Kingdoms of British Celts - Lyonesse Lyonesse (Isles of Scilly) The land of Lyonesse was one that had been engulfed by the ocean. Although the name and familiar trappings of Lyonesse are almost entirely legendary, or indeed mythical, the kingdom is traditionally linked to the Isles of Scilly. These islands, lying to the west of the Land's End promontory in Cornubia (modern Cornwall) do exist and were inhabited for many thousands of years. They form part of a low-lying region that encompasses the territory between the islands and Cornwall itself. There remains some doubt as to where Lyonesse was located. Early romancers who mention Tristan of the Tristan & Iseult story may be thinking of Lothian of the Gododdin in modern Scotland , which they called Loenois in Old French, or Leon (Leonais) in Brittany . If the Leon of Brittany is not one and the same as Lyonesse, then the two may still be connected, with the Britons of Lyonesse perhaps being responsible for creating the Armorican principality. Today Lyonesse is firmly rooted to Cornwall's traditions, so linking it to the Isles of Scilly seems the most logical step.

Neolithic people lived on Scilly, at which time the chain of islands were linked together. They constructed tombs, such as the one on St Mary's, and walls and huts that now lie below the present high-water mark. Even at that period the links between islands must have been increasingly prone to flooding. The Romans termed them Scillonia insula, suggesting a single island, or at least one main island. During the fifth and sixth centuries, the islands were becoming isolated but were still less submerged by water than today, so they would have presented enough land on which to warrant founding a small kingdom. The central plain was flooded around this time, and the inundation by water continues to this day, with water levels around the Isles of Scilly having risen five metres (sixteen and-a-half feet) in the last two thousand years. At exceptionally low tides, it is still possible to walk between the islands. Folk memories of the islands' past habitation went into the gradual build-up of the legend of Lyonesse.

Fisherman used to claim that the Seven Stones reef off Land's End marked the site of one of Lyonesse's vanished towns, the City of Lions (note the similarity to 'Lyonesse', or even the Armorican 'Leon'), and the supposedly lost land between Scilly and the mainland was called Lethesow, or Lethowsow. The fisherman used to haul up fragments of masonry in their nets, and church bells are allegedly heard under water when the sea is stormy. Around the mainland, in the bay of St Michael's Mount which was part of the Scilly region, are the fossilised remains of a sunken forest, with beech trees still bearing nuts. Although at least some of the traditional kings of Lyonesse are known to have existed as historical, or at least likely historical, figures, elements of this list are slightly dubious and unlikely ever to be confirmed fully. The kingdom seems to have been created around the time of Merchion ab Custennyn, king of Cornubia, probably as a vassal state, but it survived in this form for less than a century before it was reintegrated into Cornubia.

(Additional information by Paul Bennett, and from The Landscape of King Arthur, Geoffrey Ashe.) c.500 According to tradition, the territory of the Isles of Scilly is granted to the son-in-law of Meirchion ab Custennyn of Cornubia , while Merchion's natural son, Cyn-March ap Meirchion, inherits Cornubia itself. Meliodas probably marries Cyn-March's sister before the death of Merchion to be in a position to receive this grant of territory. However, it is also claimed that Felec is the first king of Lyonesse, making the marriage between Meliodas and Isabelle a dynastic match. A courtyard house at Halangy Down on Scilly, an Iron Age and Romano-British village fl c.500? Possibly the same as St Felix of 5th/6th century Cornwall. fl c.525 Meliodas ap Ffelig Son. m Isabelle ferch Meirchion of Cornubia . The second wife of Meliodas is a daughter or sister of King Hoel Mawr of Brittany . fl c.540 Tristan / Tristram ap Meliodas Son.

Nephew of Mark of Cornubia . Drustanus son of Cunomorus? Tristan, son of Meirchion, is one of the main characters of the story of Tristan & Iseult. While bringing Iseult, daughter of the Irish king, to Cornubia where she would marry King Mark, the two people fall in love. They have a secret affair which is belatedly discovered by Mark. Tristan manages to escape, but the couple are later forgiven. Unlike some later works, Tristan & Iseult portrays Mark in a sympathetic fashion. Later works paint him in increasingly darker tones, making him more and more evil and less of a sympathetic figure. The sixth century Tristan Stone, near Fowey in Cornubia (close to Castle Dore) bears an inscription which marks the grave of Drustanus, son of Cunomorus. The monument is subsequently moved several times so the grave itself is lost, but its original site is closer to Castle Dore than today.

The idea that Cunomorus is the same person as Mark is a persistent one, but it would mean that Tristan (a form of the extremely variable Drustanus) is his son, making the Tristan & Iseult story considerably less of a romance. Alternatively, this Mark is the slightly earlier Marcus Conomari of Dumnonia . fl c.560 Son. Reputedly drowned when Lyonesse was inundated. c.560 The diminutive territory is probably re-absorbed into Cornubia . Curiously, this seems to be around the same time that the first of a short list of kings appear in Leon in Brittany , which of course retains very strong links at this time with south-west Britain. Speaking very theoretically, perhaps the heir to Lyonesse is given British territory in Britanny in compensation. After the Arthurian period the water levels rise substantially, partially inundating Scilly and turning it into a chain of small islands. Overall it remains part of Dumnonia and is unconquered but subjugated along with the remains of that kingdom, Cornwall. They stay linked as the duchy of Cornwall, and Scilly has its own governors between 1568-1920.

Scilly Isles | The Journal Of Antiquities The Journal Of Antiquities Ancient Sites In Great Britain & Southern Ireland Category Archives: Scilly Isles Beneath The Waves – An Article by Paul Harris Ptolemy Cosmographia (Wikipedia) Looking through some of my old ‘Prediction’ magazines I came across a fascinating historical article by Paul Harris. This article appeared in the June 1995 edition of the magazine and is all about the sunken lands, lost cities, kingdoms and islands (one of which has ‘perhaps’ given rise to the famous legend and, perhaps myth of Atlantis) which are reputed to lie around the coastline of the British Isles. I thought that other people might like to read this and so here it is “quoted” in full. The author says: “The coastline of Britain is constantly under attack from the sea with vast tracts of land having been lost over the centuries while medieval ports find themselves stranded inland by the action of longshore drift and estuarine silting.

