Flat Holm Island | The Abandoned Plague Island
Vložit
- čas přidán 16. 08. 2020
- Today we’re heading for Flat Holm Island off the coast of Wales.
This island has been occupied since the viking age, it currently has a population of just one and the surrounding area is known to be treacherous for ships.
This limestone island is a small, almost circular island that consists of 86 acres of land.
Along with the light house and foghorn, there is a farm house, batteries & barracks, a radar station, an isolation hospital and a series of smuggling tunnels.
Nine guns were emplaced around the island to protect Cardiff, four battery sites remain.
These guns had the advantage of being almost invisible to shipping and also offered protection to the gun crews.
The fog horn was built in 1906 and is now a grade II listed building, and when the horn sounds it can be heard clearly by people on both coasts. It hasn’t been sounded since 2000 and the time before that was in 1988.
Flat holms light house was built in 1737 and is 30m high, its construction was put into action when 60 soldiers drowned after their vessel crashed on the Wolves rocks near Flat Holm in 1736.
In 1896 the Cardiff Corporation built a permanent sanatorium on the land for use of cholera patients and is unique in being the only Victorian isolation hospital sited on a British offshore island.
The last patient to die in the hospital was a victim of the bubonic plague and was cremated on the island at the end of the 19th century.
The hospital finally closed in 1935 and has remained derelict since.
The Anglo Saxons originally named this Island Bradanreolice, Reolice derives from an Irish word meaning graveyard, meaning this island was a place of burial for people of that time...
There are many graves dotted around the island, the ones that have been opened had remains of skeletons that had been doused in lime, indicating the occupants had died from a contagious disease.
There have been several shipwrecks around flat holm and over 50 shipmates are buried here on the island.
This island is absolutely steeped in history but remains almost deserted in the middle of the sea, the historic buildings further deteriorating.
•
Join our channel to get access to perks:
/ @samandjessexplore
Instagram-
/ samandjessexplore
Facebook-
/ samandjessexplore
Merch-
teespring.com/en-GB/stores/sa...
•
Drone footage by Matt The Secret Vault big thanks to him.
Hi I was one of the keepers on Flatholm, and lived there for three years, a great place then, but sadly in a mess now. We keepers kept the Island neat and tidy. The engine room was in first-class condition, everything spotless, the living quarters were also in immaculate condition.
I bet it’s sad for you seeing it in this state 😔 what a pity trinity house can’t restore it as an attraction , I guess they will just dismantle it eventually
@@David-uf8ex Yes David, it was extremely upsetting to see the state of the island now. We looked after the island because it was our home, and we treated it with respect and treated the occasional guest visitors the same, we showed them around and explained the history of the place too. I think it will just revert to a wilderness and decrepit buildings. So sad.
How amazing
@@peterrobson5043 You provided a great service to those who were always effected by it purpose and it's usefulness. Thank God for those such as yourselves who inform the people of it's need to your great country and those who served!
Ofcourse you kept everything up to par - what else were you gonna do?
I went there on an organised trip 20 years ago. There were just two university students living there for a research project and they were keen to get across to us that the (almost) lack of people made it a very special safe haven for the wildlife. We were all given hats for the guided tour and we needed them - the whole time we were being 'bombed' by upset birds. I'm glad I went there, and this video is nice too, but I came away feeling that this was the land of the animals, happily free of people.
Thanks for your amazing video. I lived on flatholm as a warden for 7 months - one of the best experiences of my life. Made life long memories and friendships. Haven't been back since (at least 20 years!) Thanks for the tour ❤
When I was a child my father was a lighthouse keeper and we lived on islands .. that's all gone now I really miss it though so really love your videos 😁👍🏼
Incredible place with so much history in a relatively small area. Because its remote and not easily accessible is probably one of the reasons it's still in such good condition. Imagine that on the mainland... It would be all tagged up and covered in graffiti. Looks like you had the perfect weather for it also. Enjoyed this.
Hi Sam and Jess, this is an awesome place to explore. Thank you for the history. Every time you find a place that says "Danger, Keep out!" so you guys see that as a sign to explore I start laughing. Wow, there was a lot to explore. It was interesting seeing all the really old buildings and especially the lighthouse as it had been modernised to solar. The walk and aerial views were awesome, especially for the disabled like me. Thanks for sharing. Cheers, from Australia xx
at 20.19 - the line "we doth teach the torches to burn bright" is from Romeo and Juliet Act 1 - for some weird reason they have then only written every third line of the scene, so what you see is line 1 4 and 7 of Act 1 Scene 5
Was fun meeting you guys! I hope to explore with y'all again
Sailed between Flatholm and Steepholm many times but never landed, not easy in a big boat with a miserable skipper. Hope you get to Steepholm, have heard all the ww2 stuff was left there because it was too costly to get it off. I know the tides and landing are tricky but got to be worth the effort, and Matthew always seems cautious enough on the water.
All the equipment was replaced by technology the ships have radar, GPS, and AIS. Plus we all have Google maps. Nice photos and enjoy your exploring. Tom
Thank you for taking me along on this beautiful explore!
O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!
