Blackgang Chine, once a wild and desolate gorge in the cliffs overlooking the south west coast of the Isle of Wight, was opened to the public in 1843 by Alexander Dabell, a lace maker from Nottingham. Over the next 160 years, the gardens have been developed into an imaginative and eccentric collection providing exhibitions and entertainment for all the family. With heritage displays about the local history of the countryside and coast, fantasy animated shows, cowboy towns and dinosaurs, and rides for most ages, Blackgang Chine has been visited by thousands of Island holiday makers for years. Blackgang Chine has a small collection of oil paintings, four of which are portraits of the family who have been managers at Blackgang Chine since 1843 when it was founded.