Lighthouses, Shipwrecks & Seafaring Folklore

Maritime History

Scilly's fascinating ancient history...

From shipwrecks to treasure, and from Bronze Age burial chambers to deserted villages, the history of Scilly is utterly compelling – especially as it mingles so tantalisingly with modern-day life on the islands. Scilly’s tiny land mass is home to 239 scheduled monuments, which means there is a greater density of historical sites here than anywhere else in the British Isles.

Everything on Scilly revolves around the sea… our maritime heritage is something that all Scillonian families are proud of with the traditional pastimes of flower farming, arable farming, fishing for lobsters, crabs and crawfish, and pilot gig rowing still prospering to this day.

The Isles of Scilly have a long, fascinating ancient history, it is theorised it was originally one large island, called ‘Ennor’ from the Old Cornish for ‘Great Island’, that was flooded by the rising sea levels circa 400 AD. There is also evidence of settlement as early as the Stone Age, and you can still find submerged stone walls and boundaries dotted around.

 

The English Civil War

Let's jump ahead to a better documented era in the archipelagos’ history, the English Civil War…Scilly was one of the last strongholds where the Royalists held out against the Parliamentarians. During Elizabeth I’s reign various defensive structures, such as The Old Blockhouse, Star Castle, and King Charles’ Castle (re-named this after the Civil War), were built which would become key in defending the islands. You can still see these defensive structures today, and the Star Castle is now even used as a hotel. Eventually, in June 1651 the Royalist forces were defeated, but not before the Isles of Scilly entered one of the longest wars in history against the Netherlands.

This may come as a surprise to many readers, and it certainly did to the residents in the Isles of Scilly and Netherlands when in 1985 they found out they’d unknowingly been at war with each other for 335 years. So, how did this ridiculous scenario come about? During the Civil War the Netherlands supported the Parliamentarians, and the Royalists retaliated by raiding Dutch ships, leading to Admiral Maarten Tromp eventually declaring war on the Isles of Scilly in 1651. However, the war never came to anything as three months later the Parliamentarians successfully took over the Isles of Scilly, and the Dutch sailed home. Unfortunately, they also forgot to declare peace before they left. It was not until 1985, when Roy Duncan (a historian from the Isles of Scilly) wrote to the Dutch Embassy researching the war, that their mistake was discovered. In the following year a peace treaty was finally signed between the Isles of Scilly and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

 

Scilly's Maritime Legacy

Unsurprisingly, the Isles of Scilly has a great deal of maritime history and heritage. The islands lie at the junction of five international shipping routes making it an important ‘ship park’, where ships could re-stock and wait for the right wind. The livelihood of the residents was often centred around this, selling passing ships fresh water, fresh vegetables, meat, beer, and just about anything that would go. There was also a trade in boat repairs and pilotage, where local pilots would guide the ships in and around the islands. Additionally, the Isles of Scilly has six lighthouses to shine light from every approach, which were constructed from 1680 to 1911, and you will probably see a few of them as you approach. The lighthouses are there with good reason, a high volume of ships passing through also meant a lot of shipwrecks, bringing us onto a darker part of the island’s history…

 

Shipwrecks & Lost Treasures

The unpredictable seas and shallow rock reefs around the Isles of Scilly made a deadly combination. There have been over 1,000 recorded shipwrecks around the islands, and you can still find many remaining ones. There is also a museum named Valhalla on Tresco which houses a collection of salvaged figureheads from the wrecks. Arguably the worst of these wrecks, and one of the greatest disasters in British maritime history, was in 1707 when four of the Royal Navy’s ships were sunk. The estimated death toll was 1,400- 2,000, almost as many people as are living on the Isles of Scilly today. For days afterwards bodies were still being washed ashore, and you can still find a small memorial erected at Porthellick Cove where the Admiral and his flag-captain were found.

Seafaring Adventures Read Our Blogs

A Renowned Shipwreck Expert and Maritime Historian

  • 3 min read

For more than twenty years Richard and Bridget have lived on St. Mary’s, although their relationship with Scilly dates to the sixties. As a Royal Navy diver Richard led the search for the Association, a naval diving expedition in 1967. This discovery led to international news interest and secured…

Endurance Events

I swam to the edge of the world (kind of...)

  • 3 min read

I had an idea 6 years ago of swimming to Bishop Rock Lighthouse, the westernmost island in the British Isles. As far as I know, it had never been done. The idea drifted away, realising it was too hard - I let it pass. Though it would always return to tempt me and after a successful run in the Arc of…

Endurance Events

The history of our pilot gigs

  • 2 min read

Back in the mid-19th Century, around 200 men worked as pilots on the Isles of Scilly. Today, gigs (specially designed sea-faring rowing boats with six oarsmen and a coxswain) are raced purely for pleasure particularly throughout Cornwall and the southwest of England. Their heritage on Scilly…

Lighting the way: lighthouses on Scilly

  • 4 min read

One of the first things you’ll notice when you arrive in the Isles of Scilly is the striking presence of its lighthouses. These six iconic structures, including the remote Wolf Rock, stand as vigilant guardians of the islands, warning sailors of the treacherous waters and rocky shores. The first…

Things to Do

Scilly's Hidden History

  • 5 min read

Island archaeologist Dr Katharine Sawyer unveils Scilly’s fascinating pre-historic past dating back some 8,000 years. Scilly was first visited by hunter gatherers a few thousand years ago – around 6,000BC to be a little more precise. Back then it was a seasonal affair, with Mesolithic occupants…

Scilly’s Legendary Shipwreck Tales

  • 3 min read

The Isles of Scilly have been the site of many shipwrecks over the centuries – with over 500 registered wrecks around the archipelago. Here we take a look at the story of how Scilly became a significant ‘ship park’ – and one of the most notorious sites for wrecks in the British Isles. It’s Scilly’s…

Valhalla Museum

The unique Valhalla collection is situated within Tresco Abbey Garden and contains some 30 figureheads, as well as name boards and other decorative…

Explore the archipelago The Islands

Island hop your way around the five inhabited islands of Scilly, or explore the lesser known uninhabited ones, either off your own steam or as an integrated part of our festival and events programme which runs throughout the season.

St. Martin's

St. Martin's is a true beach paradise, boasting miles of pristine white sands framed by lush marram-topped dunes and swaying palm trees. This idyllic island offers a tranquil escape with its stunning coastal beauty and tropical ambiance.

St. Agnes & Gugh

Discover the wild beauty of Britain’s most south-westerly outpost, where ancient Bronze Age burial sites and barren heathland paint a picture of the island’s rich past. Its rugged landscapes and unique wildlife offer a perfect blend of adventure and serenity, making it an ideal escape for history…

Tresco

Tresco, the second-largest of the Isles of Scilly, is a privately-run island known for its luxury and tranquillity. Home to the world-famous Abbey Garden, it boasts stunning subtropical landscapes, pristine beaches, and elegant places to stay.

Bryher

Bryher is an island of captivating contrasts, where rugged cliffs give way to peaceful, glassy coves. Its dramatic coastline and tranquil bays provide a blend of adventure and serenity, making it an ideal getaway. A sanctuary for artists and creatives, Bryher’s stunning landscapes inspire painters…