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Brisons

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Template:Infobox UK feature

The Brisons (Template:Lang-kw, meaning the reefs) is a twin-peaked islet in the Atlantic situated 1 mile (1.6 km) offshore from Cape Cornwall in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom.[1]

Geography

The Brisons (the name is French: brisant, 'reef, breaker') are 22 m (72 ft) and 27 m (89 ft) high and are said to resemble General Charles de Gaulle lying on his back ("General de Gaulle in his bath")[2]. The rocks are connected to Gribba Point (Template:Lang-kw, meaning head of the reefs) by the Guthen Gwidden reef (Template:Lang-kw, meaning white hidden one). The gap in the reef is called the Adgiwar Gap (Template:Lang-kw, meaning green gap). In 1878, an article in the Cornishman newspaper names the reef between the ″Brissons″ and the land as Bridges, and the reef had three gaps; the nearest known as Rose-an-pons.[3]

Wildlife and ecology

In 2016 the rocks were visited by the West Cornwall Ringing Group where they heard at least two European storm petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus) calling; an indication of breeding on the only known site in Cornwall.[4] Sixty-six birds were ringed:

  • European shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) – 42 including two adults
  • razorbill (Alca torda) – 13 including seven adults
  • guillemot (Uria aalge) – 11 including eight adults.

History

In 1851, the 250 ton brig New Commercial was wrecked, striking the ledge between the Great and Little Brisons. A dramatic rescue of the surviving crew was attempted, resulting in the death of all but two of the members. As a result, the National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck (later the RNLI) established a lifeboat in Sennen Cove in 1853, where one is still based today.[5]

Recreation

During "Cape sports" an annual water sports event based on the beach at Cape Cornwall, swimming races are conducted from the Brisons back to the beach.

References

  1. ^ Ordnance Survey: Landranger map sheet 203 Land's End ISBN 978-0-319-23148-7
  2. ^ "What to see at Cape Cornwall". National Trust. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  3. ^ "A Contrast". The Cornishman. 8 August 1878. p. 7.
  4. ^ Grantham, Mark (8 June 2016). "Breeding Stormies on the Brisons". West Cornwall Ringing Group. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  5. ^ Leach, Nicholas (2014). Sennen Cove Lifeboats: An Illustrated History. The History Press. ISBN 0750955481.
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