Saunders and Keppel Islands Friday 7 May 2021 No 26

On Friday last I had a rare, well sought-after journey.  As part of my work a group of us had to travel to Keppel Island to photograph some historic buildings.  Keppel Island is one of the few larger islands in the Falklands archipelago without an airstrip.  It was the site of a former missionary station which sought to teach the natives of Terra del Fuego (now Chile) farming and Christianity CofE style.  The missionary station was named after Archbishop Cranmer.

Keppel Station - with Keppel Mountain behind

To get to Keppel Island we had to fly to Saunders Island and then travel to Keppel Island by rib.  That journey was stunning with rock shags and cormorants keeping pace with the rib.  We had  dolphins leaping alongside us.

The woolshed has an interesting background.  The building was used as a chapel originally and this may account for the unusual keystone.  Whilst it is tempting to think the keystone is a representation of someone called Sam - the initials are believed to represent the "South Atlantic Missionary Society."  The image, which could be seen as representing a Tudor-era Archbishop, could be an attempt at portraying Cranmer.  Apparently many of the timbers within the this building are also stamped with 'SAMS.'

After nearly three hours on Keppel Island it was time for us to return to Saunders – where we were lucky enough to have the time to visit the remains of the settlement at Port Egmont.  This settlement is the site of the first British settlement on the Falklands and dates from 1765.

Both Saunders and Keppel Islands are more hilly than most places in the Falklands.  The terrain affords more shelter from the winds and, unlike most places I’ve been, both Port Egmont and the settlement on Keppel were sheltered.

An indication of just how sheltered this location is - quality grass and trees standing vertically.

Raspberries

Keystone on the woolshed - the site of the former chapel.  Is this a representation of Sam or Cranmer?


Remains of a cottage occupied by the Fuegian chief Ookokko 

Fish weir

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