Inspiration for Kirrin Bay, Island and Castle?

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Islander
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Re: Inspiration for Kirrin Bay, Island and Castle?

Post by Islander »

Katharine wrote: Rules and regulations are very tight nowadays about what restoration work can be carried out to listed buildings, but I suspect it was a lot more relaxed in Enid's day.
Very true, plus during the occupation the Germans did whatever they wanted to the castle!

I will have a dig around as I am a member of both Jersey Heritage and Societe Jersiaise and it shouldn't be too difficult to find pictures of the castle in the 1920's!
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Re: Inspiration for Kirrin Bay, Island and Castle?

Post by Katharine »

That would be great, I'd love to see if it's anything like I imagined.
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Re: Inspiration for Kirrin Bay, Island and Castle?

Post by Islander »

The main clue to the possibility that it is Elizabeth Castle is the causeway mentioned by Enid. No other possible location in Jersey has one, although several can be visited at low tide (e.g. Google Seymour Tower or Icho Tower inn Jersey)
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Re: Inspiration for Kirrin Bay, Island and Castle?

Post by Chrissie777 »

Katharine wrote:That's a very interesting point, I would guess many of us are picturing castles we know of that we've seen within perhaps the last 20 - 30 years at the most. Enid Blyton wrote her first FF book 70 years ago, and was drawing from imagines she'd accumulated over perhaps 30 years previously to that. I would guess that many famous landmarks of today looked different nearly a century ago. Rules and regulations are very tight nowadays about what restoration work can be carried out to listed buildings, but I suspect it was a lot more relaxed in Enid's day.
Just a thought: maybe Elizabeth Castle was privately owned way back then and the owner wanted it to be renovated?
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Chrissie777
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Re: Inspiration for Kirrin Bay, Island and Castle?

Post by Chrissie777 »

Islander wrote: I will have a dig around as I am a member of both Jersey Heritage and Societe Jersiaise and it shouldn't be too difficult to find pictures of the castle in the 1920's!
Hello Islander,

My husband and I will be on Jersey around mid May and plan to visit Elizabeth Castle. We will take lots of pics.
Looking forward to your 1920's photos!
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Post by pete9012S »

noddy13 wrote:Hi Keith, Viv and others,

If we could really identify the island, do you think its remotely possible that we could perhaps have a very special society day there..? perhaps next year's meet or even 2 years hence..? Perhaps, in the broader scheme of things, every alternate venue at a place where Enid took her inspiration from.!
(I wonder where she would have put Toyland!).

. But seriously, it would be one step closer to making our meetings achieve even more in terms of discovery! Tony, George..Anita....your comments..please..?
I love this posters optimism - I'm sure he would love the planned gathering at Old Thatch & The Spade Oak! :D
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Re: Kirrin Island

Post by Chrissie777 »

Viv of Ginger Pop wrote:I hope the top of the castle will be open again soon, though there may be some costly restoration in the offing.Viv
They must have renovated it, because in August 2008 we were able to explore the top of the castle.
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Post by Chrissie777 »

Keith Robinson wrote:I wonder if there's ANY small island like this in existence, just off the coast, with a castle on top? And if so, is it owned by a young tomboy girl whose father is a clever scientist...?
There's one in a loch in Scotland: Kisimul Castle.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Kisimul ... irefox-b-1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: Inspiration for Kirrin Bay, Island and Castle?

Post by sixret »

Thank you, Chrisssie. :D
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Post by Chrissie777 »

Keith Robinson wrote:I wonder if there's ANY small island like this in existence, just off the coast, with a castle on top? And if so, is it owned by a young tomboy girl whose father is a clever scientist...?
Along the coast of the isle of Alderney there are several small castles/fortresses on tiny islands which can be reached at low tide:

https://www.google.com/search?q=Alderne ... 39&bih=601" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Chrissie777
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Re: Inspiration for Kirrin Bay, Island and Castle?

Post by Chrissie777 »

sixret wrote:Thank you, Chrisssie. :D
You're welcome, sixret. :D
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Post by Chrissie777 »

Islander wrote:If it would have been Sark or Herm I guess she would have remembered the names, and they would be too big anyway for Kirrin. The only possibilities off Jersey are the Ecrehous and the Minquiers, both of which are too far off the coast of Jersey to really spark anyone's imagination.
Islander, between Guernsey and Herm (when you take the ferry from Guernsey to Herm) you drive by an old tower which is standing in the water, it's not even on a small island, just standing in the water. I was wondering if that might have inspired EB?
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Chrissie777
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Post by Chrissie777 »

Viking Star wrote: Lihou is "inaccessible" except via a headland when the tide is down. And used to have a priory (possible links being "inaccessible" and possibly castle/priory ruins - not that there is any mention of priory ruins).
If anyone else can contribute then please do...
We tried to walk over to Lihou in May 2014. It was low tide, but full moon. Obviously the low tide at full moon is considered still too high. There was a signpost that warned to not walk over.
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Post by Chrissie777 »

Tony Summerfield wrote:I am covering this fairly thoroughly in the next Journal, which will include another letter from Enid where she is far more precise about the location of both Kirrin Island and castle.Tony
I didn't subscribe to the Journal until 4 years ago, so I was wondering WHAT exactly EB disclosed in that letter regarding the Kirrin castle and island location? Would you please let us know, Tony?
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Re: Will the real Kirrin Castle Stand Up?

Post by Chrissie777 »

Francis wrote:We love recycling information - as I get older it all sounds new!
I couldn't agree more!!! :wink:
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