Ryde in historic gazetteers

Gazetteer of the British Isles (Edinburgh: Bartholomew, 1887). John Bartholomew

Ryde, watering-place, mun. bor., and par., on NE. coast of Isle of Wight, 8½ miles NE. of Newport by rail, 4 miles from Southsea Pier (across the Solent), 20 from Southampton, and 79 from London - par. (formed from Newchurch par. in 1866), 3812 ac., pop. 12,817; bor. (extending into St Helens par.), 792 ac., pop. 11,461; P.O., T.O, 2 Banks, 3 newspapers. Ryde (in Norman times called La Rye, or Riche) rises in terraces from the sea, and presents a very striking appearance. Its advantages as a watering-place began to attract attention at the close of the 18th century, when it was a mere fishing village. It has fine sands, an esplanade nearly a mile long, a wooden pier 2250 ft. long which forms a delightful promenade, and public gardens with an ornamental sheet of water. At the E. end of the town is the Isle of Wight College, a public school, and westward of the pier is the club-house of the Royal Victoria Yacht Club. The building yards are noted for their boats and yachts. Ryde was made a municipal borough in 1868.