PIEL ISLAND

Piel Castle on Piel Island was built in the fourteenth century by the Abbots of Furness. It served both as refuge for the Abbot in times of danger and as a means of controlling traffic and trade with the Isle of Man and Ireland via Piel harbour, which was in the possession of the Abbey.

The castle, consisting of a large central keep and two outer rings of defences is open to the public at any reasonable time.

A history lesson on Piel Island is available at www.alphabase.demon.co.uk/piel.html thanks to Darren Jefferson`s excellent site about the History of the Furness Peninsula. The full site is at www.barrow.cjb.net 

Click on the link to view the photo or use the right mouse to download it.

Close up view of Piel Island taken from a boat. (May 2004)
The seating area in the pub on Piel Island (May 2004)
Close up view of Ruins of part of Piel Castle (May 2004)
Inside Piel Castle (May 2004)
The moat that surrounds the castle on Piel Island (May 2004)

The bar area of the Ship Inn on Piel Island (May 2004)
A view of the pub and house from behind on Piel Island (May 2004)
Full view of Piel Castle taken from Piel Island (May 2004)
A rear view of the houses on Piel Island (May 2004)
A scenic view towards Barrow from Piel Island (May 2004)

The Ship Inn and Castle on Piel Island (May 2004)
Close up of The Ship Inn on Piel Island (May 2004)
View of Roa Island taken from Piel Island (May 2004)
A front view of the 8 houses on Piel Island (May 2004)
Close up of Piel Castle Ruins (May 2004)

Another Close up of Piel Castle Ruins from a different angle (May 2004)
A window in Piel Castle Ruins (May 2004)
Front view of the pub on Piel Island (May 2004)
Rod Scarr, The KING of Piel serving behind the bar (May 2004)
Roa Island houses and lifeboat station taken from a boat (May 2004)

The Ship Inn pub on Piel Island
Looking across to Barrow from Piel island
A look at Piel Island
Wildlife on Piel Island
The row of Cottages on Piel Island
A view inside the pub on Piel Island

How the new lifeboat station looks from Piel
The old castle is still got part of its moat
Piel Castle
Piel Castle and houses
A view of Piel Island

A view of Roa island from Piel Island
A view of Roa Island from the sea
The bar inside the Ship Inn on Piel Island