With this ever-changing scenario it is not surprising that many tales are told of one-time kingdoms, cities and islands now lost beneath the waves.” “One of the most extensive of these ‘lost lands’ would seem to be that reputed to lie under Cardigan Bay, Wales. Known as Cantrer Gwaelod, or Bottom Cantred, this land was said to be 40 miles in length, 20 in breadth, containing 16 cities and protected from the sea by a series of dykes.” “According to a tale told in the Welsh Triads, a dyke-keeper, being drunk, left open some sluice gates which inevitably led to the overwhelming of Cantre Gwaelod by the sea. It is now said that church bells can be heard tolling mournfully from their undersea locations at certain times and that, at low tide when the water is clear, buildings can be seen beneath the shallow sea.” “The Triads date the flood as ‘the time of Ambrosius.’ Since Ambrosius was the Celtic leader between about 460AD and 480AD, the flood must have occurred then. So what evidence exists to support the local belief and the Triad story?

“Well, firstly, there are long pebble ridges that stretch out to sea here. They look like abandoned sea defences and are often assumed so to be. Also, there are megalithic remains in the shallower parts of Cardigan Bay.” Submerged Forest Ceredigion Coast (photo credit: Richerman for Wikipedia) “Indisputably then, there were islands off this coast during the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods that have since been submerged, thus leaving the megalithic structures beneath the sea and indicating that the sea level has risen since then. Also, there are fossil remains of forests that must have existed in the warm period after the end of the last Ice Age. These are now only exposed at low tide.” “This raising of the sea level, though, affected the whole of Britain, not just Cardigan Bay, and certainly occurred prior to the ‘time of Ambrosius.’ It seems, therefore, that the indications of former land, now submerged, may have given rise to the legend of Cantrer Gwaelod, not the other way round. The Triads story may refer to the flooding of a small island elsewhere.

Indeed, it bears an uncanny resemblance to the story of the island of Ker Is which, according to Celtic sources, sank off Brittany during the 6th century.” “So what of the sea defences? These apparently are natural formations. Indeed, it was not even suggested that they were submerged sea walls until the 17th century, according to folklore researcher and author, Jennifer Westwood.” Lyonesse Land’s End (Looking West) Photo Credit: Carcharoth (Commons) for Wikipedia “Evidence is much stronger, however, for the fabled lost land of Lyonesse, no doubt the best known of our legendary sunken kingdoms. Its capital, the City of Lions, is said to have existed in the area of the Seven Stones, which lie seven miles west of Land’s End.” “Lyonesse itself supposedly extended from the Cornish peninsula to the Scilly Isles, contained many towns and villages and a total of 140 churches.

The lost land also has a place in Arthurian legend; but did it ever exist?” “Certainly the Scilly Isles themselves were one island as recently as the period of the Roman occupation, there being reliable descriptions of the Silvram insulam or Scilly Isle in 240AD and by Suplicius Severus in about 400AD. Furthermore, the islands themselves show signs of inundation since the pre-Roman Iron Age, there being huts and walls from this period still visible in the shallow waters between the islands. This, with the Roman reports mentioned above and the Arthurian legend of Lyonesse, strongly suggest the existence of a lost land here at least into the 5th century.” “Perhaps the flood described in the Welsh Triads sank Lyonesse, too? Or did all these Celtic legends arise from just one event? Whatever, the timing of this particular submergence seems fairly clear.

As for the depth of the submergence, investigations during the 1950s and 1960s put this as 14ft since the Iron Age.” “This is enough to link some of the Scillies together, particularly with the aid of sea defenses, but not enough to allow the area from the Scillies to Land’s End to be above sea level in its entirety, though parts such as the Seven Stones reef would be. To allow the whole of the legendary land of Lyonesse to be above sea level would require a drop of 60ft in ocean depth. The last time that this was the case was toward the end of the last Ice Age, some 9,000-10,000 years ago, perhaps stretching back into prehistory.” East Coast Plan Of Goodwin Sandbank (photo credit: Claus Ableiter for Wikipedia) “Moving around the coast to Kent, we come to the Straits of Dover and off the coast near Deal lie the Goodwin Sands, grave for upwards of 50,000 mariners over the centuries.

At low tide the sands can be exposed to such an extent that it is possible to land on them.” “Named after Earl Goodwin, the sands were once the island of Lomea, so tradition tells us. Apparently the Earl neglected to maintain the island’s sea defences and, in the ‘Martinmas Storm’ of 1099, it was overwhelmed and never reclaimed.” “Core samples taken from the Sands show that the ‘island’ is basically only a sand bar with a bedrock of chalk much deeper than sea level. However, in the past, the rivers Stour and Wantsum emptied much more silt into the sea near here, possibly leading to the sustenance of a much more pronounced sandbank than exists today. If this is so, there may be a basis to the legends.” “What is factual beyond doubt, however, is the constant erosion of this coast by the sea to a quite spectacular degree. The Isle of Sheppey, on the North Kent coast, is eroding at an alarming rate. On the north coast of the island is the town of Minster. During the Middle Ages this was situated in the centre of the island!

Further north, all along the coast of East Anglia, lonely, windswept clifftops overlook dark, choppy seas where once human activity took place and spectral church bells supposedly toll.” Dunwich Ruin of All Saints Church, Dunwich, 1904 postcard (Wikipedia) “One ‘lost city’ here is very well documented: Dunwich, on the Suffolk coast between Southwold and Sizewell. It was once a prosperous port situated on the River Blyth and became the capital of Saxon East Anglia reaching its peak during medieval times. But in January 1326 disaster struck. In one night three churches and over 400 houses were swept away in a great storm and one million tons of shingle and sand banked up across the harbor mouth, cutting off the River Blyth and diverting it northwards.” “Dunwich died, its trade killed by this sudden lack of a harbour. The population declined as merchants moved away and its sea defences were neglected. By the mid 17th century the market place was awash and house after house, street after street, fell over the crumbling cliffs into the advancing sea.

