Article: Piel Island

It was lovely to see my piece for The House Magazine appear in print this month. For their special ‘Islands Edition’ of the magazine, I wrote about Piel and its unique history.

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In 1850 Barrow-in-Furness was a hamlet with a dozen families rearing sheep. Following the discovery of iron ore and the birth of the Furness Railway 25 years later, 40,000 people were living and working in “the Chicago of England”.

Today, this sleepy hamlet is known for producing something else: Britain’s nuclear deterrent. But while Barrow has grown and evolved, from ore to steel, steel to railways, and from railways to shipbuilding, one part of the community has remained rooted stubbornly in history.

Half a mile off the tip of the peninsula sits Piel Island. Accessible by boat or guided walk across the sands at low tide, a visit will reward you with three things: an unspoilt wildlife haven; a lovely pub in the shape of the Ship Inn, and a chance to meet the King. And I do not mean King Charles III.

The landlord of the Ship Inn is crowned King of Piel Island in a ceremony that involves sitting in an oak chair and being knighted through a liberal application of beer. Indeed, as licensing authority, Barrow’s is the only council in the United Kingdom which can appoint a monarch, or strip them of their crown.

The King appoints his own Knights of Piel (something I aspire to) and the crown has sat on many heads, with the pub suspected of being 300 years old.

This quirk in history dates back (we think) to Lambert Simnel who, having been crowned Edward VI in Ireland, landed on Piel in 1487 as first step to taking back the throne for the Yorkists. Following his defeat at the Battle of Stoke, the monarchy of Piel was established, in tribute or mockery.

Piel has a new landlord and king now - local lad Aaron Sanderson crossed the strait from the shipyard in Barrow to claim the throne. In the new year I intend to make a pilgrimage, buy a round of drinks, and perhaps be rewarded with a knighthood.