Thorne Island
{{short description|Very small island in Wales}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox UK place
|official_name = Thorne Island
|country = Wales
|region=
|static_image = Thorne Island.jpg
|postcode_area=
|postcode_district =
|dial_code=
|constituency_westminster=
|community_wales= Angle
|unitary_wales= Pembrokeshire
|metropolitan_borough=
| metropolitan_county =
|coordinates = {{coord|51.691822|-5.118136|display=inline,title}}
}}
Thorne Island is a rocky islet and part of the community of Angle, Pembrokeshire, Wales, with an area of {{convert|2|acres|m2}}, dominated by a coastal artillery fort built to defend the Milford Haven Waterway in the mid-19th century. It has been the site of a number of shipwrecks, including one in 1894 that was carrying a cargo of Scotch whisky.
History
=Fortification=
Thorne Island commands the entrance to the anchorage of Milford Haven and access to the former Royal Dockyard at Pembroke Dock. A proposal was made to fortify the island in 1817, but it was not implemented. In the 1850s, there was growing concern about the increasing strength of the French Navy and the expansionist policy of the Emperor Napoleon III.Hogg, Ian V (1974), Coast Defences of England and Wales, 1856–1956, David & Charles, {{ISBN|978-0-7153635-3-9}} (p. 20) Work started on the existing fort at some time after 1852 and '1854' is carved above the entrance. The fort is an irregular polygon in plan and was designed with a seaward facing battery for five RBL 7-inch Armstrong guns and four 68-pounder guns, all mounted en barbette (i.e. in an open mounting, firing over a parapet). The landward side of the fort consists of a defensible barracks, with a loopholed parapet overlooking the entrance.{{cite web |url=http://www.victorianforts.co.uk/pdf/datasheets/thornisland.pdf |title=Thorn(e) Island Fort |last1= |first1= |last2= |first2= |date= |website=www.victorianforts.co.uk |publisher=Victorian Forts and Artillery |access-date=21 May 2016 |quote=}}
In 1860, the report of the Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom commented that "Although these batteries [ie: Thorne Island Fort, Dale Fort and West Blockhouse Fort] would prevent an enemy from making use of the anchorage at the mouth of Milford Haven, they would not prevent the passage of steamers of war, and therefore would not suffice to protect the dockyard or the haven itself." This was due to the limited number and size of guns that the existing fort could bring to bear on any fast moving target.[https://books.google.com/books?id=ha5bAAAAQAAJ&dq=%22devonport+lines%22&pg=RA1-PR36 Reports from Commissioners: Sixteen Volumes: Coal Mines, Inland Revenue, Post Office, Ordnance Survey, Defences of the United Kingdom], Her Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO), London 1860 (Report commencing p. 431 – p. xxxix of the report) The report recommended to Lord Palmerston that further forts should be strengthened or constructed to counter the potential threat of the French Navy. Eventually twelve forts were constructed around the entrance to Pembroke Dock and Milford Haven including Fort Hubberstone, Popton Fort and Stack Rock Fort.
=20th century=
The fort was converted into a hotel in 1947 and was sold in 1999 for £275,000.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/regions/wales/404857.stm|title=Mystery buyer for island|date=27 July 1999|publisher=BBC|accessdate=31 August 2008}} In 2001 it was owned by the Von Essen hotel group who intended spending four million pounds to reopen the hotel with a five star rating and a cable car to allow access from the mainland. In 2001 a competition was successfully held to find a family who would serve as caretakers for a year.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/regions/wales/1430192.stm|title=Castaway caretakers set for island life|date=9 July 2001|publisher=BBC|accessdate=31 August 2008}} The island was sold in November 2011 for 'significantly less' than the guide price of £750,000 to the owner of Chislehurst Caves{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-15551772|title=Pembrokeshire Thorn Island with Napoleonic fort is sold|date=2 November 2011|publisher=BBC|accessdate=17 July 2021}} who put it back on the market in 2016 for £550,000.{{cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/you-can-live-your-private-9272982|title=A Napoleonic fort on a private island could be yours for £550,000|date=15 November 2016|accessdate=17 July 2021}}
The fort became a Grade II* Listed building in 1996, because it was "a well-preserved fort of Palmerston's Haven defences".{{cite web |url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/wa-17169-thorne-island-fort-angle#.V0XsKzUrKUk |title=Thorne Island Fort, Angle |last1= |first1= |last2= |first2= |date= |website=www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk |publisher=British Listed Buildings |access-date=25 May 2016 |quote=}}
Wrecks
Thorne Island and the rocks around it were a hazard to shipping. Divers recognise over twelve wrecks that are worth diving in the area of the island, but of special interest is the 1878 built sailing ship Loch Shiel that sank in 1894.[http://www.dive-pembrokeshire.com/wrecks.html Ship wrecks of Pembrokeshire], dive-pembrokeshire.com, accessed 31 August 2008 33 passengers and crew were rescued from the ship which had run into rocks off the island. Two Angle lifeboat crew members and the honorary secretary received RNLI silver medals.{{Coflein|num=273056|desc=Loch Shiel|language=en|access-date=2 May 2018}}
The rescue is particularly noteworthy as it is described as Wales' "Whisky Galore". The Loch Shiel was carrying goods from Scotland to Adelaide and included gunpowder, beer[http://www.dive-pembrokeshire.com/wrecks.html Loch Liel], Pembrokeshire wrecks and 60 (some say 7,000) cases of Glasgow whisky. The cargo was partially recovered by Customs, but some of the bottles are still amongst the wreck and are described as "undrinkable".[http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?550 letters], wrecksite.eu, accessed 30 August 2008 Two local men from the same family drowned whilst attempting to bring a keg ashore, and another one died from alcohol poisoning. Divers still investigate the wrecks off the island and have auctioned full beer bottles that came from the Loch Shiel.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/wales/729993.stm Treasures of the deep bring £10,000], 29 April 2000, BBC, accessed 31 August 2008 The beer is reported to be untainted by salt water, flat, but drinkable. Bottles have sold for £1,000 at auction.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/wales/472277.stm Diver sinks £1,000 pint], BBC, accessed 30 August 2008