Brownsea Island
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Brownsea Island | |
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  Brownsea Island shown within Dorset |
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| OS grid reference | |
|---|---|
| Parish | St Peters Parkstone |
| District | Purbeck |
| Shire county | Dorset |
| Region | South West |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | POOLE |
| Postcode district | BH13 |
| Dialling code | 01202 |
| Police | Dorset |
| Fire | Dorset |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| European Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament | South Dorset |
| List of places: UK • England • Dorset | |
Brownsea Island is the largest of the islands in Poole Harbour in the county of Dorset, England. The island is owned by the National Trust. Much of the island is open to the public and includes areas of woodland and heath with a wide variety of wildlife, together with cliff top views across Poole Harbour and the Isle of Purbeck.
The island is most notable as the home of the first camp of the Boy Scout movement in 1907. Access is by public ferry or private boat; in 2002 the island received 105,938 visitors. The island's name comes from Anglo-Saxon Brūnoces īeg = "Brūnoc's island".
| “ | I had no idea I had such a delightful spot in my kingdom. | ” |
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—George IV of the United Kingdom, after a trip to Brownsea in 1818.[1] |
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[edit] Geography
Brownsea Island lies in Poole Harbour opposite the town of Poole in Dorset, England. It is the largest of eight islands in the harbour. The island can be reached by one of the public ferries or by private boat. There is a wharf and a small dock near the main castle. The island is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long and 0.75 miles (1.2 km) wide and consists of 500 acres (2 km²) of pinewood, heathland and salt-marsh.[1]
The entire island, except the church, is owned by the National Trust except for a few buildings and parts of the island which are leased or managed by third parties. Most of the buildings are situated near the small landing stage. The northern portion of the island is a Nature Reserve managed by Dorset Wildlife Trust and an important habitat for birds; this part of the island has limited public access. A small portion to the south-east of the island, along with Branksea Castle (also known as Brownsea Castle), is leased to the John Lewis Partnership for use as a holiday home for staff, and is not open to the public.
The island is located in the civil parish of St Peters Parkstone. The island forms part of the Purbeck local government district and is within the South Dorset constituency of the House of Commons and the South West England constituency of the European Parliament.[2]
[edit] Ecology
Brownsea Island has built up on a bare sand and mud bank deposited in the shallow harbour. Ecological succession has taken place on the island to create topsoil able to support ecosystems.
The nature reserve on the island is leased from the National Trust by Dorset Wildlife Trust and includes a brackish lagoon and area of woodland. Other ecosystems on the island include saltmarsh, reedbed, two freshwater lakes, alder carr, coniferous woodland, deciduous woodland and arboretum. In the past invasive species such as rhododendrons, also non-native, were introduced to the island but the trusts have cleared many areas. The entire island is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
[edit] Wildlife
The island is one of the few places in southern England where indigenous red squirrels survive, largely because non-native grey squirrels have never been introduced to the island. Brownsea also has a small ornamental population of peacocks. The island has a heronry, in which both Grey Heron and Little Egret nest.
There is a large population of non-native sika deer on the island. In the past the numbers have been higher than the island can sustain and have overgrazed. To try to limit damage to trees and other vegetation by deer, areas of the island have been fenced off to provide areas of undamaged woodland to allow other species such as red squirrels to thrive.
The lagoon is noted for the large population of Common Tern and Sandwich Tern in summer, and a very large flock of Avocets in winter, when over 50% of British birds (over 1500) can be present.
[edit] History
[edit] Early history
Brownsea Island is first recorded in the 7th century, when a hermit living on the island lit beacons to guide boats into the harbour. However a settled community is known to have existed before this time, as there is evidence of inhabitants living on the island around 500BC.[1] In the 9th century, monks from Cerne Abbey near Dorchester built a small chapel on the island, which was later destroyed by the Viking invasions of King Canute. In 1015 the King landed on the island before attempting invasions at nearby Wareham and Hamworthy (Poole).
[edit] Tudor and Civil war
After the Dissolution of the Monasteries control of Brownsea passed to the crown. Henry VIII recognised the strategic importance of the island, guarding the entrance to the expanding port of Poole.[1] The island was then fortified by means of blockhouses, and a castle. During the seventeenth century and eighteenth centuries Brownsea was owned by a succession of MPs. These included Sir Robert Clayton, a Lord Mayor of the City of London and wealthy merchant. Clayton used his wealth to support the Protestants and parliament against Charles II in the English Civil War. After his death the island was sold to William Benson, the Kings architect. He decided to convert the castle into a residence. Benson was also an amateur botanist and was responsible for introducing many varieties of trees to the island.[1]
[edit] 17th and 18th centuries
In 1765 Sir Humphrey Sturt, a local landowner and MP inherited the island, which in turn passed to his sons. Sturt expanded the castle and residence. Records suggest that he spent £50,000 on the islands gardens.[1] In 1852 Brownsea was again up for sale and was sold for only £13,000. It was purchased by William Waugh, a former Colonel in the British Army. During the ownership of William Waugh an attempt was made to exploit white clay on the island. Buildings were set up at the west end, a pier built and a short tramway constructed.[1] It was hoped that the clay would be of the same quality as the nearby Furzebrook clay, but it turned out to be suitable only for sanitary ware. The company employed over 200 people. By 1880 the venture closed due to a lack of demand and the poor quality of the clay.
