Isle of Wight installs historic hovercraft propeller as waterfront monument

A four‑bladed, seven‑metre‑high propeller from the former cross‑Channel passenger hovercraft Princess Margaret has been refurbished and installed on Albany Green in East Cowes, Isle of Wight. The monument, a permanent loan from the Hovercraft Museum in Lee‑on‑the‑Solent, forms part of a wider waterfront regeneration scheme funded by Isle of Wight Council and GKN, with construction support from Wight Shipyard.

Councilors and heritage groups say the display commemorates the SR‑N4 hovercraft, once the world’s largest passenger hovercraft, highlighting its role in British engineering and the island’s maritime history. An interpretation board provides details on the hovercraft’s design, operation and legacy for visitors.