Bryher, Isles of Scilly

Bryher (gbmapping|SV880150) coord|49|57|N|06|12|W|display=titleis the smallest of the five inhabited islands of the Isles of Scilly. It is home to a population of 92 (census of 2001). Bryher has an area of 327 acres - just over half a square mile (1.3 km²).

It lies to the west of Tresco, and is separated from that island by the Tresco Channel. Off the southern end of Bryher is the uninhabited island of Samson.

Church

See All Saints' Church, Bryher.

Population

* 1841 - 121
* 1861 - 115
* 1871 - 104
* 1881 - 103
* 1891 - 91
* 1901 - 97
* 1911 - 113
* 1921 - 101
* 1931 - 64
* 1951 - 117
* 1961 - 66
* 1971 - 57
* 1981 - 66
* 1991 - 80
* 2001 - 92

Factual Bryher

* Bryher is Cornish for ‘Place of Hills’. There are a number of hills on the island, including Watch Hill, a viewpoint, and Samson Hill at the southern end of the island.
* Scenery on the island includes sandy beaches at Rushy Bay and Hell Bay.
* The Hell Bay Hotel is located at Stinkingporth Bay (probably so called because of the smell of seaweed). It is owned by the Tresco Estate.
* At low tide, mudflats are exposed in the Tresco Channel.
* The Great Pool is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
* In the north of the island are the Fraggle Rock Bar, Vine Cafe and Bryher Stores.
* Golden Eagle studio of the artist Richard Pearce.
* In the centre of the island is Bar Quay, which was built in 1990 by the television programme "Challenge Anneka". Known to many islanders as 'Anna-Quay'. In 2007 this was replaced by a new concrete quay, as part of a Scilly-wide programme of quay rebuilding.
* Safe anchorage for small yachts in the channel and green bay.
* Local activities include sailing, scuba and watching wildlife.
* Bryher has recently become a popular girl's name in west Cornwall.
* Annie Winnifred Ellerman, daughter of the shipping magnate Sir John Ellerman, took the name of this island, Bryher, as her "nom de plume".
* Most of the untenanted land on Bryher is leased to the [http://www.ios-wildlifetrust.org.uk/wildlife.html Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust] who are currently using ponies and Red Ruby cattle to graze the overgrown areas as part of the [http://www.ios-wildlifetrust.org.uk/IOSWTgrazing.pdf Waves of Heath] project. This project is opposed by over two thirds of the Bryher islanders who have set up an action group; their objective is to see these animals removed from the island.

Fictional Bryher

* "Why the Whales Came" by Michael Morpurgo. ISBN 9780435130473. A film version, called "When the Whales Came", was made on location in 1989 starring Helen Mirren, Helen Pearce, Paul Scofield and David Suchet.
* "Hell Bay" by Sam Llewellyn
* "The Wreck of the Zanzibar" by Michael Morpurgo

ee also

* List of shipwrecks of the Isles of Scilly

External links

* [http://www.bryher-ios.co.uk/ Bryher web site]
* [http://www.scillywebcam.com Webcam]
* [http://www.hellbay.co.uk/ Hell Bay Hotel] is located adjacent to the Great Pool.
* [http://www.ios-wildlifetrust.org.uk/wildlife.html Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust]
* [http://members.lycos.co.uk/devonbelle19493/ Photographs from Bryher, Isles of Scilly]