Thorn Island
Encyclopedia
Thorn Island is in the Community
of Angle
off the south west coast of Wales. The island is dominated by a fort that was built to defend Milford Haven
from the French Navy. The Angle lifeboat received silver medals in 1878 rescuing the crew of the Loch Shiel
on rocks near the island which carried cases of whisky.
recommended to Lord Palmerston that 70 forts should be strengthened or constructed to counter the potential threat of the French Navy. Eventually twelve forts were constructed around the entrance to Pembroke Dock
and Milford Haven
including Fort Hubberstone
, Popton Fort
and Stack Rock Fort
. Even without the fort, the island and the rocks around it were a hazard to any shipping.
Divers recognise over twelve wrecks that are worth diving in the area of the island but of interest is the sailing ship that sank in 1878. In that year, 27 (some say 33) people who were rescued from the 1878 built sailing ship Loch Shiel
which had run into rocks off the island. Two Angle
lifeboat crew members and the honorary secretary received silver RNLI medals. It was said that the lifeboat was unable to reach them but these brave people managed to do it.
The rescue is particularly noteworthy as it is described as Wales' "Whisky Galore". The Loch Shiel was carrying goods from Scotland to Adelaide and included gunpowder, beer and 60 (some say 7,000) cases of Glasgow whisky. Much of this was never recovered. Some of the bottles are still amongst the wreck which are described as "undrinkable", but many and much of the cargo was only partially recovered by the customs men. It was said that one local drank himself to death on the 100% proof whiskey.
The fort was converted into a hotel in 1947 and was sold in 1999 for £275,000. In 2001 it was owned by the Von Essen hotel group who intended spending four million pounds to reopen the hotel with a five star rating and a cable car to allow access from the mainland. In 2001 a competition was successfully held to find a family who would serve as caretakers for a year. In 2011 the island is up for sale again with a price tag now of £750,000 . The island was finally sold in November of 2011 for 'significantly less' than the guide price
Divers still investigate the wrecks off the island and they have auctioned full beer bottles that came from the Loch Shiel. The beer is reported to be untainted by salt water, flat, but drinkable. Each bottle has sold for £1,000 at auction.
Community (Wales)
A community is a division of land in Wales that forms the lowest-tier of local government in Wales. Welsh communities are analogous to civil parishes in England....
of Angle
Angle, Pembrokeshire
Angle is a village and Community located on a narrow peninsula on the very southwest tip of Wales in Pembrokeshire. It has two public houses, a school, post office, a castle, St Mary's church and a sandy beach to the west of the village. The nearest viable rail station is Pembroke, from where there...
off the south west coast of Wales. The island is dominated by a fort that was built to defend Milford Haven
Milford Haven
Milford Haven is a town and community in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is situated on the north side of the Milford Haven Waterway, a natural harbour used as a port since the Middle Ages. The town was founded in 1790 on the north side of the Waterway, from which it takes its name...
from the French Navy. The Angle lifeboat received silver medals in 1878 rescuing the crew of the Loch Shiel
Loch Shiel
Loch Shiel is a 19.3 km2 freshwater loch, 120 m deep, situated 20 km west of Fort William in Lochaber, Highland, Scotland...
on rocks near the island which carried cases of whisky.
History
The 2 acres (8,093.7 m²) island had the fort constructed in 1854. The fort was created as it guarded a place of naval importance. A Royal CommissionRoyal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom
In 1859 Lord Palmerston instigated the Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom because of serious concerns that France might attempt to invade the UK...
recommended to Lord Palmerston that 70 forts should be strengthened or constructed to counter the potential threat of the French Navy. Eventually twelve forts were constructed around the entrance to Pembroke Dock
Pembroke Dock
Pembroke Dock is a town in Pembrokeshire, south-west Wales, lying north of Pembroke on the River Cleddau. Originally a small fishing village known as Paterchurch, the town was greatly expanded from 1814 onwards following the construction of a Royal Naval Dockyard...
and Milford Haven
Milford Haven
Milford Haven is a town and community in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is situated on the north side of the Milford Haven Waterway, a natural harbour used as a port since the Middle Ages. The town was founded in 1790 on the north side of the Waterway, from which it takes its name...
including Fort Hubberstone
Fort Hubberstone
Fort Hubberstone, on the west side of Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, is a Grade II* Listed Building which belongs to a series of forts built as part of the inner line of defence of the Haven following the Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom...
, Popton Fort
Popton Fort
Popton Fort, a Grade II* Listed Building, is a Palmerston fort completed in 1864 as part of the inner line of defence of Milford Haven together with Fort Hubberstone on the opposite bank....
and Stack Rock Fort
Stack Rock Fort
Stack Rock Fort is a Royal Commission fort built on a small island in Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire. A Grade II* Listed Building, it was built between 1859 and 1871 with 16 10" and 7 9" RMLs, changed to 4 12 pdr QF guns in 1902. Disarmed in 1929, it was placed on the market in 2005 for £150,000,...
. Even without the fort, the island and the rocks around it were a hazard to any shipping.
Divers recognise over twelve wrecks that are worth diving in the area of the island but of interest is the sailing ship that sank in 1878. In that year, 27 (some say 33) people who were rescued from the 1878 built sailing ship Loch Shiel
Loch Line
The Loch Line of Glasgow was a group of ill-fated colonial clippers that belonged to Messrs William Aitken and James Lilburn. Together, they operated a line of sailing ships between the United Kingdom and Australia between 1867 and 1911.-History:...
which had run into rocks off the island. Two Angle
Angle, Pembrokeshire
Angle is a village and Community located on a narrow peninsula on the very southwest tip of Wales in Pembrokeshire. It has two public houses, a school, post office, a castle, St Mary's church and a sandy beach to the west of the village. The nearest viable rail station is Pembroke, from where there...
lifeboat crew members and the honorary secretary received silver RNLI medals. It was said that the lifeboat was unable to reach them but these brave people managed to do it.
The fort was converted into a hotel in 1947 and was sold in 1999 for £275,000. In 2001 it was owned by the Von Essen hotel group who intended spending four million pounds to reopen the hotel with a five star rating and a cable car to allow access from the mainland. In 2001 a competition was successfully held to find a family who would serve as caretakers for a year. In 2011 the island is up for sale again with a price tag now of £750,000 . The island was finally sold in November of 2011 for 'significantly less' than the guide price
Divers still investigate the wrecks off the island and they have auctioned full beer bottles that came from the Loch Shiel. The beer is reported to be untainted by salt water, flat, but drinkable. Each bottle has sold for £1,000 at auction.