Bardsey Island Totally Explained

Everything about Bardsey Island totally explained

Bardsey Island (Welsh: Ynys Enlli) lies off the Llŷn peninsula, in Gwynedd, north Wales. The island is the site of a monastery founded by Saint Cadfan in the sixth century, and of Bardsey Bird and Field Observatory. Its highest point is the summit of Mynydd Enlli.
   It supports a small 'all the year' round population of fewer than 10 people which is swollen during summer months by visitors staying in other houses on the island. Only one of the original 'crogloft' cottages survives as all the other cottages/houses were rebuilt during the 1870's with substantial detached & semi-detached farmhouses. They all have a set of farm buildings surrounded by high walls to keep out the weather. All the buildings are listed by Cadw—the Welsh Historic & Ancient Monuments organisation. Little has changed on the island since then—the last building to be put up was the chapel in 1875. There is no permanent electricity supply, most houses relying on candles and small gas lamps. A telephone link to the rest of the public network was established in 2001 but the telephone system on the island still uses 'wind the handle' telephones with the (permanently occupied) houses all being on the same party line.
   The Welsh colloquial term for toilet—tŷ bach ("little house") still refers to a 'little house' at the bottom of the garden on Bardsey.
   The Island is owned and managed by the Bardsey Island Trust (see external link below) who acquired it in 1979 after raising the money by public subscription. For many years previously, it had formed part of the estates of the Newborough Family of Glynllifon near Caernarfon. At its maximum, it supported a population of 92 at the time of the 1851 census. It was tradition for the oldest male on the island to called Brenin Enlli (King of Bardsey), crowned by Lord Newborough or his representaive. The actual crown is kept at the Maritime Museum in Liverpool, although calls have been made for it to return to the island. By 1935 the population had dropped to 33. As the population dropped, the small school on the island, run by the Council, closed circa 1950.

Pilgrimage

The island became a place of pilgrimage, especially popular with pilgrims who would come to die and be buried on the isle, hence giving rise to the tradition that twenty thousand saints are buried on the island. Three pilgrimages to Bardsey were rated as equivalent to one pilgrimage to Rome. Saint Deiniol and Saint Dubricius were buried in the old abbey before being translated to Bangor and Llandaff Cathedral respectively. Merlin the Magician is said to still be imprisoned on the island.

Attractions

Attractions on the island include a thirteenth century bell tower, several Celtic crosses, and a wealth of birds. Bardsey is a National Nature Reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The tallest square lighthouse in Britain built in 1821.
Occasional boats for day visitors sail to the island from Pwllheli and Aberdaron.

Bardsey Island Apple

Bardsey is also home to the Bardsey Island Apple, an apple originally unique to the island, although saplings can now be purchased. It was originally described by the media as "The World's Rarest Apple". The apple tree is believed to have been grown there since the 1300s, when the Island was inhabited by monks. However, due to the island's isolated location, it wasn't officially identified and classified until Ian Sturrock sent a sample to the National Fruit Collection, in Brogdale, Kent in 1998. The variety is now known as Afal Enlli.

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