Godshill
Thousands of visitors flock to Godshill every summer to see the thatched cottages and the many attractions for a village as small as Godshill. The prettiest part is the church which sits on a small hillock above the village and is well worth a visit. According to legend, the original foundations were laid in a flat, easy accessible site but every morning they were found transferred to the hillock, so the builders gave in and built it there. The church dates back to the 14th century and has a unique feature known as the Lily Cross, a wall painting which was whitewashed over then rediscovered in Victorian times. The picture is of Christ crucified on a lily. Around the church is a cluster of stone and thatch cottages with their own history, the Old Bell Cottage was once a pub.
The history of Godshill is tied up with Appuldurcombe and the Worsley family. The mansion can be found in the next village of Wroxall, however, a lovely walk to it begins opposite the main car park and takes you through the woods and on to an ornate archway called Freemantle Gate which is the entrance to Appuldurcombe Park. The house itself is now owned by English Heritage and although mainly ruins is still worth a visit.
The village also hosts many tea gardens, one of which was patronised by Princess Beatrice. There is also The Old Smithy with its crafts and herb garden to visit and next to it is the Cider Barn selling Island produce.
In the centre of the village you will find the Model Village showing Godshill in Miniature.
