Piel Island lies half a mile (1 km) off the southern tip of the Furness Peninsula in the administrative county of Cumbria, though historically within Lancashire north of the sands. It is located at 54°4′N 3°10′W / 54.067°N 3.167°W / 54.067; -3.167Coordinates: 54°4′N 3°10′W / 54.067°N 3.167°W / 54.067; -3.167 (OS grid ref. SD 233637). It is one of the Islands of Furness in Northern England. It is the location of the English Heritage-owned Piel Castle.
The island is owned by the people of Barrow-in-Furness, the mainland town across the Piel Channel within its administrative boundaries the island is located. It was gifted to the people of Barrow-in-Furness by the Duke of Buccleuch in the early 20th century. The Borough Council's administrative duties also include the selection of the "King" of Piel, who is the landlord of the island's public house, the Ship Inn. The area of Piel is about 50 acres (20 ha). As well as the landlord and his family the island has two other permanent residents who live in the old Pilots Cottages.
Read more about Piel Island: History, A Customs Creek, Modern Day Piel Island, The Ship Inn
Famous quotes containing the word island:
“When the inhabitants of some sequestered island first descry the “big canoe” of the European rolling through the blue waters towards their shores, they rush down to the beach in crowds, and with open arms stand ready to embrace the strangers. Fatal embrace! They fold to their bosoms the vipers whose sting is destined to poison all their joys; and the instinctive feeling of love within their breasts is soon converted into the bitterest hate.”
—Herman Melville (1819–1891)