The Isle of Wight Through the Eyes of the Brannon Family 1817-2017

An Island Legacy: the Isle of Wight Through the Eyes of the Brannon Family 1817-2017, Kenneth Hicks, 2017, Cross Publishing, 215p, £51-00 [including p+p], ISBN 978-1-873295-67-0. Available from Brading Roman Villa, Morton Old Road, Brading, Sandown, Isle of Wight PO36 0EN.

At an initial glance this might be mistaken for a traditional coffee table book but, on careful examination, it becomes apparent that this book is a serious contribution to our understanding of the topography and landscape of the Isle of Wight. What Kenneth Hicks has done is to assemble a series of 19th-century engravings of the Island, principally created by George Brannon, and to match them with modern-day photographs. It is a testament to the engravers that our modern-day photographs confirm the accuracy and clarity of their work.

To prove my judgement that this is a valuable source, the two engravings that have particularly captured my imagination are of the historic Ashey Sea-Mark, matched by a contemporary photograph. This naval monument is testament to the capacity of the Royal Navy in the 18th century to send messages from the Isle of Wight to the Admiralty in Whitehall in 20 minutes because this was a crucial Royal Navy Semaphore Station.

From the profits of this book, Kenneth Hicks, who is President of our Isle of Wight Branch, is funding bursaries for History undergraduates, via the Branch, and providing donations to the Earl Mountbatten Hospice at Newport.

This book can be recommended in so many ways.