SHANKLIN Chine celebrated its 200th anniversary as an attraction on the Island with the launch of a new exhibition.
The Island's Lord Lt, Maj Gen Martin, accompanied by new Isle of Wight High Sheriff, opened the new bicentenary exhibition to celebrate the chine's landmark in a ceremony.
Anne Springman, who owns and manages the attraction, spoke to the 170 guests who attended.
The new exhibition is a celebration of its early days as a draw to Victorian and Edwardian visitors - especially artists, writers and poets of the eras - for its dramatic scenery and the emergence of geology as a science and studies into the natural environment.
The chine is steeped in wartime military history, with its cliffs used by the Royal Marines for training in preparation for the Dieppe Raid of 1942, and as a route for the PLUTO (Pipeline Under the Ocean) project, which carried fuel 65 miles to Cherbourg, to support the Allied invasion of France in 1944.
There are several items of interest in the exhibition, which includes Roman coins, trench art from the First World War and an eagle owl carved by Niton chainsaw artist Paul Sivell.
Mrs Springman said: "The exhibition takes the chine on to the next stage of its journey. The chine is considered to be a very special and spiritual place by so many and it continues to enrich our lives with its magic.
"Even after 40 years of managing it, I continue to learn and the chine is about to open a new door in its journey by becoming a conservation trust and charity for its future protection.
"This will include the preservation and maintenance of the chine's Heritage Centre and 40 Royal Marine Commando memorial."