Piel Island lies in Morecambe Bay, around 1⁄2 mile (800 metres) off the southern tip of the Furness peninsula in the administrative county of Cumbria, England.

The council's administrative duties also include the selection of the "King" of Piel, who is the landlord of the island's public house, the Ship Inn.

In 1212 the monks were granted a licence by King John to land one cargo of "wheat, flour and other provisions" to stave off a famine caused by the failure of the local harvest.

[citation needed] Later in the century an unlimited cargo licence was granted and in 1258 ships owned by the abbey were placed under royal protection.

[citation needed] It was probably built as a fortified warehouse to repel pirates and raiders, but it would appear to have had a measure of success in keeping the customs men at bay as well; smuggling was widespread at the time and the abbey was known to have been involved.

[5] Piel Island became an important trading post during the 18th century and customs men were permanently stationed there; smuggling was still rife at the time.

[citation needed] In the second half of the 18th century the iron ore trade began to develop on the Furness Peninsula and the harbour continued to be important to the local economy.

The impact of industry was relatively low on the appearance of the island, however, and in the 19th century the ruins of the castle became a major attraction to the romanticist art movement.

Piel can be reached on foot or by off-road vehicle (licenses are required to drive on the sands) from Walney Island, but this route is only passable with care at low tide; local guidance is recommended.

The castle, located on the southeast tip of Piel Island, is an impressive ruin made up largely of stones from the beach.

In 1813 a visitor painted a vivid picture of the life of the innkeeper at that time: "There is a public-house on the island, the only habitation, tenanted by an old Scotchman, who has been lord of this domain for many years, and goes through the duties of guide and expositor among the ruins of the castle with admirable fluency.

[12] The landlord of the Ship Inn pub is known as 'The King of Piel',[13] a title instituted in the 19th century and harking back to Lambert Simnel and his attempt to usurp the English throne.

[11] Following their departure in 2006 the pub was fully renovated by Barrow Borough Council, with work beginning in 2008,[15] shortly before the new 'King of Piel', Steve Chattaway, was crowned (an event that was documented in the TV series Islands of Britain).