Now, all that remains is a church, a ruined priory, a pub and a few houses.” Atland Map of Doggerland c8,000 BCE (photo credit: Max Naylor for Wikipedia) “Travelling north eastwards across the North Sea brings us to the vicinity of the Dogger Bank, today the shallowest part of the sea between Britain and Scandinavia but at one time a large, populated island. Evidence for this has been found in the form of Mesolithic implements found in the material dredged from the Dogger Bank. The period during which a large island existed here would have been towards the close of the last Ice Age when the sea level was some 60-70ft lower than at present.

However, there is a belief that a large island called Atland existed here until 2193BC when it was overwhelmed by tidal waves caused by volcanic activity.” “Atland is described in a mysterious book that appeared in London in 1876 called the Oera Linda Book and subtitled ‘from a manuscript of the 13th century.’ The original was in the Frisian language and told of Atland and its inhabitants, the disaster that overwhelmed them and the subsequent history of the survivors who, it is said, carried civilization across the world to, among other places, Egypt, Crete and Greece and were said to be the ancestors of the Celtic races.” “Experts thought the book a forgery dating back to about the 1730s. Certainly this is a distinct possibility, especially as some of the contents do not seem credible. For instance, the survivors of Atland did not found the civilization in Egypt; this was already well advanced by 2193BC. Also, why were only the Mediterranean countries settled by Atland survivors and not Britain, France and Holland which were much nearer?

Furthermore, there has been no volcanic activity for many millions of years.” Atlantis Athanasius Kircher’s Atlantis Map (Mundus Subterraneus 1669) Wikipedia “None of this, however, prevented Robert Scrutton publishing the contents of the Oera Linda book in 1977 in his The Other Atlantis. Naturally parallels are drawn with Plato’s Atlantis which is thought to be the same place – after all the name is surely too similar to be coincidence? Maybe so but it is equally likely to indicate a deliberate attempt to emulate the Atlantis account.” “Nevertheless, Scrutton draws attention to traditions of a major catastrophe of a flood-like nature in the northern hemisphere in times past, recorded in the Welsh Triads and, as we have seen earlier, there may be a basis of fact in those accounts.” “What is certain is that today’s sea level is higher than it was in the past and is still rising.

Also, large tracts of land have been lost to the sea and, no doubt, given rise to many legendary stories around our coasts.” “What is also clear is that such disasters can happen at any time; the devastating East Coast floods of 1953 and 1978 are evidence of this. What has been may be again.” [If you have found the above article interesting and would like to find out more about this particular topic, then please read the book ‘Lost Cities And Sunken Lands’ by Nigel Pennick, published by Capall Bann, 1997]. Sources: Harris, Paul., ‘Beneath The Waves’ (article in Prediction magazine), June 1995, Volume 61, Number 6, Croydon, Surrey. History of Tresco | Tresco Island History of Tresco Share Page History of Tresco Was Tresco part of Lyonesse, the legendary "land across the sea" and final resting-place of King Arthur? Did Athelstan, most famous of the kings of Mercia, purge the island of the Viking menace or did that have to wait till the conversion to Christianity of Olaf Tryggvason in AD 994?

History, mystery and legend are intertwined on an island that began its transformation 10,000 years ago, and features prehistoric field systems dating back to Neolithic times. Christianity had a profound impact here. For almost three centuries from 1120, the Benedictine monks of the Priory, the ruins of which form part of the Abbey Garden, brought peace and order to Scilly's northern isles. But for the next 400 years, England's wars and Tresco's strategic importance at the mouth of the Western Approaches would make life miserable for the islanders.They tried their hand at tin mining on Castle Down and producing soda ash from kelp on the beaches. They were smugglers, wreckers, and pilots competing to steer boats through the rocks and shallows. But the cumulative blows of the Armada, the Civil War - in which Tresco changed hands twice - and the Napoleonic Wars turned subsistence to poverty and famine. The tide only turned in 1834, with the appointment of Augustus Smith as Lord Proprietor of the Scillies. Augustus broke with the sorry tradition of absentee landlords and incompetent agents to make Tresco his permanent home.

He restructured the failing farm industry, encouraged new ideas like the embryonic flower business and built schools on all the main islands, making education compulsory 30 years before the rest of Britain. He could never have imagined what his two greatest bequests would be, though: the private garden carved from bare moorland around the old Priory, and the family dynasty who have shared its beauty with others and sustained his vision. Words like 'rare' and 'special' do scant justice to this achievement. It is unique. An enduring Royal connection to Tresco - There has been a strong connection between Tresco and the Duchy of Cornwall and the wider Royal Family dating back to the arrival of Augustus Smith in the nineteenth century. Many members of the Royal Family have enjoyed visiting the island, most notably the Queen, Prince Charles and Lady Diana. Isles of Scilly - The Full Wiki The Full Wiki Note: Many of our articles have direct quotes from sources you can cite, within the Wikipedia article! This article doesn't yet, but we're working on it! See more info or our list of citable articles . Related top topics Welsh people Did you know ...

the Isles of Scilly and the Netherlands fought the Three Hundred and Thirty Five Years' War from 1651 to 1986 , and that not a single shot was fired during this war? a sailor from the SS Thames owed his life to a cask of porter after the ship wrecked on the Isles of Scilly in 1841 ? Encyclopedia From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia "Scilly" redirects here. For the area of Surrey, see Scilly Isles, Surrey . For the atoll in the Society Islands , sometimes called Scilly Atoll, see Manuae (Society Islands) . Isles of Scilly Map of the Isles of Scilly. Geography Location in relation to Cornwall Location Atlantic Ocean , 45 km (28 mi) off the coast of England Coordinates The Isles of Scilly ( English pronunciation: /ˈsɪli/, Cornish : Enesek Syllan) form an archipelago off the southwestern tip of the Cornish peninsula of Great Britain . Traditionally administered as part of the county of Cornwall , the islands have had a unitary authority council since 1890. This council is currently known as the Council of the Isles of Scilly.

