Priory Woods

Priory Woods is a 2.94 hectare geological Site of Special Scientific Interest near the town of Bembridge, Isle of Wight, notified in 1998. It is a National Trust property and is served by a public footpath. Concealed within it is "The Priory Oyster" - an oyster bar attached to the Priory Bay Hotel and open only in the height of summer. It has significant recent archaeology with the remains of a sea wall and rusted iron railings. Acheulean hand axes have been found in strata dated from c.400,000 years ago, which would indicate their users were early Neanderthals or late Homo heidelbergensis. The woods overlook Priory Bay and its private beach.