flat welsh limestone island lying approximately forms cardiff includes southerly point wales island long history occupation dating religious uses include visits disciples 6th century site foundation later cholera patients built isolation hospital port cardiff transmitted wireless signals open sea frequent lighthouse built island replaced lighthouse strategic position approaches bristol cardiff series gun known built 1860s line defences known outbreak world war island rearmed forms managed designated site special scientific interest maritime grassland rare plants rock sea wild island significant breeding colonies lesser black backed herring great black backed home slow worms larger usual blue markings history bronze age early christian traces human island late known park phase bronze axe head discovered island island modern lone farmhouse grid reference sub roman period 6th century retreat lived island seven years friend lived time nearby met prayers left island abbot june visited small boat stranded week high winds discovered christian graves located close field northeast island present farmhouse grave opened contained male skeleton open grave marble engraved celtic cross broken second disturbed grave marked found southeast contained coffin constructed iron bolts inside coffin skeletons lime indicating occupants probably died disease anglo saxon medieval called island derives irish word meaning churchyard graveyard belief island religious significance place burial people time island current comes old norse meaning island estuary records indicate viking fleet south brittany led possibly king took refuge island following defeat records mother anglo saxon king england stayed island travelling france norman conquest england invasion lord cousin formed wales proper cardiff castle centre new domain came parish boundary cardiff parish churches kept hereditary property norman lords survey archaeologist unearthed number medieval vicinity farmhouse found evidence continuous occupation island including containing numerous animal bones shells fragments green late 12th 13th century pottery 14th century found island presence pennant sandstone tiles fragment 14th century ridge tile indicate existence substantial medieval building possibly chapel demolished present farmhouse constructed property records king henry_viii granted lease farm island gentleman family remained end 17th century lease passed 18th century smuggling 18th century island location ideal base smuggling alleged old shaft north island connects series natural tunnels concealed exit sea view welsh english coasts customs authorities powerless act boat island according tradition small cave east cliff storage mainly tea 19th century mission clergyman england voluntarily population island created order serve sailing vessels mission later provides ministerial services sailors ports service held annually island year old italian inventor named assisted engineer named transmitted wireless signals open sea near wales having failed interest italian government project brought system britain met time chief engineer major figure field erected high mast receiving mast point trials failed mast raised signals received clearly message sent ready original paper slip signed island communication history october areas link internet wireless connection deployed connection internet access data network main farmhouse councils having cardiff codes years consultant telephone island office county hall atlantic wharf cardiff conditions ships island led british passenger vessel lost seven passengers stranded january passage ireland bristol october british sloop william mary hitting rock islands near known wolves ship route bristol sank minutes mate sailors survivors later rescued having ship rigging passengers lost bodies recovered ship buried steamship ran ashore refloated steamship middlesex lost geography welsh located small circular limestone island approximately diameter covering acres rises gentle slope exposed western rocky shore sheltered easterly cliffs stands prominent lighthouse highest point sea level considered wales nearby island considered england northwest small islands collectively known wolves measuring approximately tidal range second geology recent ice ages million years ago sea level current level joined somerset coast start period years ago ice sheets retreated flat plains surrounding river estuary flooded islands limestone neighbouring composed forms wider basin extending bristol area westwards beneath mouth south wales west barry wales island designated site recognised interest lies south western shoreline north west point wave cut portion limestone displays large fossil marks silver bearing deposits pits visible surface island result trial dispute lead mining rights ended lord making official complaint lighthouse keeper intended lighthouse processing lead mining lead profitable works abandoned red period fills joints limestone showing evidence cave forming processes period caves western north eastern sides island years smuggling buildings lighthouse station high mean high water lamp flashes times seconds red white red white white light visibility nmi data recorded reed note visibility nmi white light nmi red light nmi light island simple mounted wooden frame stood high eastern island bristol found unreliable petitioned actual lighthouse petition failed bristol submitted proposal build lighthouse expense initial proposal failed negotiations resumed soldiers drowned vessel crashed wolves rocks near following disaster finally supported proposal agreed pay construction tower fees permits construction tower finished began operating march lighthouse struck lightning severe storm december keeper narrowly escaped tower severely damaged tall crack repaired oak beams supporting platform circular stone tower updated house powerful tower raised mechanism rotate light installed signal station country private ownership july finally bought lease million million years later fountain oil lamp installed raised diameter installed lighthouse renovated include accommodations keepers lasted lighthouse fully automated keepers withdrawn light converted solar power monitored controlled essex built