Isles That Yearned for Napoleon
n the 1790s, as Napoleon’s fleets prowled, Scillonians raised Telegraph Tower on St Mary’s, a 12-meter guard against French sails that never docked. No record ties Bonaparte here, yet islanders whispered of his gaze—craving a stage beyond their 140 granite specks. Once Ennor, a single landmass, Scilly birthed Lyonesse’s myth, its drowned bells tolling in fishermen’s tales. By 1651, Royalists sparked a 335-year “war” with the Dutch, ended in 1986 with a chuckle. Smugglers, shipwrecks (1,450 perished in 1707), and Bronze Age graves fueled Scilly’s hunger for epic lore. Wander St Agnes’ lighthouse or Tresco’s coves from our cottage, chasing an archipelago’s outsized dreams.
Stay Central: Near the harbor keeps the buzz at your doorstep.
Parking: £10/day at Arwenack.
Best Time: Summer for festivals.
Location: South Cornwall Coast
Known for: Maritime heritage, harbor, beaches
Distance from Truro: 10 miles
Explore the islands and discover their hidden tales
Discover Cornwall’s myths, from Padstow’s charm to Tintagel’s legends, monthly.