History Review - Autumn 2006

Manor of Jacques Cartier

This incorporated an excellent guided tour over the manor and a viewing of the Jacques Cartier museum. Cartier was the great French explorer who discovered the St Lawrence Seaway and claimed it for France.

Balleroy Chateau

Built in 1631, the architecture, design of its formal gardens and the small town provided the inspiration and style for the building of Versailles.

Bayeux Tapestry

The high point of the tour, to learn about and view this elaborately displayed and unforgettable pictorial record. It was believed to have been made in England and commissioned by Queen Matilda, wife of William the Conqueror. Matilda is closely associated with Bayeux.

Aramanche

An excursion to view the landing beach at Aramanche was made where the remains of the Mulberry Harbours provided a stark and poignant reminder of the last World War.

La Cité de la Mer

At Cherbourg is an extensive museum including a tour of the largest nuclear submarine in the world. Also available was France’s deepest aquarium where fish live side-by-side in 350,000 litres of water. Spectacular viewing stations are positioned on three floors.

Abbey of the Vow

This Abbey was created in 1145 by Matilda, daughter of Henry 1, second wife of Geoffroy Plantaganet, Duke of Anjou and mother of Henry 11. It was established for Augustinian monks who held strong and differing views to the Augustinian monks of the Abbey of St Helier in Jersey. To resolve this bitter dispute, the French King and Archbishop of Rouen agreed, in 1175, St Helier’s Abbey should become a dependency of The Abbey of Vow; "that there might be one flock and one shepherd”. By 1185 St Helier’s Abbey had been downgraded to a priory.

Window in Chapel of St Marculf

Coutances Cathedral

The Cathedral in whose ‘see’ Jersey remained for approximately a millennium c.580 to 1569 with the exception of about 200 years from 836 to 1025 when the Bishops of Coutances sought refuge in Rouen to escape Viking aggression. A historic reminder of Jersey’s connections with Coutances is depicted in a window in the Chapel of St Marculf where scenes are featured of him sailing to Jersey and meeting St Helier ‘In Honour of Saint Marculf ’. This was a fitting end to our itinerary before embarking on a boat to Jersey. Albeit a much larger, more stable and faster boat than used by St Marculf.

The 2007 Historical Trip is to Brittany and scheduled to last four days. It is already oversubscribed.

Research

The Jersey Spinning Wheel

Readers may remember information was being sought, in the last Newsletter, about the ‘Great’ Jersey Spinning Wheel’. Information received was valuable and unexpected responses were received. Documentary evidence about spinning wool in England from Thomas Caesar in 1596 relates; “Spinnings of wooll are of three sortes, viz either upon the great wheele which is called woollen yarne…or upon the small wheele, which is called Garnsey or Jarsey yarne, bicause that manner of spinning was first practiced in the Isle of Garnsey or Jarsey … or upon the rock, which is called worsted yarne… Jarsey and Worsted yarns be made of combed wooll “Jarsey yarne maketh warpe of the finest stuffes”. (Spinning on the rock was with a spindle). This information helps to explain why the Island’s name became enshrined within the terminology of the English woollen industry for high quality, fine combed wool, yarn, woollen cloth (worsted) and knitting. Lancashire was particularly relevant for in that county combed wool, fine yarn, their spinning wheel, ‘worsted’ cloth and knitwear all had a ‘jersey’ connotation.

Egg gathering apparatus – Colombiers

Colombiers

Many readers who have looked into the void of the ruins of our Jersey round colombiers may have wondered how egg gathering and nest maintenance was undertaken. The answer, by use of a rudimentary apparatus shown in the sketch. Note the central revolving pole set in sockets bottom and top; one in the floor the other in a crossbeam. The ladder was attached to stays which were also fixed to the central pole at the bottom, middle and top. These stays were set at varying angles, like spokes of a wheel, to ensure the ladder sloped. Once correctly constructed, the whole apparatus revolved at the push of a finger, enabling access to all the nesting sites. Shelves could also be attached to the central pole for various functions such as, feeding areas, egg collection, bird gathering, etc. This arrangement was unsuitable in square colombiers such as those at La Haule Manor and Hamptonne.

Export of Lobsters

In his History of Jersey, Second Edition published in 1734, Falle tells us that, “a good part of the lobsters eaten in London come from these Islands, Boats going and coming continually for that purpose”. Was this the first known ‘live-fish trade’ from the Channel Islands to England?

Down Your Way Walks

It is with great pleasure that I am able to inform members, that His Excellency and Mrs Ridgway have accepted the invitation to continue the tradition of taking part in the Down Your Way Walks which the Société Jersiaise has supported since inception 11 years ago. The Parish of Grouville has kindly accepted to host the first event of the new programme, scheduled for Sunday, 27th May. Oak Apple Day celebration will feature with all present raising a toast in honour of the restoration of the monarchy in 1660.

Autumn Lunchtime Talks

There is no theme to this year’s programme. Each talk relates to a specific and significant topic. The “Men of Jersey and the Victoria Cross” addresses recipients of this most prodigious award for valour, who had close Jersey connections. Major Mike Lees’s talk will have been well researched and inspirational. “New Uses for Old Buildings” features Fort Regent which celebrates its 200th anniversary this year. Who better to address this subject than Antony Gibb, the author of an authoritative paper on the future of this once formidable fortification. A ferocious and bloody battle, not known to many, took place on the beach in front of the Grand Hotel some 600 years ago. The attacker was a Castillion corsair, Pero Nino. Much about him and this raid on Jersey is known. In gallantry, guts and intrigue it surpassed the more renowned Battle of Jersey of 1781 Frank Falle will explain about the day Jersey lost its Battle Standard!

Two topics not linked to anniversaries will also be given. Mary Gibb will talk about money matters and finance during the German Occupation. An important ye relatively under researched aspect in those days of subsistence living There is also an opportunity to hea George Langlois talk about “The Extinct Volcano and the Hot Springs at Rozel”. George has not, as yet divulged any secrets, so if you wish to know more, attendance is essential.

The full programme, kindly sponsored by Bedell Cristin, giving dates, times and venue is contained in an accompanying leaflet. You presence is always appreciated and friends are welcome.

Frank Falle - Chairman