St Boniface Down
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| St Boniface Down | |
|---|---|
 The radar station on the summit |
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| Elevation | 241 m (791 ft) |
| Location | Isle of Wight, England |
| Prominence | 241 m (island highpoint) |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 196 |
| OS grid reference | SZ568785 |
| Listing | Marilyn, County Top |
St Boniface Down is a chalk down on the Isle of Wight. It is located close to the town of Ventnor, in the southeast of the island, and rises to 241 metres (791 feet), the island's highest point, one kilometre north of the town. There is reputed to be a wishing well on its southern slope, which requires the wisher to climb up from the south without looking back. In 1545 a French invasion force attempted this against a force of the Isle of Wight Militia commanded by Sir John Fyssher- which allegedly included several women archers- and were routed. In 1940 the radar station was bombed by Ju-87 Stuka dive bombers, which is reconstructed in the film "The Battle of Britain". The top is surmounted by a round barrow.
St Boniface Down is also the name and was the inspiration of a 1956 work by the English composer, Trevor Duncan.
[edit] Wildlife
St Boniface Down is home to the largest cricket within the British Isles, the great green bush cricket.
The area's fauna is also important, resulting in parts of the Down being designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
[edit] Rerences
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