One of the Furness area's more colourful places Piel Island...taking its name from the castle, and made famous in later years by Arthur Ransome's book 'Swallows & Amazons'.
Piel Island was probably visited by the Celts and later by the Romans during their conquest of Britain. The first recorded name for the island came from the Scandinavian settlers to the area. The name Foudrey or Fotheray for neighbouring Foulney Island may have come from the Old Norse 'foder or fouder', meaning fodder and 'ay or oy' meaning island. Therefore it is safe to assume that Foudrey may have been used as a foddering place for the settlers grazing animals on both islands.
In 1127 the island was given to the Savignac monks as part of their original land grant for an abbey from King Stephen. After the Savignacs merged with the Cistercians in the middle of the century, Furness Abbey started to grow, and the need for a safe harbour was felt. Somewhat naturally Foudrey appeared to be the perfect solution.
In 1212 King John granted the Abbey a license to land one cargo of 'wheat, flour and other provisions 'in order to stave off a famine caused by the failure of the local harvest'. Thus the first wooden tower was built on Piel. An unlimited cargo license was granted in 1232 and again in 1258...the Abbey's own ships came under Royal protection.
The current motte and bailey 'castle' with its defense ditches was built in the early part of the fourteenth century and was the largest of its kind in the northwest. It was probably intended to be used as a fortified warehouse to keep cargos safe from pirates and other raiders. The Abbey soon discovered that it did not keep just the pirates out, the 'Pile of Fotheray' also kept the King and custom's men at a distance. It was widely known at that time that the Abbey was active in the smuggling business. It was during this period that the island was probably the home of one Adam of Beaumont and his outlaws (1346-1363) The Robin Hood and his Merry Men of their day.
Although Piel Island was held by King Henry IV for a short period, the sland continued to be a focal point for the smuggling trade in Furness until 1487. On June 4th of that year Lambert Simnel, a merchant's son, under the guidance of the earl of Lincoln, landed at Piel. Simnel claimed that he was the Earl of Warwick and therefore was the rightful King of England. With his army of German and Irish mercenaries, Simnel set off across Furness to march on London. He did finally arrive in London but only as the prisoner of Henry VII, after being defeated by the King's forces at the Battle of Stoke on June 16th.
The island and harbour continued in use for shipping as the iron industry grew in Furness. Houses for pilots and a public house were built on Piel in the late eighteenth century.
Today the landlord of the Ship Inn is traditionally known as the 'King of Piel'. The title comes from the time of Lambert Simnel when he declared himself king. This tradition has also given Piel island rise to the 'Knights of Piel'. In the Ship Inn is an old oaken chair and anyone who sits in it becomes a 'Knight of Piel'. The 'knighthood' ceremony must be performed by the 'King' or another 'knight'. The new Knight must then carry out his duties which include buying everyone a drink, being a moderate smoker, an ardent lover of the opposite sex, and of good character.
One of the rights of a Knight is, if he finds himself shipwrecked on Piel he may go to the inn and demand a night's free lodging and as much as he can eat and drink!
The castle was given to the townspeople of Barrow by the Duke of Buccleuch as a memorial to the men who were killed in the First World War. Piel Castle can be visited by ferry from Roa Island or Rampside during the summer months.
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