Garrison, Gigs, Goats and Glass Fusion on St Mary’s, Scilly, St Mary`s, England

St Mary’s Island is the largest of the Isles of Scilly, a small archipelago just 28 miles across the Atlantic Ocean from the tip of Cornwall in England. Its sandy beaches and diverse habitats rich in flora and fauna have made it a popular destination.

Only five of the 140 islands of Scilly are inhabited. Entry to these islands is via St Mary’s either by ferry from Penzance, flights from Exeter or Newquay or helicopter from Lands’ End in Cornwall. A co-operative of ferries and private boat companies make it easy to travel between the islands but St Mary’s has plenty to keep its visitors interested and entertained for several days. The capital of Scilly, Hugh Town is on St Mary’s and features a sixteenth century castle. This castle has been a hotel since 1932 but the large garrison that surrounds it is open to the public.

Star Castle, named for its shape, stands proud on The Hugh, a promontory above St Mary’ Harbour. Sir Francis Godolphin, then Governor of Scilly, built the castle in 1593-4. He added a granite wall to protect the land side of the island but it was not until 1742 that The Garrison surrounding the castle was completely enclosed inside a wall. Scilly has been part of the Duchy of Cornwall since the fourteenth century which still owns most of the freehold. Until 1830 the islands were ruled by the incumbent of the leasehold known as The Governor. Once that lease was surrendered in 1830, government of the island changed and the islands began to prosper with increased trading activity and the introduction of flower farms. In 1891 the Council of the Isles of Scilly was formed and for the first time residents were able to elect their own representatives. As a sui generis council, it has wide-ranging powers, equivalent to those of a county council allowing it to meet the needs of the islands and their inhabitants. The circular walk around The Garrison is a journey through its history. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).