The correct name for the islands is the Isles of Scilly, or simply Scilly; the people of Scilly consider the terms "Scillies" and "Scilly Isles" to be incorrect.[citation needed] The adjective "Scillonian" is sometimes used for people or things related to the archipelago. The islands are designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty . Contents 9 External links Geography The Isles of Scilly form an archipelago of five inhabited islands and numerous other small rocky islets (around 140 in total) lying 45 km (28 mi) off Land's End . They are all composed of granite rock of late Carboniferous age. The table provides an overview of the most important islands: Island Hugh Town (1) inhabited until 1855 The islands' position produces a place of great contrast—the ameliorating effect of the sea means they rarely have frost or snow, which allows local farmers to grow flowers well ahead of those in mainland Britain. The chief agricultural product is cut flowers, mostly daffodils . Exposure to Atlantic winds means that spectacular winter gales lash the islands from time to time.

This is reflected in the landscape, most clearly seen on Tresco where the lush sub-tropical Abbey Gardens on the sheltered southern end of the island contrast with the low heather and bare rock sculpted by the wind on the exposed northern end. As part of a 2002 marketing campaign, the plant conservation charity Plantlife chose thrift (Armeria maritima) as the "county flower" of the islands. [1] Advertisements Climate The Isles of Scilly have a temperate Oceanic climate ( Koppen climate classification Cfb) amongst the mildest and warmest climates in the United Kingdom . The average annual temperature is 11.6 °C (53 °F) in comparison to London which has 11.0°C (52 °F). Winters are amongst the warmest in the country due to southerly latitude and moderating effects of the ocean. Summers are not as warm as on the mainland. They are perhaps the sunniest areas in the UK with on average 7.6 hours per day in July.

The lowest temperature ever record was -6.4°C on 13 January 1987 and the highest was 27.8°C On 16 August 1947 [3] . The maximum snowfall was 23 cm (9 inches) on the 12 January 1987. On average there are less than 2 days of air frost per year. Climate data for Isles Of Scilly Month 200 Source: Climate Data for Isles of Scilly [4] 2010-02-08 The Isles of Scilly are in the USDA Hardiness zone 10 only area in the UK that is in this zone and AHS Heat Zone 1. Extreme weather is rare.

History An aerial photo of the Isles of Scilly St Martin's taken from the helicopter to Penzance View from Tresco , the second largest of the islands Looking across Tresco, one of the 5 inhabited islands of the Isles of Scilly 45km from the coast of Cornwall in the United Kingdom Scilly has been inhabited since the Stone Age and its history has been one of subsistence living until the early 20th century (people lived from what they could get from the land or the sea). Farming and fishing continue today, but the main industry now is tourism . The islands may correspond to the Cassiterides (Tin Isles) visited by the Phoenicians and mentioned by the Greeks . However, the archipelago itself does not contain much tin—it may be that they were used as a staging post from the mainland. It is likely that until relatively recent times the Isles were much larger with many of them joined into one island, named Ennor. Rising sea levels flooded the central plain around 400–500 AD, forming the current islands.

[5] Evidence for the older large island includes: A description in Roman times describes Scilly as "Scillonia insula" in the singular , as if there were a single island or an island much bigger than any of the others. Remains of a prehistoric farm have been found on Nornour , which is now a small rocky skerry far too small for farming. [2] [6] At certain low tides the sea becomes shallow enough for people to walk between some of the islands. This is possibly one of the sources for stories of drowned lands, e.g. Lyonesse . Ancient field walls are visible below the high tide line off some of the islands (e.g. Samson ). Some of the Cornish language place names also appear to reflect past shorelines, and former land areas. [7] The whole of southern England has been steadily sinking in opposition to post-glacial rebound in Scotland : this has caused the rias (drowned river valleys) on the southern Cornish coast, e.g. River Fal and the Tamar Estuary .

Offshore, midway between Land's End and the Isles of Scilly, is the supposed location of the mythical lost land of Lyonesse , referred to in Arthurian literature. This may be a folk memory of inundated lands, but this legend is also common amongst the Brythonic peoples; the legend of Ys is a parallel and cognate legend in Brittany . Norse and Norman period Olaf Tryggvason , who supposedly visited the islands in 986. It is said an encounter with a cleric there led him to Christianise Norway At the time of King Cnut , the Isles of Scilly fell outside his British realms, as did Wales and Cornwall It is generally considered that Cornwall, and possibly the Isles of Scilly came under the dominion of the English Crown late in the reign of Athelstan . In early times one group of islands was in the possession of a confederacy of hermits. King Henry I gave it to the abbey of Tavistock who established a priory on Tresco which was abolished at the Reformation. [8] In 995 Olaf Tryggvason would become King Olaf I of Norway . Born c.

960, Olaf had raided various European cities and fought in several wars. In 986 however, he (supposedly) met a Christian seer on the Isles of Scilly. In Snorre Sturlason 's Royal Sagas of Norway, it is stated that this seer told him: Thou wilt become a renowned king, and do celebrated deeds. Many men wilt thou bring to faith and baptism, and both to thy own and others' good; and that thou mayst have no doubt of the truth of this answer, listen to these tokens. When thou comest to thy ships many of thy people will conspire against thee, and then a battle will follow in which many of thy men will fall, and thou wilt be wounded almost to death, and carried upon a shield to thy ship; yet after seven days thou shalt be well of thy wounds, and immediately thou shalt let thyself be baptised. The legend continues that, as the seer foretold, Olaf was attacked by a group of mutineers upon returning to his ships. As soon as he had recovered from his wounds, he let himself be baptized. He then stopped raiding Christian cities and lived in England and Ireland.

