Tiny ‘haunted’ UK island with Grade-II house where nobody lives and network of underground tunnels on sale

A TINY UK island featuring a Grade-II listed house and an underground network of tunnels has gone on sale. Drake’s Island in Plymouth Sound, Devon, also boasts a 16th Century barracks and a pier and has been listed on the market for at least £2million. Drake’s Island was listed on the market starting from £2million Credit: Getty The historic island was previously put up for sale in 2024 but failed to sell Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd Drake’s Island is a 6.4 acre island about 500 metres from land in Plymouth Sound. Named after sailor Sir Francis Drake, the island was fortified 400 years ago and was used by the military until World War II. Sign up for the Money newsletter Thank you! It is said to be a heritage sight of national importance and part of the island is a designated Scheduled Ancient Monument. The island was purchased by businessman Morgan Phillips in 2019 and the historic island was put up for sale in 2024 but failed to sell. Estate Agents Carter Jonas is now advertising what it calls an “extremely rare opportunity to purchase a consented development site off the coast of Plymouth”. The Plymouth Sound landmark initially went on the market again in May but further details regarding a potential sale have been revealed. A brochure said: “Carter Jonas are instructed by the fixed charge receiver to seek offers in excess of £2m for the freehold interest in Drake’s Island.” The landmark includes the grade-II listed Governor’s House, a battery, and an extensive underground tunnel network, along with remnants of Tudor fortifications. Most read in Money The unique site was fortified from the 16th century due to its strategic position Credit: Getty Drake’s Island is a 6.4 acre island about 500 metres from land in Plymouth Sound Credit: SWNS The island – formerly named St Nicholas Island – was fortified from the 16th century due to its strategic position. The 6.4-acre island has about 30,000sq ft of disused buildings and “the potential to produce tourist generated income through several different streams”. It also has planning consent for a 43-bed hotel which the brochure said is still active “subject to a variety of planning conditions and Section 106 obligation”. Carter Jonas said that the island is also allocated for “heritage-led” regeneration including provision of a new hotel and visitor facilities and marine/natural environment-related research and development. The document added: “The plans are centred around our committed desire to regenerate Drake’s Island and inject a new lease of life into the existing historic buildings. “The beauty and heritage of the resort lends itself to a best-in-class development to take full advantage of its outstanding position.” In May this year, tours of the 6.4-acre island, in Plymouth Sound, were put on ice pending safety inspections. Drake’s Island has a long and storied history. In 1774 a local shipwright and carpenter, John Day, designed a wooden diving chamber and made a bet over how long he could stay submerged. But he tragically died during the task at the island with some claiming it is now a “haunted” site. Queen Victoria has also sketched the island and in 1957 a bunch of schoolboys “invaded” it and claimed the island for Plymouth. They were arrested by the guard, given breakfast and then taken back to the city for a double maths lesson. Meanwhile, in 2005, anti-nuclear campaigners set up a peace camp and declared the island a nuclear-free state. According to Carter Jonas, the island also has supported a range of income-generating activities. These range from guided tours, private tours, on-site location filming, adventure days and theatre performances, among many others. It said these activities generated a gross income of about £590,000 in 2023, and that this demonstrated “both the appeal of the island and its proven ability to attract visitors and commercial operators”. Carter Jonas added: “While the island is currently vacant, this historic performance highlights the significant opportunity for future owners to re-establish and expand a variety of revenue streams.” Comment now