It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night
Like a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear;
Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear!
So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows,
As yonder lady o’er her fellows shows.
The measure done, I’ll watch her place of stand,
And, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand.
Did my heart love till now? forswear it, sight!
For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.
A famous speech spoken by Romeo in Act I Scene 5 of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
Great vid guys!! Happy to see Matthew with you all. Idk but that seems like a very good person to have around! You guys have been going to amazing places!! Thank you for doing this for us and you while many cant. 😊
Amazing stuff ! Good job guys, I just love this kind of exploring of a place I've never seen or been before. Great job everyone , keep exploring. I'll be watching. Thank you
What an incredible island. The structures are awesome. So much history. Thanks for sharing xx
Another great video Sam & Jess. Never heard of that place before so a little history lesson for me here. Thanks again for sharing all these adventures with us. ATB Dave.
Brilliant video, lovely island which had a wonderful sense of peace and a story to tell
Love the commentary and the explore. Awesome 🤘
Wow. I have lived in Weston super mare 41 years most of my life. I've never been to flat Holm thank you so much for sharing this. Also I remember the fog horn back in the 80s. It was very loud. Much love Sam and Jess. 💛🤗🌞
the generators would probably run with lil tinkering
Absolutely brilliant video,you certainly explore some great places.Thank you
Amazing place Sam and Jess great information I would love just to her the fog horn sounded once a year even if they done it to bring in the New Year New Years Eve as you say would make for a great holiday . Well done Capt Matt on navigating to the Island shame they cut the barrels off those old cannons perhaps to disarm them but I would not want to be near one when it fired . Great video again guys x
Love these videos!
The poem was by Shakespeare, about when Romeo first set eyes on Juliet
Spoken by Romeo, Act 1 Scene 5
O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!
It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night
Like a rich jewel in an Ethiope’s ear;
Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear!
So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows,
As yonder lady o’er her fellows shows.
The measure done, I’ll watch her place of stand,
And, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand.
Did my heart love till now? forswear it, sight!
For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.
Amazing video with so much to show Very well done and enjoyed Thankyou
Excellent production, the camera work was so good that it picked up, what Flat Home island, really is.
The island is a "Mudfossil" conglomerate of which, the main body, .... is a Turtle, and the "Clingons" , mainly,
are of the GIANT type. !!!
Sorry, forgot to show the evidence of the claim, it's @ 1:17 mins. in. !!!
Best Explore Yet Sam & Jess. By far my favorite. Just 👍🏻 Great. Thank🌻You Both
Glad you enjoyed it Roberta! Thank you for watching :)
Thanks guys for the history of the island, Look forward to the next video.
Amazing stuff guys, yet again another great video, I find your introductions, and explanations of these places are incredible, ye clearly look into your history about these places, ye never disappoint guys. Again well done stay safe, hopefully one day ye will get to ireland and do some explores over here 🙂🙂.
I love the content of this channel , awesome stuff thank you for sharing with us
I find light house's fascinating and windmills etc. Surely they could find a way to use the foghorn again. Great safe haven for animals this island is full of history. Also find smuggling interesting, what an idyllic way to recharge your batteries and chill for a while. Enjoyable explore S and J xx ❤️💙
What a nice location. A great place to get away from it all. Such an interesting history too. Obviously a haven for wildlife as well. Thanks for showing us round.
Enjoyed the video, Sam's pirate impression was on point
Lighthouse family-lifted
Love the vids!!
Sad miss you two but happy to see the video!!!; )
Brilliant guys. Loved every minute
My dream home is a old lighthouse on a island. Great tour ❤️❤️❤️💋💋🐕🐈🐈
Neil Foster your on when I win the Lottery 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I found the fog horn building fascinating. I absolutely love lighthouses.
'Danger keep out... You know what that means...' Great explore, thanks!
The island info in the store means that part of the island is Cardiff authority, so it's not all private.
o wow< what a place to explore, this is on my list, defo....great filming too!!
Awesome guys love the history of the island, ❤️
How beautiful, though fearful in a storm. @Sam have you ever thought of making your logo into a pendant? I think it would be quite lovely. ✨💖✨
I just love any lighthouse.im always amazed why and how they were built.Anclote,Fl.Egmot key,Anna Marie. Island here in Forida.all with a build 10 years earlier,now most batteries underwater,but every time I see it is amazing.different war but sam place same time.
Awesome. I'd make me a garden and plant trees. I'd love to live there.
Amazing natural island, full of history. Very interesting place to explore.
What a wonderful place..loved every minute of it..✅👌💕
i remember hearing the sound of the fog horn when I was a kid in bed at night in Cardiff. Reminded me of the film 'The Fog'. I did actually go to the Island about 12 years ago. The fog horn on the roof looks like a telescopic sight on a rifle.
Brilliant video yet again 🤓🤓
Great to have your point of view this time guys!
Cool video great history. Thanks
Magical. You have a great talent for capturing the atmosphere of a place. The blue sky, green scrubland, yellow gorse and the wild sad cries of the seagulls. The buildings were not the stars of this show.
