FRESHWATER, a parish in the liberty of WEST-MEDINA,
Isle of Wight division of the county of SOUTHAMPTON,
1 mile (S. S. W.) from Yarmouth, containing
876 inhabitants. The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry
and diocese of Winchester, rated in the king's
books at £9. 8. 4., and in the patronage of the Master
and Fellows of St. John's College, Cambridge. The
church, dedicated to All Saints, has lately received an
addition of seventy-four sittings, of which forty-three
are free, the Incorporated Society for the enlargement of
churches and chapels having granted £25 towards defraying
the expense. There is a place of worship for
Wesleyan Methodists. In 1714, David Urry gave a
messuage and lands, now producing £27 per annum, for
the education of sixteen boys. This parish has the
English channel on the south and west; on the north
is the Isle of Wight channel, whence the river Yar is
navigable to the village. To the west of Freshwater Gate,
a small creek in the centre of Freshwater-bay is the extensive
natural opening to the sea, called Freshwatercave,
the depth of which is about one hundred and
twenty feet, the principal entrance being about twenty
feet high arid thirty-five wide. The prospect from the
light-house, on the highest point of the Freshwater cliffs,
is exceedingly fine, and includes a full view of the
Needles. That eminent mathematician and natural
philosopher, Dr. Robert Hooke, Gresham. professor ol
geometry, and author of several esteemed publications,
was born in this village in the year 1635.