Traces of these activities remain today, mainly as building foundations and pottery fragments, as well as the ruined worker's village of Maryland, nearly destroyed by bombing during the Second World War. Waugh was also responsible for expanding the number of buildings on the island - creating the village of Maryland, as well as adding a new gatehouse and tower in the Tudor style (right). Waugh also paid for the construction of a new family pier, with castellated watch towers.[1]
Another large expenditure by Waugh was the construction of St.Mary's church in Gothic style. Inside the church there is a monument to Waugh as well as the tomb of the late owner Charles van Raalte. Part of the church is dedicated to the Scouting movement but there is no monument to Robert Baden-Powell and his wife who are buried in Kenya. The flags of the Scout and Guide movements line either side of the main Altar.
After falling into debt, the island was acquired by Waugh's creditors and it was again sold in 1873 to George Cavendish-Bentinck who added Jersey cows to the island as well as expanding the island's agriculture. He also filled the island with several Italian renaissance sculptures, some of which still decorate Brownsea church and the quay.[1] After his death the island was sold to Major Kenneth Balfour in 1891. Following the introduction of electric lighting, the castle was partially destroyed by fire. It was later rebuilt and in 1901 Balfour sold the island.
[edit] 20th century
The island was purchased by Charles and Florence van Raalte who used the island as a residential holiday retreat. During this time the castle was renovated and improved and served as host to famous visitors such as Guglielmo Marconi. During the ownership of the van Raaltes, Robert Baden-Powell, a close friend hosted the first ever Scout camp. Charles died in Calcutta in 1907 and his wife eventually sold the island in 1925. In 1927 the island was purchased by Mrs Mary Bonham-Christie for £125,000. A recluse by nature, she ordered most of the island's few hundred residents to leave and much of the island was abandoned and grew into a natural state.[1] However in 1934 a wild fire caused devastation after burning for a week. During the Second World War large flares were placed on the western end of the island in an attempt to mislead Luftwaffe bombers away from the port of Poole and several bombs did indeed hit the island.[1] There are many bomb craters on the island that are havens for wildlife.
In April 1961 Mrs Christie died at 98 years old and her grandson sold the island to the National Trust after a local appeal committee helped raise part of the costs. The castle was renovated and leased to the John Lewis partnership. The island was then open to the public and was unveiled at a ceremony attended by members of the first scout camp in 1907.[1]
[edit] The island today
Since 1964 the island has been host to the Brownsea Open Air Theatre, annually performing the works of William Shakespeare. The island has a visitor centre and museum, displaying the islands history. The centre also has a shop, a cafe, a display of pottery and local tools. There are several holiday cottages owned by the national trust spread around the island. The Dorset Wildlife Trust operate on the island from an old villa. The island has a single post box which is emptied every Saturday.
[edit] Scouting
From 1 August until 8 August 1907, Lieutenant General Baden-Powell held the first experimental Scout camp for 20 boys on the island. This experimental camp involved a group of boys who were members of the Boys Brigade in Bournemouth and Poole. The subsequent publishing of Scouting for Boys started the Scout Movement.
In 2007, 100 years after the first experimental camp, commemorative events were held on the island. During the summer, The UK Scout Association held four camps, the Patrol Leaders Camp (a gathering of Scouts from around the UK), the New Centenary Camp (UK Scouts of every religion, race and background) and the Replica Camp (A living museum of the camp 100 years ago).
The highlight of the four camps however was the Sunrise Camp which brought together 310 young people from 155 countries to celebrate the centenary of Scouting. On the 1 August 2007, all the Scouts from around the world (28 million) renewed their Scout Promise at 8am local time as part of the Sunrise Ceremony, with Brownsea Island being the focal point of the celebrations.
[edit] References
- Brownsea: B-P's Acorn, The World's First Scout Camp, Colin Walker, Write Books, 2007.
- Dorset County Council, Visitor Numbers at Selected Attractions 1998 to 2002.
- National Trust (See External links).
- Pitt-Rivers, Michael, 1970. Dorset. London: Faber & Faber.
[edit] External links
