Near View of St Michael's Mount, Cornwall

This view shows the ancient priory perched on the rocky summit of St Michael's Mount in Cornwall. The Mount is one mile in circumference. As the sea flows or ebbs, it is alternatively either an Island or joined to the main land by a large beach of sand.Daniel Defoe visited here in the early 18th century and commented ' Near Pensance, but open to the sea, is that gulph they call Mounts Bay, nam'd so from a high hill standing in the water, which they call St Michael's Mount, the seamen call it only the Cornish Mount; It has been fortify'd, tho' the situation of it makes it so difficult of access....it was once made a prison for prisoners of State, but now it is wholly neglected'.