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Restore The Story CIC
Not-for-profit CIC on the Isle of Wight uncovering, preserving & sharing local history through immersive tours, talks, exhibitions & projects. We bring forgotten places & hidden stories back to life for communities & visitors alike.
We’re excited to be joining the Newport & Carisbrooke Community Council Summer Fayre this year — and we won’t just be bringing our usual display…![]()
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Behind the scenes, we’ve been working on something a little different. Something new. Something we haven’t shown before.![]()
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Curious? 👀![]()
Come and find us on the day, have a chat, and be among the first to see what we’ve been up to.![]()
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We’ll be there all day — we’d love to see you!![]()
#restorethestorycic![]()
#isleofwight𝗡𝗲𝘄𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 & 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗮𝘆𝗿𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 ![]()
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Newport & Carisbrooke Community Council (NCCC) are thrilled to invite residents and visitors to its spectacular Summer Fayre 2026 on Saturday 30th May, from 10:00am to 4:00pm at Victoria Recreation Ground, Newport. ![]()
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Get ready for an unforgettable day packed with fun, excitement, and community spirit — with FREE entry, FREE parking, and FREE activities for everyone to enjoy. This fantastic family-friendly event will feature live entertainment throughout the day from amazing performers including Vectis Brass, Boogie-woogie Bluebirds 1940’s Trios and Wonderfell Theatre. Plus, crowds will be treated to performances from the jaw-dropping Fusion Extreme BMX stunt team — as seen on TV!![]()
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Animal lovers are in for a treat too, with a Dog Show at 2pm hosted by Ability Dogs 4 Young People IoW, as well as birds of prey, hedgehogs from Save Our Hedgehogs Isle of Wight and even possibly some parrots!![]()
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There’s something for everyone, from free face painting WITH Tracy's faces Iw and soft play to an action-packed NERF arena, wildlife education, historical displays, and hands-on interactive experiences for all ages.![]()
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A spokesperson for NCCC said:![]()
“We’re absolutely delighted to bring our community together once again for this year’s Summer Fayre 2026. With so much to see and do, it promises to be a fun-filled, memorable FREE day out for families, friends, and visitors of all ages. Come along and be part of this vibrant celebration — we can’t wait to welcome you!”
A great day of living history at Fort Nelson with the Portsdown Artillery Volunteers, and a fitting send-off for Graham W after many years of dedication to the group.![]()
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The PAV do brilliant work bringing the story of the Artillery Volunteers to life for visitors, but they are currently very low on numbers and are actively looking for new recruits. If you’ve ever thought about getting involved in re-enactment or helping to keep this important part of local history alive, they would love to hear from you — no prior knowledge needed, full training and uniform provided.![]()
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Details in the post below 👇
Unlocking the Stories Behind the Island’s Historic Sites![]()
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If you are looking for experienced tour guides to bring your historic site to life, we’re Steve and Jo, and we specialise in delivering engaging, well-researched guided tours across the Isle of Wight.![]()
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We work with a wide range of historic locations, from Palmerston fortifications and coastal batteries to manor houses and heritage sites. Our approach is always the same — in-depth research combined with clear, engaging storytelling that helps visitors truly connect with the history of a place.![]()
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We are currently running tours at Steynewood Battery and working alongside the National Trust at the Needles Batteries, as well as delivering talks for heritage centres across the island. Every site we work with is carefully researched to ensure accuracy and depth, uncovering the stories that often go untold.![]()
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Whether it’s developing a new visitor experience or delivering tours at an existing site, we bring history to life in a way that is both informative and memorable.![]()
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If you know someone who might be interested, please feel free to share this post, tag them below, or tag us on any relevant pages or conversations — it really helps spread the word and connect us with the right people.![]()
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Find out more on our website: www.restorecic.org/unlocking-the-stories-behind-the-islands-historic-sites/![]()
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#IsleOfWight #History #HeritageTours #MilitaryHistory #PalmerstonForts #GuidedTours
Looking for something different to do this Bank Holiday? On Monday we still have a couple of spaces available on our 11 am and 2 pm tours. Book your tour of Steynewood on our website :![]()
www.restorecic.org ![]()
#islandlife #bankholiday #fort #isleofwight
40 years on, we pause to remember the lives lost, the heroism shown, and the lessons that must never be forgotten.![]()
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On 26 April 1986, the world witnessed the devastating consequences of the Chernobyl disaster. Today, we honour those who responded, reflect on the impact still felt, and renew our commitment to a safer future.![]()
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#Chernobyl40 #NeverForget
It was lovely to see Steamship Shieldhall passing us this morning at Fort Albert and Hurst Castle UK in the distance. ![]()
They even gave a little toot to passing ships.![]()
We will get tickets one day. 👍
SS Braemar Castle aground at Gurnard, Isle of Wight – January 1902![]()
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This remarkable photo shows SS Braemar Castle after one of the most dramatic incidents of her career.![]()
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Built by Barclay, Curle & Co. of Glasgow and launched in 1898, the 6,266-ton liner operated on the Southampton–South Africa route for the Castle Mail Packet Company. But in early 1902, her normal passenger service had been disrupted by the Second Boer War, and she was being used to transport troops and passengers between Britain and South Africa.![]()
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On 14 January 1902, Braemar Castle was homeward bound from Cape Town to Southampton, carrying 85 passengers, cargo and Royal Mail, when she ran aground on Gurnard Ledge in Gurnard Bay, just west of Cowes.![]()
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The liner grounded at around 1am at high water while carefully navigating the Solent on the final stretch of her voyage. Her engines were immediately reversed, but she remained firmly stuck.![]()
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Contemporary newspaper reports stated she was stranded just 50 yards from shore, sitting upright with nine feet of water forward, twelve feet aft and only six feet amidships. Despite the grounding, she was reported to be making no water, and her tanks had already been emptied in an effort to reduce weight.![]()
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There was reportedly no panic onboard. Passengers were transferred to a tender and safely taken to Southampton, along with the ship’s mails.![]()
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Salvage operations began almost immediately. Four powerful tugs were dispatched from Southampton, along with lighters to help unload cargo and further lighten the ship before attempts were made to pull her clear.![]()
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After spending two days stranded, Braemar Castle was successfully refloated on 16 January 1902 and taken for repairs, narrowly avoiding becoming one of the Solent’s most famous shipwrecks.![]()
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She would later go on to serve as a troopship and hospital ship during the First World War before being scrapped in Genoa in 1924.![]()
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This post includes a colourised, enhanced AI version of the original image. With the current confusion surrounding AI-generated and altered images, we will always clearly state when an image has been enhanced or colourised using AI. Unfortunately, some images are now being shared without this being declared, which has led to debate and misunderstanding. Transparency is important when sharing historical photographs.![]()
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If you’d like to see and learn more about the Island’s fascinating history, be sure to like & follow our page for more stories, photos, and discoveries from across the Isle of Wight’s past. And if you enjoyed this post, feel free to give it a share, it really helps us spread the history! — Restore The Story CIC
Honoured to celebrate Alec Penstone on his 101st birthday yesterday 🎉![]()
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A proud WWII veteran and a deeply respected member of our Island community. We are truly grateful for his service and everything he has given.![]()
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Belated happy birthday, Alec — with our heartfelt thanks and admiration.