A lifetime of Islands: Island 89 - Burgh Island, Devon

Saturday, 30 April 2011

Island 89 - Burgh Island, Devon

Burgh Island is linked to Bigbury-on-Sea in South Devon by a sandy tombolo at low tide. At high tide the island can be reached by a sea tractor. The main buildings on the island are the expensive Burgh Island Hotel and the Pilchard Inn. I visited the island at low tide in September 2008 and came back for a longer look around in August 2012.

Burgh Island was inhabited in medieval times by monks, who built a chapel on the highest point of the island. This later became a huer's hut, where someone would watch out for shoals of pilchards in the sea around the island and they would then alert local fishermen. The island later became a hideout for pirates and smugglers. The smuggler Tom Crocker was shot and killed by customs officers on the island in the 18th century. The Pilchard Inn dates back to the 14th century.

In 1895 the island was bought by music hall entertainer George Chirgwin. In 1896 he had a small wooden hotel built, which he used as a retreat until his death in 1922. In 1927 his widow sold it to the engineer Archibald Nettlefold. He commissioned architect Matthew Dawson to design a luxury art deco hotel. Famous clients included Agatha Christie, Noel Coward, Amy Johnson, Prince Edward and Wallis Simpson.

During the Second World War the hotel was used as a RAF convalescent centre. The hotel closed in 1955 and for 30 years it was divided into self-catering flats. In 1985 the island was bought by Beatrice and Tony Porter, who restored the hotel and reopened it in 1988.

The south east corner of the island is out of bounds to non-hotel guests. The rest of the island is crisscrossed by worn paths and is covered with grass, brambles, a small amount of bracken and lots of wild flowers. During my August 2012 visit the following were in flower: evening primrose, wild sweet pea, rosebay willowherb, orchids, lavatera, betony, yarrow, greater sea spurrey, thrift, red campion, sea campion, nipplewort, sea mayweed, agrimony, ragwort and several other plants I couldn't identify.

Burgh Island - the sea returns


Pilchard Inn Not the most welcoming sign! I'm not sure how anyone new could become a local regular if you are never allowed in! This is the only pub I have ever come across that doesn't need or want new customers!