The Brisons (, the present participle of briser meaning 'shoal of rocks' or literally 'breaker') is a twin-peaked islet in the Celtic Sea situated 1 mile (1.6 km) offshore from Cape Cornwall in Cornwall, on the south-western coast of Great Britain.

Geography

The Brisons (the name is French: brisant, 'reef, breaker') are and high and are said to resemble General Charles de Gaulle lying on his back ("General de Gaulle in his bath"). The rocks are connected to Gribba Point (, meaning head of the reefs) by the Guthen Gwidden reef (, meaning white hidden one). The gap in the reef is called the Adgiwar Gap (, meaning green gap). In 1878, an article in the Cornishman newspaper names the reef between the ″Brissons″ and the land as Bridges, and the reef had three gaps; the nearest known as Rose-an-pons.

Wildlife and ecology

In 2016 the rocks were visited by the West Cornwall Ringing Group where they heard at least two European storm petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus) calling; an indication of breeding on the only known site in Cornwall. Sixty-six birds were ringed:

  • European shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) – 42 including two adults
  • razorbill (Alca torda) – 13 including seven adults
  • guillemot (Uria aalge) – 11 including eight adults.

History

In 1851, the 250 ton brig New Commercial was wrecked, striking the ledge between the Great and Little Brisons. A dramatic rescue of the surviving crew was attempted, resulting in the death of all but two of the members. As a result, the National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck (later the RNLI) established a lifeboat in Sennen Cove in 1853, where one is still based today.

Recreation

During "Cape sports" an annual water sports event based on the beach at Cape Cornwall, swimming races are conducted from the Brisons back to the beach.

References

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File:Bollowal Barrow Cape Cornwall and the Brisons at Carn Gloose by Kernow Skies.jpg|Bollowal Barrow, Cape Cornwall and the Brisons

File:The Brisons in the mist Cornwall.jpg|The Brisons in the mist Cornwall

File:The Brisons and Cape Cornwall.jpg|The Brisons and Cape Cornwall

File:The Brisons 5.jpg|Sparkling Sun at The Brisons

File:The Brisons 4.jpg|The Brisons

File:The Brisons 2.jpg|The Brisons seen from Carn Brea

File:The Brisons.jpg|The Brisons

File:Brisons zoomed in 1.png|Closer image of the Sourthly (left) islet

</gallery><!-- Deleted image removed: thumb|right|300px|Close-up view of The Brisons -->