Bryher, Isles of Scilly

Bryher
Bryher seen from Tresco
Bryher Bryher shown within Isles of Scilly
Population	84 (2011)
OS grid reference	SV876361
Civil parish	Bryher
Unitary authority	Isles of Scilly
Ceremonial county	Cornwall
Region	South West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ISLES OF SCILLY
Postcode district	TR23
Dialling code	01720
Police	Devon and Cornwall
Fire	Isles of Scilly
Ambulance	South Western
EU Parliament	South West England
UK Parliament	St Ives
List of places UK England Cornwall

Coordinates: 49°57′14″N 6°21′22″W / 49.954°N 6.356°W / 49.954; -6.356

Bryher (Cornish: Breyer, place of hills) is one of the smaller of the inhabited islands of the Isles of Scilly.

Geography

The island has a length of 2 kilometres (1.2 mi), a maximum width of 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) and an area of 134 hectares (330 acres), including Shipman Head, which rises to 42 metres (138 ft) at the northern end of the island.^[1] Bryher lies to the west of Tresco, and is separated from that island by the Tresco Channel, once the main anchorage for the islands and now an area where sandflats are exposed at low tide. Off the southern end of Bryher is the uninhabited island of Samson. It is possible to walk between the three islands at the lowest spring tides.

The settlement at the Pool / Hell Bay Hotel is the westernmost in England. Without the tidal island of Gugh included, St Agnes is marginally smaller than Bryher in either population or area; however if Gugh is included with St Agnes, which is the common interpretation, then Bryher is (again, marginally) the smallest of the populated isles of Scilly in area and population.

The centre of Bryher is mainly low-lying with arable fields, pasture and housing and is where most of the population of 84. On the west side is the brackish Great Pool overlooked by the Hell Bay Hotel and in the south are sandy beaches, a common feature on the island, Rushy Bay being an example. The island lies within the Isles of Scilly Heritage Coast, is part of the Isles of Scilly Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and untennanted land is leased by the Duchy of Cornwall to the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust which is using ponies and red ruby cattle^[2] to graze the overgrown areas as part of the Waves of Heath project.

History

The name of the island is recorded as Brayer in 1336 and Brear in 1500.

Hell Bay

Hell Bay, Bryher.

The infamous Hell Bay can be found on Bryher. This Atlantic-facing cove became a notorious place for shipwrecks over the 18th and 19th century though there is little evidence to support this, most ships having been wrecked before they even reached here.

Bar Quay

In the centre of the island is Bar Quay, which was built in 1990 by volunteers for the television programme Challenge Anneka. It is known to many islanders as 'Anna-Quay'. In 2007 it was replaced by a new concrete quay, as part of a Scilly-wide programme of quay rebuilding.

Natural history

There are three Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on Bryher. The Shipman Head and Shipman Down SSSI was first designated in 1971 and covers over 40 ha of the northern part of the island. Waved maritime heath grows over shallow podzolic soils which are underlain by Hercynian granite. Rare plants include the Red Data Book (RDB) Orange Bird’s-foot (Ornithopus pinnatus) and the nationally scarce Hairy Bird’s-foot trefoil (Lotus subbiflorus). Lichens include (Lobaria pulmonaria) and (Teleoschistes flavicans).^[3]

On the west side of the island is Great Pool which is part of the Pool of Bryher and Popplestone Bank SSSI. It is separated from the sea by a storm beach and small dune system, and is the only natural brackish lagoon on Scilly with plants such as Saltmarsh Rush (Juncus gerardii) and Beaked Tasselweed (Ruppia maritima).^[4]

Covering 12 hectares (30 acres) of the southern part of the island is the Rushy Bay and Heathy Hill SSSI which has a number of nationally rare plants. An Isles of Scilly speciality is the Dwarf Pansy (Viola kitaibeliana) which grows nowhere else in Great Britain. It is locally abundant on Bryher and thousands can be found in May in short turf and bare sand.^[1] Unfortunately a storm in 2008 reduced the numbers of plants seen; there are also small colonies on Tresco and Teän. Orange Bird’s-foot, Small Adder’s-tongue (Ophioglossum azoricum) and Autumn’s Lady’s-tresses (Spiranthes spiralis) grow on Heathy Hill.^[5]

Breeding birds

Shipman head has seven species of breeding seabirds:

Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla)
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)
Greater Black-backed Gull (L marinus)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (L fuscus)
Razorbill (Alca torda)
Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis)
European Storm Petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus)

Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) breed on Shipman Down.^[3]

Civil parish and ward

The isles of Scilly comprising the civil parish and ward of Bryher shown in red.

