Figure 1.--Isles of Sicly are a group of small islannds located out in the Atlantic off the tip of Cornwall. This charming postcard-back photograph shows the harvesting of lilly-like arums on the Siclly Isles off Cornwall. The photograph is not dated, but was probably taken in the 1900s decade.

The Isles of Scilly is an archipelago off the southwestern tip of Cornwall out into the Atlantic. The islands used to be one large island. Rising sealeveks created the current archepeligo of small islands. St. Agnes is the most easterly and southerly point in England. The island are east of Land's End in Cornwall. This is also over 4 miles further south than the most southerly point of the British mainland -- Lizard Point. There has since ancient times been a small population. The islands are mostly assocuated with Cornwall. Historically, the economy included kelp harvesting, pilotage, smuggling, fishing, and shipbuilding. The modern economy is based on tourism and cut flowers. The islands have had a fascinating history. They were first visited by the Pohiecians and Greeks in ancient time. Probably the major unterest was Cornish tin. Then there were Viking raids and Barbary pirate slave trading raids. There was also a 350-year war with the Dutch. The islands were the location of one of the Royal Navy's worst disaters. A fleet of 21 Royal Navy ships sailing from from Gibraltar to Portsmouth ran into the islands. Six ships were driven onto the rock cliffs. Four were sunk or capsized, some 1,450 sailors were killed. Among the dead was Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell.

Created: 7:42 AM 6/16/2021
Last updated: 7:42 AM 6/16/2021