In 995 he used an opportunity to return to Norway. When he arrived, the Haakon Jarl was already facing a revolt. Olaf Tryggvason persuaded the rebels to accept him as their king, and Haakon Jarl was killed by his own slave, while he was hiding from the rebels in a pig sty. With the Norman Conquest , the Isles of Scilly came more under centralised control. About twenty years later, the Domesday survey was conducted. The islands would have formed part of the " Exeter Domesday" circuit, which included Cornwall, Devon , Dorset , Somerset , and Wiltshire . In the mid-12th century there was reportedly a Viking attack on the Isles of Scilly, called Syllingar by the Norse, [9] recorded in the Orkneyinga saga — Sweyn Asleifsson "went south, under Ireland, and seized a barge belonging to some monks in Syllingar and plundered it." [9] (Chap LXXIII) "...the three chiefs—Swein , Þorbjörn and Eirik—went out on a plundering expedition.

They went first to the Suðreyar [Hebrides], and all along the west to the Syllingar, where they gained a great victory in Maríuhöfn on Columba's-mass [9th June], and took much booty. Then they returned to the Orkneys." [9] "Maríuhöfn", literally means "Mary's Harbour/Haven". The name doesn't make it clear whether it referred to a harbour on a larger island than today's St Mary's, or a whole island. Middle Ages and early modern period Scilly was one of the Hundreds of Cornwall in the early 19th century, (formerly known as Cornish Shires).

At the turn of the 14th century, the Abbot and convent of Tavistock Abbey petitioned the king saying that they "state that they hold certain isles in the sea between Cornwall and Ireland, of which the largest is called Scilly, to which ships come passing between France , Normandy , Spain , Bayonne , Gascony , Scotland , Ireland , Wales and Cornwall: and, because they feel that in the event of a war breaking out between the kings of England and France, or between any of the other places mentioned, they would not have enough power to do justice to these sailors, they ask that they might exchange these islands for lands in Devon, saving the churches on the islands appropriated to them." [10] William le Poer, coroner of Scilly, is recorded in 1305 as being worried about the extent of wrecking in the islands , and sending a petition to the King. The names provide a wide variety of origins, e.g. Robert and Henry Sage (English), Richard de Tregenestre (Cornish), Ace de Veldre (French), Davy Gogch (possibly Welsh, or Cornish), and Adam le Fuiz Yaldicz (Spanish?).

It is not known at what point the islands' inhabitants stopped speaking Cornish , but it seems to have gone into decline during the Middle Ages . The islands appear to have lost the old Celtic language before parts of Penwith on the mainland, in contrast to the history of Irish or Scottish Gaelic . During the English Civil War , the Parliamentarians captured the isles, only to see their garrison mutiny and return the isles to the Royalists . By 1651, the Royalist governor, Sir John Grenville, was using the islands as a base for privateering raids on Commonwealth and Dutch shipping. It was during this period that the Three Hundred and Thirty Five Years' War started between the isles and the Netherlands . In June 1651, Admiral Robert Blake captured the isles for the Parliamentarians . Blake's initial attack, on Old Grimsby, failed, but the next attacks succeeded in taking Tresco and Bryher . Blake set up a battery on Tresco to fire on St. Mary's , but one of the guns exploded, killing its crew and injuring Blake himself. A second battery proved more successful. Subsequently, Grenville and Blake negotiated terms that permitted the Royalists to surrender honourably.

The Parliamentary forces then set to fortifying the islands. They built Cromwell's Castle —a gun platform on the west side of Tresco—using materials scavenged from an earlier gun platform further up the hill. Although this poorly sited earlier platform dated back to the 1550s, it is now referred to as King Charles's Castle . The islands appear to have been raided frequently by Barbary pirates . Government The flag of the Council of the Isles of Scilly. The Scillonian Cross, the unofficial flag of the Isles of Scilly. Saint Piran 's cross, the flag of Cornwall. The Isles of Scilly were one of the Hundreds of Cornwall , but their relationship to Cornwall is unclear National government The phrase "England and Cornwall" (or the Latin equivalent Anglia et Cornubia) remained in use after the Norman Conquest . Before the Tudor period , laws were typically designated as taking effect in Anglia et Cornubia . A similar situation exists today with the Isles of Scilly within Cornwall (i.e. Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly). Both the relationship of Cornwall to the Isles of Scilly, and the constitutional status of Cornwall are a matter of some debate.

Politically, the islands are part of England, one of the four constituent countries of the United Kingdom . They are represented in the United Kingdom Parliament as part of the St Ives constituency As part of the United Kingdom, the islands are part of the European Union and are represented in the European Parliament as part of the multi-member South West England constituency . Local government Historically, the Isles of Scilly were administered as one of the hundreds of Cornwall , although the Cornwall quarter sessions had limited jurisdiction there. The archipelago is part of the Duchy of Cornwall , the Duke being the heir to the British throne, and he is allowed special rights and privileges in the islands. The Local Government Act 1888 allowed the Local Government Board to establish in the Isles of Scilly "councils and other local authorities separate from those of the county of Cornwall"... "for the application to the islands of any act touching local government." Accordingly, in 1890 the Isles of Scilly Rural District Council (the RDC) was formed as a sui generis unitary authority , outside the administrative county of Cornwall. Cornwall County Council provided some services to the Isles, for which the RDC made financial contributions.

Section 265 of the Local Government Act of 1972 allowed for the continued existence of the RDC, but renamed as the Council of the Isles of Scilly. [11] [12] This unusual status also means that much administrative law (for example relating to the functions of local authorities, the health service and other public bodies) that applies in the rest of England applies in modified form in the islands. [13] With a total population of just over 2,000, the council represents fewer inhabitants than many English parish councils , and is by far the smallest English unitary council. The latest elections took place on the 4 June 2009; there were 21 elected councillors (all independent ), 13 elected by St Mary's residents and two each, elected by residents of Bryher, St Martins, St Agnes and Tresco. There are also some 164 staff employed by the council. These numbers are significant in that almost 10 per cent of the population is directly linked to the council as either an employee or councillor.