Bryher is one of the five civil parishes of the Isles of Scilly, which are also wards. The civil parish and ward include several uninhabited islands and rocks, including the Norrard Rocks, Gweal, Zantman's Rock and the Crim Rocks (the westernmost place of England).^[6] Bryher returns two councillors to the Council of the Isles of Scilly, the same as the other "off-island" wards. The civil parish is not functional however, and there is no council or meeting.

Visiting the island

Varied accommodation is available on the island. The Hell Bay Hotel is located close to the coast on the west side. There are guesthouses, self-catering cottages and a campsite. Two quays are used (depending on tides) by boats which take tourists between Bryher and other islands, including St Mary's and Tresco. On some low tides it is possible to walk between Bryher and Tresco and even Samson, the uninhabited island to the south. There is also safe anchorage for small yachts in the channel and Green Bay. In the north of the island are the Fraggle Rock Bar, Vine Cafe and the Bryher shop, which opened in 2011.

The Golden Eagle Gig shed on the west coast is the studio of the artist Richard Pearce.

All Saints' Church, Bryher is located on the island.

Local activities include boating, walking and watching wildlife.

Other uses of "Bryher"

In recent years Bryher has been become a popular girl's name. Annie Winifred Ellerman, daughter of the UK's wealthiest man Sir John Ellerman, took the name Bryher as her nom de plume in the early 20th century.

Use in film and television

In 1989, the island was used for some of the scenes in the BBC's television adaptation of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

When the Whales Came was made on location in 1989 and starred Helen Mirren, Helen Pearce, Paul Scofield and David Suchet.

In fiction

Great Par, Bryher

Bryher features in various books: The Wreck of the Zanzibar, The Sleeping Sword and Why the Whales Came, all by Michael Morpurgo and Hell Bay by Sam Llewellyn.

Population

1841: 121
1851: 34 Families
1861: 115

1871: 104
1881: 103
1891: 91

1901: 97
1911: 113
1921: 101

1931: 64
1951: 117
1961: 66

1971: 57
1981: 66
1991: 80

2001: 92
2009: 83
2011: 84

References

1 2 Parslow, Rosemary (2007). The Isles of Scilly. London: HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-00-220150-6.
↑ A little grazing goes a long way, Western Morning News 1 April 2009, retrieved 15 February 2016
1 2 "Shipman Head and Shipman Down" (PDF). Natural England. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 8 December 2011.
↑ "Pool of Bryher and Popplestone Bank" (PDF). Natural England. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 8 December 2011.
↑ "Rushy Bay and Heathy Hill" (PDF). Natural England. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 8 December 2011.
↑ Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 map

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bryher, Isles of Scilly.

Isles of Scilly

Inhabited islands	St Mary's St Agnes (and Gugh) Bryher Tresco St Martin's

Uninhabited islands	Annet Bishop Rock Crim Rocks Eastern Isles English Island Great Ganilly Gweal Norrard Rocks Pednathise Head Rosevear Round Island Samson St Helen's Teän Western Rocks White Island Zantman's Rock

Settlements	St Mary's: Hugh Town, Holy Vale, Longstone, Maypole, Normandy, Old Town, Pelistry, Porthloo, Rocky Hill, Telegraph and Trenoweth St Martin's (and St Agnes): Higher Town, Middle Town and Lower Town Tresco: New Grimsby and Old Grimsby

Topics	Environment History People Schools Transport

Civil parishes of St Ives constituency

Cornwall

Breage Bryher Crowan Cury Germoe Grade–Ruan Gunwalloe Helston Landewednack Ludgvan Madron Marazion Manaccan Mawgan-in-Meneage Morvah Mullion Paul Penzance Perranuthnoe Porthleven Sancreed Sennen Sithney St Agnes St Anthony-in-Meneage St Buryan St Erth St Hilary St Ives St Just St Keverne St Levan St Martin's St Martin-in-Meneage St Mary's St Michael's Mount Towednack Tresco (Wendron) Zennor

Cornwall Portal

Biological Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

Summary	Summarised data for all sites (biological and geological)

