Burgh Island facts for kids
View from Bigbury-on-Sea
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| Geography | |
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| Location | English Channel |
| Coordinates | 50°16′47″N 3°54′01″W / 50.27972°N 3.90028°W |
| Administration | |
| Constituent country | England |
| Shire county | Devon |
| Shire district | South Hams |
| Additional information | |
| NB: Burgh Island is a tidal island | |
Burgh Island is a special tidal island located off the coast of South Devon in England. It's very close to the small seaside village of Bigbury-on-Sea. A tidal island means you can walk to it at low tide, but at high tide, it's surrounded by water!
There are a few buildings on the island. The most famous is the Art Deco Burgh Island Hotel. There are also three private houses and an old pub called the Pilchard Inn.
Contents
Island History
Ancient Times and Tin Trade
Long ago, the area around Burgh Island was important for trading tin. People found ancient tin pieces near the River Erme. This suggests the island might have been a place where tin was brought before being sent to other countries.
Island Names Over Time
Burgh Island has had different names throughout history. Old maps sometimes called it St Michael's Island. Later, it was known as Borough Island. Eventually, this name became shorter, turning into "Burgh." Even in 1947, some maps still used the name Borough Island.
Monks and Fishermen
It's thought that a monastery, a place where monks lived, was once on the island. The old Pilchard Inn might have been a guesthouse for visitors to the monastery.
After the monastery closed, fishermen lived on the island. They specialized in catching pilchards. There are still remains of a small chapel on top of the island. This chapel later became a "huers hut." From here, fishermen would shout a "hue and cry" to tell others where to find big groups of pilchards.
World War II Defences
During World War II, people worried that German forces might try to land on the island. Because of this, the island was made stronger with defences. They built anti-tank barriers and two small forts called pillboxes near the causeway. An observation post was also set up on the highest point to watch the coastline.
The Famous Hotel
Burgh Island is well-known today because of its beautiful hotel. It was built in the 1930s and has a cool, stylish design called Art Deco.
Famous Visitors and Filming
Inspiration for Writers
Burgh Island is strongly connected to the famous mystery writer Agatha Christie. The island helped inspire the settings for two of her books: And Then There Were None and the Hercule Poirot mystery Evil Under the Sun.
A Place for Stars
In the 1930s, the hotel was a popular getaway for rich and famous people from London. One famous guest was the writer and actor Noël Coward.
On Screen
The island has also been a filming location. The 2002 TV show based on Agatha Christie's Evil Under The Sun was filmed here. An episode of the TV series Lovejoy in 1994 was also set and filmed on the island.
The island was also used for a TV slimming feature called Inch-loss Island in 2001 and 2008. The exciting final scene of the 1965 British film Catch Us If You Can also takes place on Burgh Island.
Getting to the Island
Burgh Island is about 270 meters (295 yards) from the mainland village of Bigbury-on-Sea. When the tide is low, you can easily walk across the sand to the island.
But when the tide is high, the water covers the path. That's when the unique sea tractor comes in handy! The hotel operates this special vehicle to take passengers back and forth. The first sea tractor was built in 1930. The current one, which is the third version, was made in 1969.
The sea tractor drives across the beach with its wheels underwater. The driver and passengers sit on a platform high above the water. It's a fun and unusual way to travel!
Walking Paths
The island has many paths for walking. For a while, some paths were closed, but now most of them are open again for people to enjoy.
Island Ownership
In April 2018, the island was bought by a group called "Project Archie." This group is a partnership between Bluehone Capital and Marechale Capital.
Images for kids
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The remains of the former chapel
See also
In Spanish: Isla Burgh para niños
