Brisons
The Brisons | |
---|---|
Islet | |
![]() The Brisons from above ![]() The Brisons seen from Porth Nanven beach ![]() | |
50°07′13″N 5°43′20″W / 50.12039°N 5.72229°W / 50.12039; -5.72229 | |
Location | Cornwall, UK |
The Brisons (Cornish: Enys Vordardh, meaning breaker island) is a twin-peaked islet in the Celtic Sea situated 1 mile (1.6 km) offshore from Cape Cornwall in Cornwall, on the south-western coast of Great Britain.[1]
Geography
The Brisons (the name is French: brisant, 'reef, breaker') are 22 m (72 ft) and 27 m (89 ft) high and are said to resemble General Charles de Gaulle lying on his back ("General de Gaulle in his bath").[2] The rocks are connected to Gribba Point (Cornish: Pen an Gribow, meaning head of the reefs) by the Guthen Gwidden reef (Cornish: Kudhen Gwydn, meaning white hidden one). The gap in the reef is called the Adgiwar Gap (Cornish: Aja Wer, meaning green gap). In 1878, an article in the Cornishman newspaper names the reef between the ″Brissons″ and the land as Bridges, and the reef had three gaps; the nearest known as Rose-an-pons.[3]
Wildlife and ecology
In 2016 the rocks were visited by the West Cornwall Ringing Group where they heard at least two European storm petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus) calling; an indication of breeding on the only known site in Cornwall.[4] Sixty-six birds were ringed:
- European shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) – 42 including two adults
- razorbill (Alca torda) – 13 including seven adults
- guillemot (Uria aalge) – 11 including eight adults.
History
In 1851, the 250 ton brig New Commercial was wrecked, striking the ledge between the Great and Little Brisons. A dramatic rescue of the surviving crew was attempted, resulting in the death of all but two of the members. As a result, the National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck (later the RNLI) established a lifeboat in Sennen Cove in 1853, where one is still based today.[5]
Recreation
During "Cape sports" an annual water sports event based on the beach at Cape Cornwall, swimming races are conducted from the Brisons back to the beach.
References
- ^ Ordnance Survey: Landranger map sheet 203 Land's End ISBN 978-0-319-23148-7
- ^ "What to see at Cape Cornwall". National Trust. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
- ^ "A Contrast". The Cornishman. 8 August 1878. p. 7.
- ^ Grantham, Mark (8 June 2016). "Breeding Stormies on the Brisons". West Cornwall Ringing Group. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
- ^ Leach, Nicholas (2014). Sennen Cove Lifeboats: An Illustrated History. The History Press. ISBN 978-0750955485.
Gallery
- The Brisons in the mist Cornwall
- The Brisons and Cape Cornwall
- Sparkling Sun at The Brisons
- The Brisons
- The Brisons seen from Carn Brea
- The Brisons
- Closer image of the Sourthly (left) islet
- v
- t
- e
(cities in italics)
- Bodmin
- Bude
- Callington
- Camborne
- Camelford
- Falmouth
- Fowey
- Hayle
- Helston
- Hugh Town
- Launceston
- Liskeard
- Looe
- Lostwithiel
- Marazion
- Newlyn
- Newquay
- Padstow
- Penryn
- Penzance
- Porthleven
- Redruth
- St Austell
- St Blazey
- St Columb Major
- St Ives
- St Just in Penwith
- Saltash
- Stratton
- Torpoint
- Truro
- Wadebridge
See also: List of civil parishes in Cornwall