Guided Churchyard Walk in Bonchurch, Isle of Wight — History, Stories & Notable Graves

Discover the hidden histories of Bonchurch's two ancient churchyards on this guided walking tour led by local historian Sue Lowday. Set in one of the Isle of Wight's most picturesque and historic villages, these atmospheric burial grounds are the final resting place of poets, pioneers and remarkable residents — each with a story worth telling.

Whether you're a history enthusiast, a lover of the Isle of Wight's heritage, or simply curious about the village of Bonchurch, this is a walk that will stay with you long after you leave.

Walking with Dickens — Bonchurch, Isle of Wight

In the summer of 1849, Charles Dickens rented a house in Bonchurch and fell in love with the village. He was writing David Copperfield at the time, and the people and places around him left their mark on the novel in ways that can still be traced today.

This illustrated walk with local historian Sue Lowday follows in his footsteps — uncovering the hidden locations he knew, the real people who inspired his characters, and the stories that have quietly shaped two of English literature's most beloved novels.

It's a walk that works equally well whether you know Dickens well or are simply curious about this remarkable corner of the Isle of Wight.

Women, Talent & Power. Victorian Bonchurch 

Every woman discussed on this tour had an abundance of talent. The question asked is a simple one: what happened when the men around them permitted that talent to flourish, and what happened when they didn't?

The answers, as we shall see, range from the triumphant to the tyrannical. Women of extraordinary ability were celebrated, suppressed, dismissed, forbidden to earn their own living, and, in one case, written off by their own father as someone who would never make a success of anything. The men who wielded that power — some famous, some forgotten — did not always emerge with credit. The women, more often than not, did!