[14] For judicial purposes, shrievalty and lieutenancy purposes the Isles of Scilly are "deemed to form part of the county of Cornwall". [15] Flags There are primarily two flags used to represent Scilly: The flag of the Council of the Isles of Scilly, which incorporates their logo. [16] The unofficial Scillonian Cross, voted for by readers of Scilly News in 2002. [16] [17] An adapted version of the old Board of Ordnance flag has also been used, after it was left behind when munitions were removed from the isles. The Cornish Ensign has also been used. [16] [18] Education Main article: List of schools on the Isles Of Scilly Education is available on the islands up to age 16. There is one school, the Five Islands School , which provides primary schooling at sites on St Agnes, St Mary's, St Martin's and Tresco, and secondary schooling at a site on St Mary's. Secondary students from outside St Mary's live at a school boarding house (Mundesley House) during the week.

In 2004, 93% of pupils (26 out of 28) achieved 5 or more GCSEs at grade C and above, compared to the English average of 53.7%. [2] Sixteen to eighteen year olds are entitled to a free sixth form place at a state school or sixth form college on the mainland, and are provided with free flights and a grant towards accommodation. Post eighteen, suitably qualified students attend universities and colleges on the mainland. Economy Historical context Since the mid-eighteenth century the Scillionian economy has relied on trade with the mainland and beyond as a means of sustaining its population. Over the years the nature of this trade has varied, due to wider economic and political factors that have seen the rise and fall of industries such as kelp harvesting , pilotage , smuggling , fishing , shipbuilding and, latterly, flower farming . In a study of the Scillionian economy by Neate in 1987, it was found that many farms on the islands were struggling to remain profitable due to increasing costs and strong competition from overseas producers resulting in a diversification into tourism . Recent statistics suggest that agriculture on the islands now represent less than 2 percent of all employment.

[19] [20] [21] Tourism St. Martins Today, tourism is estimated to account for 85 per cent of the islands' income. The islands have been successful in attracting this investment due to their special environment, favourable summer climate, relaxed culture, efficient co-ordination of tourism providers and good transport links by sea and air to the mainland, uncommon in scale to similar sized island communities. [22] [23] The majority of visitors stay on St Mary's , which has a concentration of holiday accommodation and other amenities. Of the other inhabited islands, Tresco is run as a timeshare resort, and is consequently the most obviously tourist-orientated. Bryher and St Martin's are more unspoilt, although each has a hotel and other accommodation. St Agnes has no hotel and is the least developed of the inhabited islands. However the level of dependency on tourism is high, even by the standards of other island communities. “The concentration [on] a small number of sectors is typical of most similarly sized UK island communities.

However, it is the degree of concentration, which is distinctive along with the overall importance of tourism within the economy as a whole and the very limited manufacturing base that stands out.” [20] Due to its scale, tourism stands to justify the existence of many other island activities, for example, transport links to the mainland which could not be maintained with reduced visitor numbers. Therefore the implications of tourism are far ranging, as they essentially affect the sustainability of the whole community. Tourism is also a highly seasonal industry due to its reliance on outdoor recreation, and the low level of tourist activity in winter causes a near shut-down of the islands during that season. However, the tourist season benefits from an extended period of business in October when many birdwatchers (or birders) arrive. Ornithology Because of its position, Scilly is the first landing for many migrant birds , including extreme rarities from North America and Siberia . Scilly is situated far into the Atlantic Ocean, so many American vagrant birds will make first European landfall in the archipelago. Scilly is responsible for many firsts for Britain, and is particularly good at producing vagrant American passerines .

If an extremely rare bird turns up, the island will see a significant increase in numbers of birders. This type of birding, chasing after rare birds, is called 'twitching'. The islands are home to leading ornithologist Will Wagstaff . Employment The predominance of tourism means that "tourism is by far the main sector throughout each of the individual islands, in terms of employment… [and] this is much greater than other remote and rural areas in the United Kingdom”. Tourism accounts for approximately 63 per cent of all employment. [20] Businesses dependent on tourism, with the exception of a few hotels, tend to be small enterprises typically employing fewer than 4 people and many of these are family run, suggesting an entrepreneurial culture amongst the local population. [20] However, much of the work generated by this, with the exception of management, is low skilled and thus poorly paid, especially for those involved in cleaning, catering and retail. [24] Because of the seasonality of tourism, many jobs on the islands are seasonal and part time as work cannot be guaranteed throughout the year. Some islanders take up other temporary jobs ‘out of season’ to compensate for this.

Due to a lack of local casual labour at peak holiday times, many of the larger employers accommodate guest workers who come to the islands for the summer to have a ‘working holiday’. Transport The islands are linked to the mainland by both air and sea services, and rely on boat services for inter-island connections. St. Mary's is the only island with a significant road network. Helicopter from Penzance to the Isles of Scilly Scillonian III approaching St Mary's Harbour By air, the islands are served by St. Mary's Airport on the main island of St. Mary's and by Tresco Heliport on the island of Tresco. The following air services currently operate: Helicopter services, operated by British International Helicopters , from Penzance Heliport to St. Mary's Airport and Tresco Heliport. [25] In 1983, a helicopter crash claimed 20 lives on this service. Fixed-wing aircraft services, operated by Isles of Scilly Skybus , from Land's End (UK) , Newquay (UK) and St. Brieuc (France) to St Mary's Airport.

