A groundbreaking archaeological initiative has uncovered the extensive legacy of “pilot gigs” — swift, six-oared boats that played a vital role in life on the Isles of Scilly for centuries — by mapping 90 historic boat shed sites across the archipelago.

Once essential to the survival and prosperity of the islands, these agile wooden vessels ferried pilots to ships navigating the hazardous waters 30 miles off England’s southwestern coast. They also served in daring rescues, salvaged wrecked cargo, assisted in lighthouse construction, and facilitated the transport of goods and people between the islands.

Until recently, only about a dozen gig sheds were officially documented. Now, thanks to a detailed survey led by Cathy Parkes of the Cornwall Archaeological Unit and funded by Historic England, the true extent of this maritime infrastructure has come to light.

“We always suspected there were more, but discovering 90 sites has really reframed our understanding of how embedded these boats were in island life,” said Parkes, who is also a gig racer herself.

The research, compiled in a newly released report titled Porths and Gigs of the Isles of Scilly, coincides with the annual World Pilot Gig Championships — a popular sporting celebration of the islands’ nautical heritage.

Each gig shed, typically measuring around 10 by 3 metres (roughly the size of the boats they housed), offers a striking architectural footprint — “almost like fossilised boats on the shore,” Parkes described. Constructed from local granite with thatched roofs made of reeds, bracken, or straw, many of the sheds still survive as ruins or visible remnants.

The team also identified narrow tidal passages known as “drangs” or “trackways” — channels cleared of rocks to enable easy boat launches from the sheds into deeper waters. These features, along with strategically placed hilltop lookout posts and former signal mast sites, add rich context to the maritime ingenuity of islanders across the centuries.

The timing of the project is critical. As coastal erosion and rising sea levels threaten these fragile coastal structures, the survey serves both as a historical record and a conservation tool.

“This work helps us preserve and share a unique piece of Britain’s maritime history while it still remains,” Parkes noted.

Islanders themselves contributed vital knowledge to the project, recalling long-forgotten locations passed down through generations, while 19th-century maps helped fill in additional details.

Ross Simmonds, southwest regional director for Historic England, emphasized the broader cultural value: “The legacy of the pilot gigs and their coastal infrastructure is not just important for Scilly — it’s a shared story of courage, craftsmanship, and connection to the sea.”

The project not only sheds light on a nearly lost aspect of Scilly’s past but also deepens appreciation for the enduring bond between the islanders and their rugged, resourceful maritime traditions.