A unique history

There is a certain myth and mystery that surrounds the island of Bardsey.  Just two miles off the tip of the Lleyn Peninsula, the small island has a rich, vibrant history spanning the centuries.  The native population of farmers and fishermen have seen all manner of visitors come and go, all drawn by the isolation provided by the dangerous short stretch of water that separates it from the mainland.  Monks and pilgrims, pirates and prisoners, poets and artists, have all made their homes on Bardsey at one time or another. 

Part of the island’s unique history is that of the King of Bardsey.  No-one knows the exact origin of the tradition, but for over a century, Bardsey was a ‘kingdom’.  It seems that the first king may have been crowned by the second Lord Newborough, owner of the island, during one of his many visits there.  A feast was held for him and his wife, Lady Maria Stella, and the first ‘king and queen’ of the island are said to have been crowned at the end of the celebration when the islanders were each given a hat, with the king and queen of Bardsey set apart by the extra ribbons on their hats.  The exact role of the king is not known but it seems he would have acted as spokesperson between the people of the island and the Newboroughs in matters relating to rents and taxes.

The first King

The tradition is thought to have begun at the end of the eighteenth century but the crown was first used in 1820 by an unknown king.  A letter was sent to the Newboroughs in 1826 to inform them of the king’s death and Lord Newborough visited the island shortly afterwards to crown a successor.

John Williams (1799-1841) was the first known king.  Though the date of his coronation is not certain, he was crowned while standing on a chair on the narrowest part of the island.  He farmed 12 acres at Cristin Uchaf and drowned while attempting to cross to the mainland alone.  He was about 42 years of age and his wife had given birth to a son the previous day. 

It is believed that John Williams was succeeded by Robert Williams (1796-1875), a Calvinist minister who farmed 16 acres at Hendy Farm.  Following his death in 1875, John Williams II, the son of the first known king of Bardsey, became king.  Little is known about the second John Williams though it is claimed that he lost his fortune as a result of drink and was forced to leave the island.  He ‘reigned’ until around 1911 when another resident, Love Pritchard, took over the kingship of his own accord, apparently declaring, ‘I am the oldest; I am going to be King now.’ He was a farmer and fisherman who lived at Ty Pellaf.

Love Pritchard

Love Pritchard was a colourful character.  It seems that he offered himself for military service during World War I, when he was in his seventies and was refused.  As a result, he declared Bardsey a neutral power, apparently going as far as declaring loyalty to Kaiser Wilhelm II. 

It was Love Pritchard who led the islanders from Bardsey to the mainland for the final time in 1925.  He told the Daily Sketch that ‘we have not enough men to row boats off for us and look after the cattle.’  Pritchard was 82 years old when he led the inhabitants from the island and he died the following year. 

Today, Bardsey is a site of special scientific interest, populated mainly by wildlife, though visitors come and go, enjoying the remoteness and peace of the island. 

The Bardsey Crown is held at the Liverpool Maritime Museum.