Brisons
Islet off Cornwall, UK
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Brisons (French: Brisant, the present participle of briser meaning 'shoal of rocks' or literally 'breaker')[1] is a twin-peaked islet in the Celtic Sea situated 1 mile (1.6 km) offshore from Cape Cornwall in Cornwall, on the south-western coast of Great Britain.[2]
The Brisons | |
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  The Brisons Location in Cornwall | |
| Coordinates: 50.12039°N 5.72229°W | |
| Location | Cornwall, UK |
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").[3] The rocks are connected to Gribba Point (Cornish: Pen an Gribow, meaning head of the reefs) by the Guthen Gwidden reef (Cornish: Kudhen Gwydn, meaning white hidden one). The gap in the reef is called the Adgiwar Gap (Cornish: Aja Wer, 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.[4]
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.[5] 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.[6]
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.