Cornwall	Aire Point to Carrick Du Amble Marshes Baulk Head to Mullion Bedruthan Steps and Park Head Boconnoc Park and Woods Bodmin Moor, North Borlasevath and Retallack Moor Boscastle to Widemouth Brendonmoor Breney Common Bude Coast Cabilla Manor Wood Caerthillian to Kennack Carnkief Pond Carrick Heaths Carricknath Point to Porthbean Beach Carrine Common & Penwethers Chyenhal Moor Cligga Head Coombe Mill Coverack to Porthoustock Crow's Nest Crowhill Valley Dozmary Pool Draynes Wood East Lizard Heathlands Eglarooze Cliff Gerrans Bay to Camels Cove Godrevy Head to St Agnes Goonhilly Downs Goss and Tregoss Moors Greenamoor Greenscoombe Wood, Luckett Grimscott Gwithian to Mexico Towans Hayle Estuary & Carrack Gladden Kelsey Head Kennack to Coverack Kernick and Ottery Meadows Loe Pool Loggans Moor Lower Bostraze and Leswidden Lower Fal & Helford Intertidal Lymsworthy Meadows Lynher Estuary Malpas Estuary Marazion Marsh Meddon Moor Meneage Coastal Section Merthen Wood Minster Church Mullion Cliff to Predannack Cliff Nance Wood Newlyn Downs Ottery Valley Park Wood Penhale Dunes Pentire Peninsula Phoenix United Mine Plymouth Sound Shores And Cliffs Polruan to Polperro Polyne Quarry Porthgwarra to Pordenack Point Rame Head & Whitsand Bay Red Moor Redlake Meadows & Hoggs Moor Retire Common River Camel Valley and Tributaries Rock Dunes Rosemullion Rosenannon Bog and Downs St Austell Clay Pits St John's Lake St Nectan's Glen Steeple Point to Marsland Mouth Swanpool Sylvia's Meadow Talland Barton Tamar–Tavy Estuary Tintagel Cliffs Treen Cliff Tregonetha & Belowda Downs Tregonning Hill Trehane Barton Trelow Downs Trevose Head and Constantine Bay Upper Fal Estuary and Woods Upper Fowey Valley Ventongimps Moor West Cornwall Bryophytes West Lizard

Isles of Scilly	Annet Big Pool and Browarth Point Castle Down (Tresco) Chapel Down Eastern Isles Great Pool Gugh Higher Moors and Porth Hellick Pool Lower Moors Norrard Rocks Peninnis Head Pentle Bay, Merrick And Round Islands Plains and Great Bay Pool Of Bryher & Popplestone Bank Rushy Bay and Heathy Hill Samson Shipman Head & Shipman Down St Helen's St Martin's Sedimentary Shore Teän Western Rocks White Island Wingletang Down

Neighbouring areas Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Devon Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Somerset

Geological Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

Summary	Summarised data for all sites (biological and geological)

Cornwall	Aire Point to Carrick Du Baulk Head to Mullion Bedruthan Steps and Park Head Belowda Beacon Boscastle to Widemouth Boscawen Bude Coast Caerthillian to Kennack Cameron Quarry Carn Grey Rock and Quarry Clicker Tor Quarry Cligga Head Coverack Cove and Dolor Point Coverack to Porthoustock Crocadon Quarry Crow's Nest Cuckoo Rock to Turbot Point Cudden Point to Prussia Cove De Lank Quarries Duckpool to Furzey Cove East Lizard Heathlands Folly Rocks Gerrans Bay to Camels Cove Godrevy Head to St Agnes Great Wheal Fortune Greystone Quarry Gwithian to Mexico Towans Harbour Cove Hawkstor Pit Hingston Down Quarry & Consols Kennack to Coverack Kingsand to Sandway Point Lidcott Mine Loe Pool Lower Fal & Helford Intertidal Luxulyan Quarry Meneage Coastal Section Mulberry Downs Quarry Mullion Cliff to Predannack Cliff Penberthy Croft Mine Penlee Point Penlee Quarry Pentire Peninsula Polyne Quarry Polyphant Porthcew Porthleven Cliffs Porthleven Cliffs East Rame Head & Whitsand Bay Roche Rock Rock Dunes Rosemullion Rosenun Lane South Terras Mine St Agnes Beacon Pits St Erth Sand Pits St Mewan Beacon St Michael's Mount Stepper Point Stourscombe Quarry Swanpool Tater-du Tintagel Cliffs Trebetherick Point Tregargus Quarries Trelavour Downs Tremearne Par Trevaunance Cove Trevone Bay Trevose Head and Constantine Bay Viverdon Quarry West Lizard Wheal Alfred Wheal Gorland Wheal Martyn Wheal Penrose Yeolmbridge Quarry

Isles of Scilly	Castle Down (Tresco) Chapel Down (St. Martin's) Peninnis Head (St. Mary's) Porth Seal (St. Martin's) Porthloo Shipman Head & Shipman Down (Bryher) St Martin's Sedimentary Shore Teän Watermill Cove White Island

Neighbouring areas: Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Devon Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Somerset

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