While the print itself is undated, it is seen in: 'Barber's picturesque illustrations of the Isle of Wight: compromising views of every object of interest on the island', published in 1834, and is very likely from this book. This book contains information on the history of the Isle of Wight, experiences travelling on the island and additional information on certain artworks. At Freshwater bay, the cliffs are made from a soft white chalk meaning that it is more susceptible to coastal erosion. Through coastal erosion and weathering, formations such as this arch are produced. Eventually, these formations erode into the sea as is the case of the Arched rock which collapsed on 25 October 1992. These prints are useful in understanding the landscape prior to the introduction of the camera and photography which made the transmission of landscapes scenes considerably easier and affordable.
This object was audited and researched as part of the National Lottery Heritage Funded Data Hunters and Story Gatherers project.
