| Land's End | |
| Cornish: Penn an Wlas | |
Land's End |
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Land's End
Land's End shown within Cornwall |
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| OS grid reference | SW 34177 25339 |
|---|---|
| Unitary authority | Cornwall |
| Ceremonial county | Cornwall |
| Region | South West |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Police | Devon and Cornwall |
| Fire | Cornwall |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| List of places: UK • England • Cornwall | |
Land's End (Cornish: Penn an Wlas) is a headland and small settlement in west Cornwall, England, within the United Kingdom. It is located on the Penwith peninsula approximately eight miles (13 km) west-southwest of Penzance.[1]
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Land's End is the extreme westerly point on the mainland of England.
Land's End has a particular resonance because it is often used to suggest distance. Land's End to John o' Groats in Scotland is a distance of 838 miles (1,349 km) by road and this Land's End to John o' Groats distance is often used to define races, walks or charitable events in the UK.
The Longships, a group of rocky islets are just over a mile offshore of Land's End, and the Isles of Scilly lie approximately 28 miles (45 km) southwest– the mythical lost land of Lyonesse (referred to in Arthurian literature) was supposedly located between Scilly and the mainland.
In 1769 the antiquarian, William Borlase wrote:
"Of this time we are to understand what Edward I. says (Sheringham. p. 129.) that Britain, Wales, and Cornwall, were the portion of Belinus, elder son of Dunwallo, and that that part of the Island, afterwards called England, was divided in three shares, viz. Britain, which reached from the Tweed, Westward, as far as the river Ex; Wales inclosed by the rivers Severn, and Dee; and Cornwall from the river Ex to the Land's-End".
In 1987 Peter de Savary purchased Land’s End for almost £7 million from David Goldstone.[2] He had two new buildings erected and much of the present theme park development was instigated by him. He sold both Land's End and John o' Groats to businessman Graham Ferguson Lacey in 1991.[3] The current owners purchased Land’s End in 1996 and formed a company named Heritage Attractions Limited. Attractions at the theme park include children's playgrounds and recorded music. Twice a week in August there are firework displays. Nearby is the Land's End Hotel.[4]