CHANNEL ISLANDS
The archipelago was a remnant of the Duchy of Normandy until William the Conqueror, the Duke of Normandy, gave the islands to England. They are not part of the UK (although the UK is responsible for their defence and international relations), but they are part of the British Isles. The population is just over 172,000 with 99% living on Guernsey and Jersey.
The main islands have nicknames for the inhabitants:
Guernsey- Les ânes (donkeys). The Guernsey islanders say because they are strong and the Jersey islanders say because they are stubborn!
Jersey – Les crapauds (toads) because the Jersey toad, bufo spinosus can be found nowhere else in the Br Isles.
Sark – Les corbins (crows) because the birds can be seen on the island from the sea
Alderney – Les lapins (rabbits) because of the number of warrens on the island.
Each of the main islands has its own flag and they have their own currency as well as UK currency.
In June 1949 the Germans invaded the Channel Islands and immediately the clocks were put forward an hour, motorists were ordered to drive on the right and there was a 23:00 curfew. Any men not born on the islands were deported to Germany with their families. Not all returned. On the islands there was one German soldier for every three islanders. Alderney was used as a prison and many died there. On 9 May 1945, British soldiers landed in St Peter Port and St Helier to liberate the islanders. Alderney was last to be freed. The garrison did not surrender there until a week later and 1000s of minefields had to be cleared before the inhabitants could return home on 15 December which is now commemorated each year as Homecoming Day.
The bigger islands had their own languages, variants of the ancient Norman language. This was important during the Occupation, as locals could talk without being understood by the Germans or their French translators.
Lillie Langtry, born Emilie Charlotte Le Breton was born in Jersey in 1853 and spoke her native language, Jerriaise. When she decamped to Belgravia after marriage, she met Sir John Everett Millais, who was also brought up and spent his childhood on Jersey. When she sat for her portrait with him they chatted in Jèrriaise the whole time. Today, road signs and visitor sites are all multilingual, in English and Jèrriaise and if you fly into Jersey airport, big signs will welcome you in Jèrriaise.
In the past Jersey was best known for agriculture, knitting, cider-making, oyster farming, shipbuilding and from the 1870s, tourism. In the 17thC so much land was used for orchards that an act was passed in 1673 forbidding the planting of any new orchards! In 1801 it was estimated that the island produced 2 million gallons of cider a year and even children drank it as the water was so brackish.
Also in the 17thC knitting was so popular that the island’s farming industry began to suffer and another law was passed forbidding men from knitting during harvest time! The law is still in place today! Interestingly, Mary Queen of Scots went to her execution wearing Jersey Woollen Socks.
Black butter came about as the result of apple gluts. Despite the name it is actually a rich and spicy apple preserve that goes back hundreds of years. It was made by farmers to give to staff as part of their wages! People would then make Black Butter by boiling the cider over an open fire for up to two days and would then add apples, sugar, lemon, spices and a hint of liquorice while continuously stirring with a wooden ‘rabot’ or paddle.
Guernsey lays claim to the oldest cast iron pillar box in use anywhere in the British Isles. It is easily recognisable as it is the only red post box on the island , all the others are painted blue. Many of the houses here have an unusual piece of granite sticking out from them near the roof. These are known as ‘witches’ seats’, built so that the witches could stop and rest instead of causing havoc!
The famous Guernsey dairy herd produces milk with a higher fat and protein content. Supposedly easier to digest, but very rich, and as we know, loved by birds that peck the gold tops from milk bottles to get at all that goodness. The dainty cows with their brown and white markings were first introduced in the Middle Ages for ploughing.They are now on the watch list for endangered species.
Worthy of note is the Little Chapel at St Andrew, Guernsey. It was created originally in 1914 by Brother Déodat with the idea of replicating the grotto and basilica at Lourdes. The first building was 9ft x 4.5ft, and after other brothers criticised, the second version was built measuring 9’x6′. However, when the bishop visited he couldn’t fit through the door, so a third and final chapel was built, this time measuring 16’x9′. The little chapel, capacity 8 people, is decorated inside and out with seashells, pebbles and broken china and the whole design is dazzling in its effect.
Sark exports seafood, island-reared lamb, pork, beef and eggs, chocolate, pottery, ale and jewellery. It has one resident doctor and a dentist visits in the summer only. There are no cars allowed on Sark or Herm. However, there is an ambulance and a taxi which are towed by the same single tractor when needed.
Alderney has blonde hedgehogs which are extremely rare in Europe. This island has a small airport and there you can find a box of unfinished knitting to help you pass the time whilst waiting for your flight!
