Piel Island Off The Coast Of England Put Out An Open Call For A New Monarch
TwitterA couple standing outside Piel Castle, one of the few structures on Piel Island.
If you’ve never heard of Piel Island, you’re not alone. It’s a small island off the coast of England with little more to it than an old, crumbling castle and a 300-year-old pub. It also happens to have its own monarch — and this year, it needed a new one.
The monarch is, in truth, a sort of glorified landlord who oversees the island’s 50 acres, but the job does come with an honorary crown and title.
“The tradition holds that each new landlord is crowned ‘King of Piel’ in a ceremony of uncertain origin, in which they sit in an ancient chair, wearing a helmet and holding a sword while alcohol is poured over their head,” the Barrow Borough Council explained.
The king or queen of Piel must also swear an oath, vowing to be a good smoker and drinker and to “give anyone found dead on the sands free refuge in the pub.”
The job comes with a ten-year contract, during which time the landlord is essentially stuck on the island alone, except during the tourist-heavy summer months.
The job duties essentially boil down to overseeing the Ship Inn, the island’s sole pub, and “grounds maintenance of the surrounding area and management of camping and the toilet and shower block.”
Some might call it lonely work, but others might enjoy the quiet and perks of a title. As the old saying goes, “Don’t knock it ’til you try it.”
