History of Jersey

Revision as of 06:17, 1 May 2010

For such a small island, Jersey has a fascinating and diverse history. The development of the island's population and infrastructure, from barely populated, barren island in pre-historical times to major international finance centre in the 21st century is outlined below.

• How Jersey got its name

Pre-history

Jersey has been an island for approximately 8,000 years and at its extremes it measures 10 miles east to west and six miles north to south. The earliest evidence of human activity in the island dates to about 250,000 years ago when bands of hunters used the caves at La Cotte de St Brelade as a base for hunting mammoth. There was sporadic activity in the area by nomadic bands of hunters until the introduction of settled communities in the Neolithic period, which is marked by the building of the ritual burial sites known as dolmens. The number, size and visible locations of these megalithic monuments (especially La Hougue Bie) have suggested that social organisation over a wide area, including surrounding coasts, was required for the construction. Archaeological evidence shows that there were trading links with Brittany and the south coast of England during this time. It would appear that the island was significant enough to inspire large-scale construction projects.

Links to prehistorical site information

St Helier and Viking Raiders

In the 9th century Viking raiders were active along the whole of the northern French coast, particularly Normandy and Brittany and in Channel Island waters, raiding the islands on many occasions. More details→

Norman times

Viking raiders were allowed by the French king in the 10th Century to settle the area now known as Normandy, to prevent other raiders heading inland to Paris. William Longsword, the son of their leader Rollo, seized the Cotentin peninsular and the Channel Islands, previously politically linked to Brittany, came under his influence. When William the Conqueror defeated Harold at Hastings to become king of England in 1066 he continued to rule his French possessions as a separate entity. More details→

1204 and onwards

In 1204, when England's King John lost most of his territory in France, including Normandy, many of Jersey's principal landowners, including Seigneurs of important fiefs who also held land in Normandy, were forced to choose between remaining loyal to the English Crown and losing their French lands, or sacrificing their Jersey properties. The majority sided with King John and the islands remained in his personal possession and were described as being a Peculiar of the Crown. The so-called Constitutions of King John are the foundation of modern self-government and laid the foundations for the relationship which now exists between Jersey and the other islands and the United Kingdom. More details→

The Civil War

The English Civil War, followed by the suspension of the monarchy and a period of Parliamentary rule, was one of the most turbulent times in Jersey's history. The following are links to articles which explain the impact of the English problems on the government of Jersey and its people

• The central characters and timeframe
• Jersey in the years leading to the Civil War
• How Jersey was captured by the Parliamentarians
• Biography of Bailiff and staunch Royalist Sir George de Carteret
• Charles II's visits to Jersey
• Michel Lempriere Republican Bailiff
• Diarist Jean Chevalier
• Carteret and the King by Jeannine Kerwin

Witchcraft

Belief in witchcraft was strong in Jersey in the 16th and 17th century and there were many trials and executions.

Invasions

• Early French attacks
• Commonwealth Invasion
• The Battle of Jersey
• German Occupation

Government

• Development of Jersey's Government

Infrastructure

• Defences
• Ports
• Airport

Royal visits

• Henry VII
• Queen Victoria
• King George V
• King George VI
• Queen Elizabeth II

Museums and historical collections

• Jersey Museum
• Elizabeth Castle
• Mont Orgueil Castle
• Underground Hospital
• Maritime Museum
• Occupation Tapestry
• Hamptonne Country Life Museum
• La Hougue Bie
• Jersey Archive
• Moulin de Quetivel
• Greve de Lecq Barracks
• Channel Island Military Museum
• Pallot Steam Museum

Historians

• Frank Le Maistre, linguist and historian
• George Balleine, historian
• J Bertram Payne, genealogist and historian
• J A Messervy, genealogist and historian

References