NorthWest Exploration Forum  
FAQ Calendar Mark Forums Read
Go Back   NorthWest Exploration Forum > Site Reports > Heritage and non Urbex
Reload this Page Puffin Island (off Anglesey)
Heritage and non Urbex Non urbex related reports and places,
but still interesting and photogenic nonetheless!

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Puffin Island (off Anglesey)
(#1)
Old
Navigator's Avatar
Navigator is Offline
Member
 
Posts: 41
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Westhoughton
Default Puffin Island (off Anglesey) - 26-06-2011, 01:27

I visited the island a few years ago now and have just transferred the photos to digital media. Took this off Wikipedia, but have added a bit to it at the end :-

Puffin Island (Welsh: Ynys Seiriol) (at SH 649 821 or 53°19′05″N 04°01′40″W) is an uninhabited island off the eastern tip of Anglesey, Wales. It was formerly known as Priestholm in English and Ynys Lannog in Welsh.


Puffin Island is the ninth largest island off the coast of Wales. It is Carboniferous limestone, at its highest point it is 58 metres (190 ft) above sea level having steep cliffs on all sides. It has an area of 0.28 square kilometres (69 acres). The island is privately owned by the Baron Hill estate and landing is not allowed without special permission.

[Note from navigator :- written permission from the Baron Hill Estates office is required before any boat charterer will take you across - Bird breeding season is totally out - They didn't charge for permission but asked that I made a donation to the Beaumaris Lifeboat]

History

The Welsh name, Ynys Seiriol, refers to Saint Seiriol, who established a monastic settlement on the island and on Trwyn Du (Penmon Point) on the mainland opposite the island in the 6th century. Seiriol is said to have been buried on the island.

A monastery existed on the island in the late 12th century and was mentioned by Giraldus Cambrensis who visited the area in 1188. He claimed that whenever there was strife within the community of monks a plague of mice would devour all their food. King Cadwallon ap Cadfan of Gwynedd is said to have sheltered here in around 630 when fleeing an invasion from Northumbria. Llywelyn the Great issued two charters in 1221 and 1237 confirming the canons regular, in possession of the island and the church and manor of Penmon on the mainland of Anglesey. The ruins of several ecclesiastical buildings are visible on the island, including the remains of a 12th century church.

Much later a telegraph station was built on the north-eastern tip of the island.[1] It is now disused.

[Note from Navigator - the telegraph (semaphore) station was actually only in use from 1839 to 1863 (when electric telegraph replaced it). This brick structure replaced a wooden structure that was built in 1841. its purpose was to transmit messages of ship arrivals to and from Liverpool from Holyhead. It was kept by Liverpool dock board for emergencies until 1866, by which time the electrical system was tried and tested. It then passed into the hands of the estate owner Richard Bulkeley (mentioned elsewhere in this forum - Baron Hill mansion). It was promised to the towns of Bangor, Beaumaris, Conway and Caernarvon that should a cholera outbreak hit the locality, the signal station would become a cholera hospital. From 1887, the university of Wales took over the building, refurbished it and used it as a biological station. The station closed in 1901 (due to completed research, deterioration of the building and lack of funding) and research was transferred to Menai Bridge. Puffin Island has been unoccupied since this time.]



Puffin Island from seaward



Penmon Point on Anglesey from Puffin Island (Low tide) - beautiful area



Means of access!



Old monastery and crofters cottage (rabbit hunting was his role)



Crofters cottage



Fireplace in crofters cottage - all stonework comes from original monastery ruins



Tower from ruins of the church



Tower from other side



Tower internals - all woodwork gone



Tower closeup



Ruins of signal station - privvy shed to left



kitchen annex with bakery to right



underground cistern for collecting rainwater run off from roof



Observatory / signal room



Stables / coal store - pony used to bring coal and supplies from across the other side of island (the only safe landing point)



Turbot Hole - a natural cave system on Puffin Island - cannot be accessed without abseiling equipment - would love to see what's down there

Anyone who's really interested in Puffin Island - PM me - I've got all my notes for a Masters dissertation on the history of this island.
Reply With Quote
(#2)
Old
Jim Gillette's Avatar
Jim Gillette is Offline
Blackinese
 
Posts: 267
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: London
Default 26-06-2011, 09:14

I've always wondered what it was like on the island itself. Thanks for sharing.

Why aren't there any pics of puffins?!


Smoke dope. Worship Satan.
My Manchester
Reply With Quote
(#3)
Old
Navigator's Avatar
Navigator is Offline
Member
 
Posts: 41
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Westhoughton
Default 26-06-2011, 22:45

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Gillette View Post

Why aren't there any pics of puffins?!
Interestingly, Puffins are actually making a comeback now. Problem was the rats (which had become warfarin resistant) were eating their eggs, but some new poison was used about 5 years ago that's cleared the rats out. The birds there are a real menace - there are no paths, and you inevitably walk near a nest with young birds in it and then get dive bombed by the mother bird - Watchout!
Reply With Quote
(#4)
Old
tristanjay's Avatar
tristanjay is Offline
Administrator
 
Posts: 6,258,037
Join Date: Jan 1970
Location: Liverpool, London, Yorkshire, North Wales
Default 26-06-2011, 10:34

That cave has to be worth an investigation.
Reply With Quote
(#5)
Old
The-Village-Idiot's Avatar
The-Village-Idiot is Offline
Senior Member
 
Posts: 356
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: In the pines
Default 26-06-2011, 12:33

This place looks mega
Reply With Quote
(#6)
Old
georgie's Avatar
georgie is Offline
Super Moderator
 
Posts: 733
Join Date: Jul 2009
Default 26-06-2011, 13:53

this is good stuff ive always wanted to go here but unsure what would happen if caught on the island without permission.
Reply With Quote
(#7)
Old
cossienick is Offline
Member
 
Posts: 68
Join Date: Apr 2008
Default 26-06-2011, 15:48

cool pics i didnt know there was anything on there buildings wise, cave looks interesting,

Quote:
Originally Posted by georgie View Post
this is good stuff ive always wanted to go here but unsure what would happen if caught on the island without permission.
me too i wanted to kayak across,
Reply With Quote
(#8)
Old
Gone's Avatar
Gone is Offline
Senior Member
 
Posts: 436
Join Date: Nov 2009
Default 26-06-2011, 15:54

Cracking Asda chocolate biscuits them. Loving the photo's, digital wouldn't give the same feel as these have!
Reply With Quote
(#9)
Old
The Cat Crept In's Avatar
The Cat Crept In is Offline
Super Member
 
Posts: 315
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Liverpool
Default 26-06-2011, 20:16

Spot on this has been on my list for ages.
Reply With Quote
(#10)
Old
georgie's Avatar
georgie is Offline
Super Moderator
 
Posts: 733
Join Date: Jul 2009
Default 26-06-2011, 21:58

Quote:
Originally Posted by The Cat Crept In View Post
Spot on this has been on my list for ages.
Well when you decide to get your boat out popeye lets go like we said
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off




Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.6
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
vBulletin Skin developed by: vBStyles.com
© 2008-2015. Photographs and text are copyright and the property of the poster unless otherwise stated, and should not be used without express written permission.
Any opinions stated by users of this forum are NOT those of the site owners, each poster takes FULL responsibility for their own posts.