Talks and Events

Carisbrooke Castle Museum Presents

Paul AT Wilson – Fragments of the Isle of Wigh

Step into the strange, half-forgotten world of 19th-century island storytelling with Isle of Wight Miscellany by Ebenezer Hartnell, a curious collection of folklore, local history, and uncanny tales gathered from across the Island.
In this atmospheric evening talk, Paul AT Wilson explores the voices and stories Hartnell preserved: whispers of hauntings, fragments of rural life, and echoes of beliefs that once shaped the Isle of Wight’s identity. Through selected readings, these long-silent tales are brought back to life, including material never published and only recently rediscovered in Hartnell’s own handwriting.
The journey continues through handwritten notes, forgotten connections, and the mysterious figure of Abraham Elder, author of Tales and Legends of the Isle of Wight. Some mysteries are simply too intriguing to ignore.
Blending history, storytelling, and performance, this promises to be a fascinating evening exploring the Island’s hidden past, where truth and myth are never quite as far apart as they seem.

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