Sandown is a
seaside resort town and
civil parish on the southeast coast of the
Isle of Wight,
England, which neighbours the town of
Shanklin to the south, with the village of
Lake in between the two settlements.
Sandown Bay is the name of the bay off the
English Channel which both towns share, and it is notable for its long stretch of easily accessible golden sandy beach. It is the site of the lost
Sandown Castle. Whilst undergoing construction, this was attacked by a French force which had fought its way over
Culver Down from
Whitecliff Bay, resulting in the French being repulsed. It was built too far into the sea and constantly suffered erosion, until now reduced to a pile of rocks. Later forts in the town include the Diamond Fort (named after its plan), built inshore to replace the castle and which fought off a minor attack from privateers (probably French) in 1788, and the present "Granite Fort" at
Yaverland, which is now the zoo. Together with
Shanklin, Sandown forms a built up area of 21,374 inhabitants.