A lifetime of Islands: April 2021

Wednesday 28 April 2021

Island 487 - Crow Point, Braunton, Devon

Crow Point is a sand spit, which is also a tidal island at the moment, although it is only cut off at spring tides. It is a comparatively recent island, as a shingle spit, known then as Crow Neck, only started to form across the Taw estuary c1840. The reasons for its formation were probably:

Fish weirs, which were constructed in the intertidal area around Crow Point in the mid 19th century. These obstructed the flow of the tide and caused the deposition of sand and shingle.
Horsey Island was enclosed in 1857, which altered the course of the River Caen. Before this time it flowed along the northern side of the island and probably provided enough water to keep the area where Crow Point now is, clear of excess sand.

By 1900 sand dunes had begun to form on top of the spit. In 1921 the spit was breached and Crow Point became an island. Then for the next 25 years or so sand was gradually deposited on Crow Neck and by 1946 it was c60 metres wide and marram grass had established itself on the island.

The gap between Crow Point and Braunton Burrows is currently protected by a low line of rock armour. A 2013 report commissioned by the Environment Agency and Torridge District Council says that the existing rock armour will fail at some point after 2025 if it is not maintained. Experts disagree what the result of this failure will be on Crow Point.

Crow Point Lighthouse was built by Trinity House in 1954 to guide ships and boats sailing up and down the Taw and Torridge estuaries. It was originally powered by acetylene gas but was converted to electrical operation in 1978 and solar power in 1987. The light is 7.6 metres above mean high water level.