Samson, Isles of Scilly
Enys Samson | ||
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Civil parish Tresco | | |
Demographics | ||
Population | 0 |
Samson (Cornish: (Enys) Sampson)[1] is the largest uninhabited island of the Isles of Scilly, off the southwestern tip of the Cornish peninsula of Great Britain. It is 38 hectares (0.15 sq mi) in size.[2] The island consists of two hills, North Hill and South Hill, which are connected by an isthmus.[3] Samson was named after Samson of Dol.[4]
History
The twin hills of Samson were formerly associated with breasts, in a similar way to the Paps of Jura in Scotland and the Paps of Anu in Ireland. There are large ancient burial grounds both on the North Hill and South Hill.[5][6]
The first written evidence for the habitation of Samson comes from the Interregnum Survey of 1651–1652, where it was recorded that:[7]
"the Sampsons [sic] have been formerly occupied by one or two tenants and divers pieces of the same enclosed & improved as Arable ground. But the houses and inclosures are now fallen downe & ruin'd since the taking of Scilley from the Enemy so that the whole Island of Sampson doth now lay wast & is a Mountainous Rocky & Rugged peece of pasture & Arable ground now used only for some Goates and Conies."[7]
The two most prominent families on Samson, the Woodcocks and the Webbers, allegedly first settled Samson after they came into conflict with two other local families, the Banfields and the Mumfords, who had ordered them to leave their homes and move to Hugh Town. The Woodcocks and Webbers instead opted to move to Samson.[3]
During the 18th century, Samson was used as sort-of penal colony by the Council of Twelve, the local administration at the time. Local "undesirables" would be banished to the island.[3]
The island was inhabited until 1855, when the
In recent times the area has become a protected wildlife site. The island is home to many different birds, such as
Population
- 1669: one family[11]
- 1715: only three men fit to carry arms
- 1751: two households
- 1794: six households
- 1816: forty people
- 1822: seven households (thirty-four people)
- 1851: three households[12]
- 1855: Augustus Smith removed the remaining inhabitants which consisted of two families.
Visiting the island
Boat trips to Samson are regularly available May through to September. There is no
Literary associations
The island is featured in the children's story Why the Whales Came by Michael Morpurgo. In the book, Samson is under a curse that needs to be lifted.[15] The island also featured in Armorel of Lyonesse by Walter Besant.[16] Webber's Cottage supposedly features in that novel as Armorel's house.[17]
In some medieval versions of the Tristan and Iseult story, Tristan defeats and kills the knight Morholt, uncle of Iseult and brother-in-law of the King of Ireland, at an island called St Samson which is now identified either with the Scilly Isles Samson or with an islet in the Fowey estuary.[18]
See also
References
- ^ "Akademi Kernewek – Henwyn Tyller".
- ^ "Samson". Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
- ^ ISBN 0-7091-1718-3.
- ISBN 978-0198207658
- ^ Samson, South Hill Chambered Cairn. The Megalithic Portal.
- ^ Samson, North Hill. The Megalithic Portal.
- ^ a b Cowan, Zelide Teague (1991). The Story of Samson. Englang Publishing. p. 4.
- ISBN 978-095239-718-2.
- ^ "Heath Fire Threatens Farm House". The Cornishman and Cornish Telegraph. 14 September 1933. p. 8.
- ^ "Samson (with Green, White, Puffin and Stony Islands)" (PDF). Natural England. 12 December 1986. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
- ^ Samson. TrailBehind.com.
- ^ "1851—Transcript of Piece HO107/1919 (Part 7)". Cornwall Online Census Project (Freepages, Ancestry.com). Retrieved 9 May 2012.
- ^ "Samson, South Hill – Chambered Cairn in England in Scilly Isles". megalithic.co.uk. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
- ^ "Scilly Walks Visits Samson". Council of the Isles of Scilly. 3 October 2008. Archived from the original on 21 October 2007. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
- ^ Why the Whales Came review. ReadingMatters.co.uk.
- ^ Mr. Besant's Story.; Armorel of Lyonesse. A Romance of To-day review. August 11, 1890. New York Times.
- ^ Tourist information Archived 2009-02-02 at the Wayback Machine. iknow-cornwall.co.uk.
- ISBN 9783777615080. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
- ^ "Dougie Blaxland". Doollee. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
External links
- Map sources for Samson, Isles of Scilly