[26] By sea, the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company provides a passenger and cargo service from Penzance to St Mary's: Scillonian III (affectionately known as the stomach pump) passenger ferry and Gry Maritha cargo vessel. The other islands are linked to St. Mary's by a network of inter-island launches . [27] Tenure The freehold of the islands is the property of the Duchy of Cornwall (except for Hugh Town on St Mary's, which was sold to the inhabitants in 1949). The duchy also holds 3,921 acres (16 km2) as duchy property, part of the duchy's landholding. [28] All the uninhabited islands, islets and rocks and much of the untenanted land on the inhabited islands is managed by the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust, who leases these lands from the Duchy for the rent of one daffodil per year. [29] The Trust currently has three salaried staff and twelve trustees, who are all residents of the Isles. The full Trust Board is responsible for policy whilst a Management Team is responsible for day to day administration.

Given its small income and the small number of staff, the Trust has adopted a policy of recruiting volunteers to help it carry out its extensive work programme. While volunteers of all ages are welcome, most are young people who are studying for qualifications in related fields, such as conservation and land management. Limited housing availability is a contentious yet critical issue for the Isles of Scilly, especially as it affects the feasibility of residency on the islands. Few properties are privately owned, with many units being let by the Duchy of Cornwall, the Council, and a few by housing associations . The management of these subsequently impacts the possibility of residency on the islands. [30] Housing demand outstrips supply, a problem compounded by restrictions on further development designed to protect the islands' unique environment and prevent the infrastructural carrying capacity from being exceeded. This has pushed up the prices fetched for the few private properties that become available, but significantly for the majority of the island's population, this has also impacted the rental sector where rates have likewise drastically increased.

[31] [32] High housing costs pose significant problems of affordability for the local population, especially as local incomes (in Cornwall) are only 70% of the national average, whilst house prices are almost £5,000 more than the national average. This in turn affects the retention of ‘key workers’ and the younger generation, which has a consequent impact upon the viability of the school(s) and other essential community services. [22] [32] The limited access to housing provokes strong local politics. It is often assumed that tourism is to blame for this, attracting incomers to the area who can afford to outbid locals for available housing. Many buildings are used for tourist accommodation which reduces the number available for local residents. Second homes are also thought to account for a significant proportion of the housing stock, leaving many buildings empty for much of the year. [33] Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty In 1975, the islands were designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty . The designation covers the entire archipelago, including the uninhabited islands and rocks, and is the smallest such area in the UK.

The islands of Annet and Samson have large terneries and the islands are well populated by seals . The Isles of Scilly are the only British haunt of the Lesser White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura suaveolens). The islands are famous amongst birdwatchers, especially twitchers for their almost magnetic ability to attract rare birds from all corners of the globe. The peak time of year for this is generally in October when it is not unusual for several of the rarest birds in Europe to share this archipelago. One reason for the success of these islands in producing rarities is the extensive coverage these islands get from birdwatchers, but archipelagos are often favoured by rare birds which like to make landfall and eat there before continuing their journeys and often arrive on far flung islands first. Culture Main articles: Cornish people and English people The vast majority of the population are either indigenous, Cornish or English . Whilst there is little evidence to substantiate the claim, it is sometimes rather tenuously suggested, that the early inhabitants of the islands may have had a genetic link to the "Ancient British" who inhabited the islands long before the arrival of the Celts or Romans.

The criterion for claiming oneself to be a "Scillonian" typically relies on proof of being "island-born". Recent evidence from Essex University indicates that the young indigenous Cornish are increasingly underrepresented in the demographic profile, having been economically and socially displaced by older mainland-incomers. Sport One continuing legacy of the isles' past is gig racing , wherein fast rowing boats ("gigs") with crews of six (or in one case, seven) race between the main islands. Gig racing has been said to derive from the race to collect salvage from shipwrecks on the rocks around Scilly, but the race was actually to deliver a pilot onto incoming vessels, to guide them through the hazardous reefs and shallows. (The boats are correctly termed "pilot gigs".) The Isles of Scilly feature what is reportedly the smallest football league in the world, the Isles of Scilly Football League . The league's two clubs, Woolpack Wanderers and Garrison Gunners, play each other seventeen times a season and compete for two cups as well as the league title.

The league was a launching pad for the adidas "Dream Big" Campaign [34] in which a number of famous professional footballers (including David Beckham ) arrive on the island to coach the local children's side. The two share a ground, Garrison Field, but travel to the mainland for part of the year to play other non-professional clubs. In December 2006, Sport England published a survey which revealed that residents of the Isles of Scilly were the most active in England in sports and other fitness activities. 32% of the population participate at least 3 times a week for 30 minutes. [35] Scilly is also a popular scuba diving area. Media There is a small transmitter relay on St.Mary's island, which covers BBC Radio 1 , 2 , 3 & 4 as well as BBC Radio Cornwall . Radio Scilly , a community radio station, launched in September 2007. The amateur radio station M1IOS also operates on the islands as a permanent resident. The islands have their own designator among radio amateurs, EU-011, for the popular IOTA - Islands On The Air award, issued by the Radio Society of Great Britain, RSGB.

Only four of the analogue television stations are relayed onto the islands (i.e. Five is not covered). DAB and DVB / Freeview are not currently receivable on the islands. This is hoped to change when digital switch-over happens in the ITV Westcountry area in 2009, and transmissions from the Redruth transmitting station are increased in power. There is no local newspaper; however Scilly News is a locally based website which captures items of community interest and a magazine "The Scillonian" is published quarterly which reports matters of local interest. A maximum ADSL speed of 8 Mbit/s is available to all of the inhabited islands. The Isles of Scilly were featured on the TV programme Seven Natural Wonders as one of the wonders of South West England. Since 2007 the islands have featured in the BBC series An Island Parish , following various real life stories and featuring in particular the newly appointed Chaplain to the Isles of Scilly. A 12-part series was filmed in 2007 and debuted on BBC2 in January 2008. [36] This has since been followed by further series.

