Kelly's Directory (1886) - Shalfleet

Shalfleet is a parish in the West Medina liberty and rural deanery, archdeaconry of the Isle of Wight and diocese of Winchester, situated about 4 miles east from Yarmouth and 6 west from Newport. The church (not dedicated) is an ancient stone structure, having chancel, nave, and south aisle, with north, and south porches (the former containing some curious stone carving), and low square embattled tower and spire containing 4 bells, which has been considered of Saxon architecture, but the decorated facia, with ornamental work running round it, prove it to be Norman, and which style may be traced in several parts of the structure. The register dates from the year 1604. The living is a discharged vicarage, gross yearly value £210, with residence and 5 acres of glebe, in the gift of the Lord Chancellor and held since 1881 by the Rev. John Thomas M.A. of Jesus College, Oxford. Here are places of worship for Wesleyans, Prmitive Methodists and Baptists. This parish contains three manors, viz. Shalfleet; Ningwood, a mile and a half west; and Wellow, 2 miles south-west. Lord Heytesbury is lord of the manors of Shalfleet and Wellow, and John Pennethorne esq. of Ningwood. The principal landowners are Lord Hetesbury, Sir John Stephen Barrington Simeon bart. and John Pennethorne and W.G. Ward esqrs. The chief crops are wheat, barley and turnips. The area is 6,310 acres of stiff clay, sand and woodland and 361 of water and foreshore; rateable value, £6,264; the population in 1881 was 1,050, including part of Newtown, Calbourne.

[Description(s) from Kelly's Directory of the Isle of Wight (1886)]