Samson, Uninhabited island in Isles of Scilly, United Kingdom
Samson is an uninhabited island in the Isles of Scilly formed by two hills connected by a narrow isthmus. The island holds ancient burial grounds and scattered stone cottage remains from earlier occupation.
People lived on this island until 1855, when landowner Augustus Smith relocated the last residents due to extreme living conditions. After the population left, the island was later used as a deer park.
The name refers to Samson of Dol, a figure from Breton legend, linking the island to regional folklore and seafaring traditions. This connection to the Celtic world shapes the place's identity today.
The island is reachable only from May to September by boat services from the mainland, with no docking facilities available. Visitors must wade ashore from boats or arrange alternative landing methods.
The two hills were once managed as a deer park after human settlement ceased. This use is a rare example of how abandoned British islands were repurposed for economic gain.
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