In literature The novel Unnatural Selection (2006) by Aaron Elkins is set on St. Mary's. Michael Jecks set his carefully researched medieval mystery novel The Outlaws of Ennor (2003) in the 14th century Isles of Scilly. In his "Acknowledgements" he lists a good number of books dealing with or touching on Scilly in the Middle Ages, especially Charles Thomas's Explorations of a Drowned Landscape: Archaeology and History of the Isles of Scilly (1985). St Martin's St Agnes St. Mary's is the largest island with a population of around 3000, the other inhabited islands, known as the off islands range from 30-150 people. There are a number of smaller islands and islets (including the Western Rocks, the Norrad Rocks, Samson, Tean, St Helen's and the Eastern Isles). Understand Note: Local people do not use - and do not like - the expression "The Scillies". Local usage is to refer to "Scilly". Get in No transport is available to or from the islands on Sundays. This also means that Sunday papers arrive on Monday.

By boat Passenger ferry (the Scillonian III ) from Penzance - 2h40m, runs from March - October. Leaves Penzance in the morning and returns late afternoon/evening. It's possible to take a day trip (with 4 hours onshore, longer on some days when there is a double sailing). Open returns £95. Day trips from £25 (in off peak check for vouchers in the Cornishman newspaper) [2] . By plane Fixed wing planes operated by Skybus fly from Land's End , Newquay , Exeter , Bristol and Southampton fly to St. Mary's Airport. Flights to/from Newquay normally connect with the Ryanair and Airsouthwest services to/from London Stansted/Gatwick By helicopter Helicopter from Penzance to St. Mary's (10 flights daily in summer, 3 in winter) or Tresco (5 flights daily in summer, 1 in winter). The air route between Penzance and St Mary's has been serviced by helicopter since 1964 and is the world's longest running scheduled helicopter service. The Tresco service was subsequently inaugurated in 1983.

The 20 min flight operates 6 days a week with regular flights throughout the day. Open-return flights cost around £170, but cheaper tickets are available if you travel mid-week. Get around Transport between islands: by boat Each island is serviced by an network of inter-island launches that run 7 days a week from 1 April through to the end of October each year. Apart from direct trips between the islands, circular sightseeing tours are also offered giving the opportunity to look at the extensive wildlife in and around the islands, particularly the large colonies of Atlantic seal and hundreds of sea bird species. One of the most popular trips is to see the puffins who arrive to nest in late April, leaving the Isles in early August. The boat service in the winter is governed more by wind and tide, but daily, direct trips still take place with the occasional circular journey when the weather is sufficiently benign. A bus service operates between Hugh Town and the airport. A few taxis also operate. Hire a bike Walk - Scilly is made for walking, and the relative lack of cars and other motorized transportation creates an atmosphere that is a luxury few of us can enjoy in our home towns.

Transport on the off islands There is no public transport available for day visitors, however transport is normally provided to and from the quay or heliport (on Tresco) to accommodation. This ranges from old land rovers to golf carts. On Tresco there are tractors with trailers - it's often said you won't ever find as many millionaires riding on the back of a tractor as you do on Tresco! Bike hire is available on all the islands Visit the Isles of Scilly Museum in Hugh Town on the island of St. Mary's. On Tresco are the famous Abbey gardens. Boat trips: large number of boat trips - from wildlife watching to island circular tours. On St. Mary's look out for the notice boards on the quay. On the off-islands check with the island boat company (Bryher Boats on Tresco & Bryher) Fishing, diving, walking, swimming, snorkeling, sailing, cycling, birdwatching, chilling out. World Pilot Gig Championships are held every year in May. Over 100 crews of traditional Cornish wooden rowing boats compete. The last night party is legendary. Buy Lots of locally produced food and gifts are available.

Scilly is famous for its flowers, and a wide variety of bulbs are available. St Agnes wildflower honey, St Agnes ice Cream, St Agnes eggs, Scillonian soap, island beef, locally caught fish and shellfish, and the list goes on. Picnic on the beach - The Co-operative on St. Mary's or Tresco Stores on Tresco are the best food shops. Good pub food available on all the islands. Be sure to try a pasty at the Turk's Head on St. Agnes. Cream tea is also not to be missed. St Martin's on the Isle on St. Martins The Island Hotel on Tresco Hell Bay Hotel on Bryher Drink Each of the islands has its own pub, though St. Mary's manages to support five, The Oldtown Inn. Porthcressa Inn, Bishop and Wolf, Atlantic Inn and The Mermaid. On the 'Off Islands' (as the other islands are refered to) you have the Sevenstones on St. Martin's, New Inn on Tresco, Fraggle Rock on Bryher and The Turks Head on St. Agnes. Camp sites on St. Mary's, Bryher, St. Agnes and St.

Martin's Various B&Bs and pubs on St. Mary's £60-100 The New Inn on Tresco, rooms for around £100. The Island Hotel Tresco, £200-500. Tregarthen, St. Mary's, £150-200 St Martin's on the Isle Hotel, £200-500 Hell Bay Hotel on Bryher, £150-400 Holiday cottage rental on Tresco, £800-3000 per week Timeshare cottage on Tresco, range from £20k for a week off-season to £50k+ in August or during school holidays (you get "your" week every year for 25 years). Most accommodation is on the largest and most populated island, St Mary's, which has plenty of accommodation of all kinds. The other islands have more limited accommodation: Tresco is a private estate which runs an upmarket timeshare resort, and has a hotel and a pub, but no campsite. St Martin's and Bryher each have one hotel, a campsite and some self-catering cottages.

St Agnes is the only inhabited island without a hotel, and is therefore the quietest, with just a few B&Bs and holiday cottages, and a campsite. The islands are a very popular holiday destination; demand for accommodation exceeds supply, so prices are quite high and early booking is advisable. Stay safe Near Crime-free. Biggest danger is probably from bike theft. Don't leave your bike unlocked outside a pub on a Friday or Saturday night! If it does go missing you'll probably find it returned the next morning. Get out You won't want to leave! Only way out by public transport is back to Cornwall on the mainland. It'll feel strange when you return. This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!

Question: What legendary land was between the Scilly Isles and Cornwall before it was overwhelmed by the sea?
Answer: Lyonesse