13 John Street

Summary

Three-storey mixed residential and commercial building, mid-C19.

Reasons for Designation

13 John Street is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Architectural interest:

* as a mid-C19 building, the fabric of which contributes to the architectural heritage of Ryde.

Historic interest:

* as part of the urban development of Ryde during the C19.

Group value:

* the building is in close proximity to a number of other listed buildings, contributing to a historic streetscape.

History

Until the C19, John Street was undeveloped open land on the eastern fringe of the small farming community of Upper Ryde. The area developed rapidly in the C19; John Street was laid out in 1831 but by the Tithe map of 1843 was still largely undeveloped on its north side. This had changed by 1863, the survey year of the first 25” OS map of the town, when the north side of the street is shown developed in the pattern which largely remains today (2024).

A plaque over the entrance to 13 John Street identifies the building as ‘Vanner House’. The Vanner family ran a postal and coaching business from the early 1860s onwards. They were residing in John Street by 1876 and occupied 13 John Street until at least 1909.

The building was listed in 1972, at which time it was noted that the front door had four moulded panels and the shop window had six large panes. Both features have since changed (2024).

The fishing village of ‘Le Ryde’ is recorded in the C14. By the late C18, what had been two medieval settlements: the farming community of Upper Ryde to the south, and the fishing and port community of Lower Ryde to the north by the coast, had been connected by the thoroughfare later known as Union Street.

During the early years of the C19, Ryde began to grow, culminating in the merger of Upper and Lower Ryde. From 1825 regular steam ferries began to operate between Ryde and Portsmouth. In 1829 The Ryde Improvement Act recognised Ryde as a town. A significant increase in the town’s population occurred during the first half of the C19, rising from around 1,000 in 1800 to 10,000 in the 1860s. Ryde developed as a seaside resort, encouraged by Queen Victoria’s presence on the island and the resulting boom in tourism. Its popularity continued into the C20, with the town acting as one of the main points of entry to the Isle of Wight.

Details

Three-storey building, mid-C19.

MATERIALS: the building’s front elevation is stuccoed.

PLAN: the building has a rectangular footprint with long elevations facing north (rear) and south (front) onto John Street. The building is three bays wide in a two/one arrangement (west/east, respectively) and three storeys high. The roof is hipped. It is detached to the west and attached to the flank of 165 High Street to the east.

EXTERIOR: at the first and second floors the building has three six-over-six horned sash windows. Above the second floor is a projecting cornice and blocking course.

The ground floor entrance has a C20 glazed door and a simple neoclassical surround with Doric pilasters and frieze with plaque which reads ‘Vanner House’. To the west of the entrance is a plate glass shop window matching the proportions of the upper windows. To the east of the door is a simple shopfront with a wide plate glass window framed by pilasters. There is a stallriser below the window which partially envelops an earlier doorstep and a flat hood above it.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

411758

Legacy System:

LBS

Sources

Other
Isle of Wight Observer, Ryde and Newport, 12 November 1864, p1.
Isle of Wight Observer, Ryde Petty Sessions, 8 July 1876, p5.
Isle of Wight Times, Vanner’s, 8 November 1909, p8.

End of official list entry

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