Wow sam and Jess. Awesome explore
Hi Sam, what u were calling Lavender ....looks like Chives. Interesting video and cool Island
Sorry I missed it life got in the way! Going to enjoy it now.
Theres an article in the Bristol Post where they interviewed the current keeper. He was saying that they were due to get volunteers in but then the pandemic hit so for safety reasons it’s just him and his partner who stay there.
Love those Gardner engines.
............sad to see them not in use
You notice the mark's on the cannon from the reclaimers cutting torch. They cut the cannon to recover the steel. Seems someone was stopped in mid work just like Fort Rock.
I enjoy that and thank you for sharing.
I bet Dan would have loved this explore..!
I can see and do everyday see Flat holm And Steep holm from my garden. Steep Holm is about 3 Miles from me and flat holm further on. Steep Holm is owned by the Alsop Trust and only guided tours are allowed on it and if you get caught an angry little prick will wave his finger at you😂😂. The Vikings used the islands to raid Wales and Bristol👍
Another superb video , you get to goto so cool places with Matt 👍 If I was a millionaire I'd but that place and form my own government like sealands 😉
S&J, this sounds interesting will be watching.
Que paraíso,fantástica ilha;parabéns pelo belíssimo vídeo com uma vista deslumbrante.Adorei,abraços R.S.,Brasil.
RS Brasil 🇧🇷
You do not want to hear that foghorn if you are close to it as it would put you in hospital.
If I caught you trespassing on my property and rummaging through my belongings I would give you a right gob full and you would all be told to get off the island !
Superb
Was the site of a fever hospital for a long time. You would do well to be aware that some biotoxins do not age quickly.
My dad used to work for Gardeners engines in Manchester when he left school not many of them left now! I live in South Wales now not to far from here the other island is a nature reserve & protected so I wouldn’t go there out of the respect of their work there & the wildlife..
COOL STUFFF GUYSSS LOVE YOU
Looking forward to this video folks
That cannon looks like it totally failed. Notice how the barrel looks sheared off and cracked in half. Hope no one was hurt.Possible cut with blow torch and didn't finish.
Nice!You should shoot in 4K though as im sure your phone/camera is capable of it :)
Several times I could swear the birds where saying 'get out' and 'go away.'
Strange Savile was mentioned after reading that message on the wall I was thinking abused kids wrote it.
Hello all, being a light house keeper would be my dream job in that location, and away from the toil of everyday life. What a place to live and grow my special plants. 🤣🤣🤣👍👍Well done guy`s for the upload, I love this content. Take care, stay safe.
You wouldn't wanna grow your weed on that island bro. There's lead underneath which makes it impossible to farm on it
I’ve often looked across to Flatholm from Sully Island and thought I’d like to visit there - didn’t know what I was expecting but obviously it wasn’t much - watching this vid I don’t feel I have to go there anymore - nothing there of any great surprise or interest
You go to some really good places
Yes Ive just subscribed
What an epic island
Sam and Jess I love your adventures but sometimes the music is so loud I can’t hear what’s being said can it be lower just a little bit, I Love the way Sam tells the stories, Thank you so much for letting me travel from my living room
How did you manage to get in the buildings etc? We weren't allowed in any of them when I went today
Love all thhistory of this place.
The whole island is actually a mudfossil conglomerate. See ... *Seeing is Believing* channel.
My camera picks out some of the old gun emplacements.
czcams.com/video/MFsGQQHIaCc/video.html !!!
@@Rubin_Schmidt oh wow thanks. I'll check that link later when i get home :)
bet them engines would fire right up with no issues
wonderful from Pakistan
looks intresting
I can't even imagine how genius and rich the people back in the day
Those are 'running trenches' you went down into, also ammo storage...
I think the lighthouse may have been powered by a internal combustion engine anybody know anything about it ?
What an amazing place to share,so rad!
beautiful place
Gardner Engines will last for ever.
Great exploring your shows are wonderful, I am wondering if you have thought of wearing masks, some places I cant imagine how terrible they smell, hope you will keep sharing your adventures, be safe ,be carefull and be well !
Sam the plant you thought was lavender is actually called Drumsticks, they look a bit like giant chives.
i think the enclosure you pointed at is for collecting rain water
It's Capt Matt's Big Boat Aye!!!; ) are you all thinking of the other island in the future Maybe Promise Capt Matt two bottle of Rum!!!; )
@Samandjessexplore i wouldn't mind living there having my own island 😊what a beauty
So, which are the buildings where they kept the contagious people? 37:17 and the burial sights?or where the ashes were disposed of?
Remember, leave no turn unstoned. Love & Universal Respect Ending Never. 🇬🇧
That cat sound was a bit strange 🤔 I bet that fella seen you all and barricaded himself in. If i was on there by myself I would have a nude walk round for the heck of it 🙂 let my cannon blow in the wind.
Would love to see that cannon
So why is this not developed? It this the water and generator building?
Each one of those generators probably produce over 50,000 kilowatts plus. That's a lot of power for fog horns.Like Metallica blowing out one horn and Judas Priest out the other.
All lovely and stuff, but does it have Wifi?....;)