Shide Chalk Pit

Shide Chalk Pit was also known as Shide Quarry. The history surrounding the Pit is very vague, as much of the documentation has not survived, but it is understood that the Pit was opened in 1875. According to Census Records from 1841, the area of the Great Pan Estate was part of Pan Down, which was owned by Samuel Rolleston, and occupied by John Hollis. It is suggested that it was part of the landholding of Great Pan Farm. This is shown on the map of 1864, before the building of the Pit. The estate itself was in the possession of the Rolleston family until 1911.

The Chalk Quarry itself supplied chalk to the Medina Cement Trade for processing. The West Medina Cement Mill, which was situated on the banks of the river that runs to Cowes, was the place which demanded most of the chalk supply. It was then transported by rail, which once joined the main Sandown to Newport line through a short tunnel, and then went onto the Newport-Cowes line. Open wagons were used in large numbers for one journey, with "Terrier" tank locomotives entering the Pit itself. The thriving trade of the Chalk Pit is thought to have continued until the Second World War, when the pit was deserted and left to ruin. The railway line was abandoned around 1956 and the track erased. By 1990, the Chalk Pit buildings, quarry floor, and railway track were no longer detectable, with only the tunnel showing signs of one of the Isle of Wight's past historic sites.