Solent

The Solent is a stretch of sea separating the Isle of Wight from the mainland of Great Britain. It is a great centre for yachting and is renowned as one of the most expensive waters to cross by ferry in the world. It is sheltered by the Isle of Wight, and has a very complex tidal pattern, which has greatly benefitted Southampton's success as a port. Portsmouth lies on its shores. Spithead, an area off Gilkicker point near Gosport, is renowned as the place where the Royal Navy is reviewed by the monarch of the day.

During the late Middle Ages, Henry VIII of England built an extensive set of sea defences at each end of the Solent, effectively controlling access to east and west. Four large forts were built in several metres of water together with long underwater walls, quite an engineering acheivement for the day. The forts remain and are privately owned.

Archaeologists have discovered that the Solent was above sea level until about 8,000 years ago, and was covered by an oak forest. When glaciers covering the north of Britain melted at the end of the last ice age, the island tilted about an east-west axis, submerging parts of the south coast, including the Solent. Remains of human habitation have been found from the prehistoric, Roman and Saxon eras, showing that humans retreated towards progressively higher ground over these periods.

Even today the very centre of the Solent, Bramble Bank, is exposed at low water. This, combined with the unique tidal patterns in the area, makes navigation challenging. There are tales of sailors playing cricket on Bramble Bank during especially low tides!