977 OS map which annotates the names of almost all of the properties in the area. The workshop building you mention (next to the road) is also shown (but obviously not named) as is Sunny Side. 26:24 - what a fantastic building this is!! It was originally known as 'Rockside Cottage' (see 1862 OS map) and was built somewhere around 1837/1840. Charles Petersen resided there in 1840.

[@jeffiow]

That was a great history presentation and was very interesting Stefan...atb...jeff.

[@ISLEOFWIGHTARCHIVE]

Good to hear from you jeff as always 👍

[@TheStevenWhiting]

28:07 Have they stopped the shows they were doing in cowboy land now? I recorded one when we went a few years back but as with everything on KZbin it got flagged cause of the music. I should stick it up on Odysee.

[@ISLEOFWIGHTARCHIVE]

I believe that the shows still exist.

[@rancidschannel3206]

I miss the lit up bubble tubes. When you could out out for the evening at Blackgang or Godshill. Places were open at night, now by 17.00 its all shut. Wasn't it better for kids and adults when there was somewhere to go at night.

[@Bendabell]

Cliffhanger went in about two or three years after I last worked as a ride operator, which was 2003/4. The house you pause to film upon entering Nursery Land is The Mount, my family home until age 5. Tanners was the small house south east of Hillside, south west of The Mount and was torn down at the same time as Hillside in about 2009/10. Were it still standing it would now be right on the edge of the cliff. It's *The Mustard Pot* next to The Pepperpot. I have a few of those 'combined tickets' if you'd like one? Very enjoyable video Stefan.

[@ISLEOFWIGHTARCHIVE]

Hi Ben .I would love a couple of combined tickets as I lost the ones I had nearly 40 years ago in an ill fated house move .

[@Bendabell]

@@ISLEOFWIGHTARCHIVE Well the ones I have are of, I assume, 90s era. Credit card sized and plastic. So probably more modern than your lost ones.

[@ISLEOFWIGHTARCHIVE]

@Benjamin Dabell these were credit card sized too. Probably the same as ones that my perants threw out. Would still love couple. I'm not on the island anymore but contactable via FB on isle of wight archive page or my own page.

[@maddien9]

how I’ve found out cliffhangers been removed 💔 was my favourite ride, great video though :)

[@ISLEOFWIGHTARCHIVE]

Cliffhanger is now at dreamland in margate. It's been painted up and renamed rock n roller.

[@bazzziebazzzie2076]

Thank you for making a great video of a place I have been to since I was a kid and seen many changes. You refer to your Southview video which I have watched many times. The question is if you were to make that video today, is there anything left? Or, did the Coach House and all of the vehicles that were there go over the cliff?

[@ISLEOFWIGHTARCHIVE]

Maybe an update is long overdue ? As you left us a such wonderful comment I best go back one more time.

[@AlexJBethell]

Spent the first 16 years of my life visiting this place

[@emmaaviss6562]

Not Tanners - The Mount. Grew up there 😊

[@ISLEOFWIGHTARCHIVE]

You wouldn't want to live in it now , needs a good clean 😄

[@oscarmeredith1128]

Brilliant informative video! How long do you think nursery land has in its current location? 5 years?

[@ISLEOFWIGHTARCHIVE]

Maybe 5 or maybe more.

[@nikkirothschild8767]

Great video, was there last week and was shocked they replaced Fantasy land with the underwater section. Great getting proper history on it as I tried to explain to my children how much it had changed, the worst part was the crooked house inside now just cardboard cut outs! its loosing its original theme now but lets hope they keep the pet shop and nursey land, all that is last bits left really.

[@ISLEOFWIGHTARCHIVE]

Every time I go into the new crooked house I hear perants and kids alike saying out loud "oh it's all changed not as good as it was." Not heard one person say it is an improvement. Glad you liked the film . I wanted to write a book but haven't the time. Thanks for sharing your blackgang memories too.

[@playmotherthankmelater]

New crooked house is cringe and too modern. I think it changed because the last owner died and his son took over. I guess he wanted it to be more modern and therefore more to the liking of the children.

[@marcsallis]

Brilliant video! Brought back lots of childhood memories there. Thankfully I have lots of photos of me as a kid there with my family. Is the tree with the pixies in it still accessible or did that go in one of the landslides?

[@ISLEOFWIGHTARCHIVE]

Hi , the tree with the pixies is still there , in it's original position still.

[@michaelabatchelor405]

You should do guided tours!

[@ISLEOFWIGHTARCHIVE]

Sounds like a plan.

[@playmotherthankmelater]

Also does anyone else remember the mouse husband and wife who interacted with each other at the push of a button?

[@ISLEOFWIGHTARCHIVE]

I last saw that broken up in pieces in the blackgang staff area. The mice were sitting down eating dinner.

[@liabatson6043]

Same! When i went in june, the crooked house and whatnot is full of paper characters rather than the old models. Definitely not got the 90s character i remember x 😢