building grade listed building originally powered engine gave quick succession minute intervals clearly heard people living coasts years following world war heard long short blast nautical data stated interval volunteers flat society help restored horn engines 1960s officially reopened welsh secretary secretary sounded time records monks abbey bristol established dairy farm island granted robert earl gloucester stranded visit passed time exploring island noted tax exempt abbey farm counted seven cows sheep horse pigs dogs census record shows farmhouse later occupied henry emily morgan sons daughters henry niece year old servant farmhouse converted flat hotel bar alley added hotel closed years farmhouse renovated accommodation visitors staying island batteries barracks fortified 1860s following visit queen_victoria prince albert france concerned strength french_navy defence united kingdom direction lord recommended fortification coast defences island line defences known completed series gun built protect bristol cardiff channel remains battery sites island castle rock battery guns pits open backed pit battery guns pit open backed pit battery gun open backed pit gun removed lighthouse battery guns pits open backed pit run northern southern point island western coast rifled muzzle disappearing carriages built royal gun mounted separate batteries pits diameter deep constructed limestone blocks bricks pits advantage invisible shipping offered protection gun crews inch ton guns heavy mobile land service consisted steel rifle tube surrounded wrought iron overall length gun centimetres shell mounted disappearing carriage guns needed fired test purposes stone barracks built sleep men shows barracks occupied master gunner family soldiers son albert born island december men stationed island guns good working order garrison reinforced regular artillery volunteer troops invasion imminent barracks battery located near southernmost battery fortifications included large drainage basin underground storage tank administrative building secure store ditch bank system served protect cross island attack barracks vacated buildings restored educational use radar station outbreak world war soldiers royal artillery stationed island armed inch guns associated anti aircraft close defence guns gun laying radar station placed centre island structures formed protected atlantic shipping convoys cardiff barry works abandoned war island military use remains centre island isolation hospital july steamship left seamen island believed suffering cholera subsequently died accommodation canvas tent regular inhabitants island petitioned cardiff council compensation complaining loss income visitors difficulty selling vegetables grown farm market cardiff owner agreed lease land use military lighthouse year corporation built permanent land use cholera patients building described pavilion comprising bed nurse room sailors arrived cardiff suspected having cholera engineer able deported isolation hospital prevent spread disease second mate sent island measure quickly recovered flat unique victorian isolation hospital sited british offshore island patient die hospital victim plague cremated island end 19th century hospital finally closed remained derelict hospital main block laundry block grade listed buildings considered risk flat project leased island years march county council agreed obtain year lease crown estate starting december designated stipulated lease managed project team operates boat purpose built crossing able carry passengers essential supplies island work supported registered charity flat society flora fauna designated designation covers maritime grassland mainly concentrated edges island endemic plant species relative isolation island allowed number hardy species bird foot lotus biting acre thrive number relatively rare plants rock sea wild grows places found related grows years producing leaves large purple flowers smell flowering dies produces plants introduced medicinal uses include dove foot crane bill plant claimed wide range medicinal uses excellent good cure inward wounds hurts stay bleeding dissolve expel blood heal parts heal outward wild introduced island nearby possibly monks thirty seven plants taken island steep farmer time 1930s died world war occupation fortification island remaining plant reintroduced flat protected fencing near path lighthouse plants grown seed survive island farmhouse garden island significant breeding colony pairs lesser black backed pairs herring pairs great black backed varying numbers common feeding habits lesser black backed studied shown smaller laid previous years feeding increase egg clutch size island home slow worms slow worm population unusually large blue markings island rabbit population introduced farming 12th century suffers effectively contains numbers island initially goats sheep sheep introduced sheep grazing wild island flat project aims develop island showcase sustainable technologies original power supply consisted diesel generators different properties unconnected underground cables installed form mini grid farmhouse workshops fog horn keeper cottage powered system located farmhouse farmhouse diesel generator system extended include battery bank charged solar wind turbine sited redundant telecommunications tower high point island study barrage constructed consequences depending design route number studies proposed latest secretary state business enterprise announced feasibility study september follow report proposal electric barrier generate meet percent britain power needs opposed environmental groups proposed barrage pass miles west study expected years split stages decision point end likely run late focus high level issues reach initial view fundamental issues tidal scheme subject decision end phase second phase look issues detail public consultation early popular culture bbc let look wales presented featured included island bbc programme broadcast february featured possibility bbc series march episode featured island home secret medical facility bbc broadcast featured travelling island slow worms described britain elusive bbc nature broadcast bbc wales june presenter visited
Flat Holm