Samson, Isles of Scilly
Encyclopedia
Samson is the largest uninhabited island of the Isles of Scilly
. It is 38 hectare (0.146718820265163 sq mi) in size. The island consists of two hills, North Hill and South Hill, which are connected by an isthmus
on which the former inhabitants built many of their sturdy stone cottages. Samson was named after Samson of Dol
.
in Scotland
and the Paps of Anu
in Ireland
. There are large ancient burial
grounds both on the North Hill and South Hill.
The island was inhabited until 1855, when the Lord Proprietor Augustus Smith
removed the remaining population from the island. By this point, the population was found to be suffering from severe deprivation—particularly due to a diet of limpet
s and potato
es—and consisted of only 2 families: the Woodcocks and the Webbers. Smith then built a deer park on the island, but all the deer escaped.
In recent times, the area has become a protected wildlife site. The island houses many different birds such as terns and gannets, and many wild flowers.
Why the Whales Came
by Michael Morpurgo
. In the book, Samson is under a curse that needs to be lifted. The island also featured in Armorel of Lyonesse by Walter Besant
. Many have cited Webber's Cottage on Samson as Armorel's house.
The Island also features in the Ann Bridge novel The Dangerous Islands
Isles of Scilly
The Isles of Scilly form an archipelago off the southwestern tip of the Cornish peninsula of Great Britain. The islands have had a unitary authority council since 1890, and are separate from the Cornwall unitary authority, but some services are combined with Cornwall and the islands are still part...
. It is 38 hectare (0.146718820265163 sq mi) in size. The island consists of two hills, North Hill and South Hill, which are connected by an isthmus
Isthmus
An isthmus is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas usually with waterforms on either side.Canals are often built through isthmuses where they may be particularly advantageous to create a shortcut for marine transportation...
on which the former inhabitants built many of their sturdy stone cottages. Samson was named after Samson of Dol
Samson of Dol
Saint Samson of Dol was a Christian religious figure who is counted among the seven founder saints of Brittany. Born in southern Wales, he died in Dol-de-Bretagne, a small town in north Brittany.-Life:...
.
History
The twin hills of Samson were formerly associated with breasts, in a similar way as the Paps of JuraPaps of Jura
The Paps of Jura are three mountains located on the western side of island of Jura, in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. Their highest point is ....
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and the Paps of Anu
Paps of Anu
The Paps of Anu are twin hills located near Killarney, close to the border between County Cork and County Kerry.These breast-shaped hills are said to have been named after the ancient goddess Anann or Anu. On the top of each of these hills stands a tall cairn. With a height of , the cairn on the...
in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. There are large ancient burial
Burial
Burial is the act of placing a person or object into the ground. This is accomplished by excavating a pit or trench, placing an object in it, and covering it over.-History:...
grounds both on the North Hill and South Hill.
The island was inhabited until 1855, when the Lord Proprietor Augustus Smith
Augustus Smith
Augustus John Smith was governor of the Isles of Scilly for over thirty years, and was largely responsible for the economy of the islands as it is today.-Biography:...
removed the remaining population from the island. By this point, the population was found to be suffering from severe deprivation—particularly due to a diet of limpet
Limpet
Limpet is a common name for a number of different kinds of saltwater and freshwater snails ; it is applied to those snails that have a simple shell which is more or less conical in shape, and either is not spirally coiled, or appears not to be coiled in the adult snails.The name limpet is most...
s and potato
Potato
The potato is a starchy, tuberous crop from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae family . The word potato may refer to the plant itself as well as the edible tuber. In the region of the Andes, there are some other closely related cultivated potato species...
es—and consisted of only 2 families: the Woodcocks and the Webbers. Smith then built a deer park on the island, but all the deer escaped.
In recent times, the area has become a protected wildlife site. The island houses many different birds such as terns and gannets, and many wild flowers.
Population
- 1669: One family
- 1715: Only 3 men fit to carry arms
- 1751: 2 households
- 1794: 6 households
- 1816: 40 people
- 1822: 7 households (34 persons)
- 1851: 3 households
- 1855: Augustus SmithAugustus SmithAugustus John Smith was governor of the Isles of Scilly for over thirty years, and was largely responsible for the economy of the islands as it is today.-Biography:...
removed the remaining inhabitants which consisted of two families
Visiting the island
Boat trips to Samson are regularly available. There is no quay, so visitors disembark via wooden plank. The remains of the old cottages can be explored, and there are also the remains of Smith's deer park and prehistoric entrance graves. There are no amenities or services available, but guided walks are led by local experts.Literary associations
The island is featured in the children's storyChildren's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
Why the Whales Came
Why the Whales Came
Why the Whales Came is a children's story written by Michael Morpurgo and first published by William Heinemann in 1985. It is set on the island of Bryher, one of the Isles of Scilly, in the year 1914. "You keep away from the Birdman", warned Gracie's father. But Gracie and her friend Daniel...
by Michael Morpurgo
Michael Morpurgo
Michael Morpurgo, OBE FKC AKC is an English author, poet, playwright and librettist, best known for his work in children's literature. He was the third Children's Laureate.-Early life:...
. In the book, Samson is under a curse that needs to be lifted. The island also featured in Armorel of Lyonesse by Walter Besant
Walter Besant
Sir Walter Besant , was a novelist and historian who lived largely in London.His sister-in-law was Annie Besant.-Biography:...
. Many have cited Webber's Cottage on Samson as Armorel's house.
The Island also features in the Ann Bridge novel The Dangerous Islands
See also
- List of places with fewer than ten residents
- List of shipwrecks of the Isles of Scilly
- Breast shaped hillBreast shaped hillA breast-shaped hill is a mountain in the shape of a human breast. Such anthropomorphic geographic features are to be found in different places of the world and in some cultures they were revered as the attributes of the Mother Goddess, like the Paps of Anu, named after Anu, an important goddess of...