The History of Jersey

You don’t have to scratch too far beneath the surface to experience Jersey’s rich and multi-layered history. From Stone Age dolmens and ancient burial grounds to traces of island defences and wartime occupations, on the island of Jersey, history’s within easy reach.

250,000 BC

Palaeolithic cave-living hunter gatherers were Jersey’s earliest residents.

6000 BC

Jersey becomes an island after splitting from the Normandy peninsula.

4000 BC

During the Neolithic period, communities settle and make their home in Jersey, the island’s many standing stones and burial chambers (including La Hougue Bie) date from these times.

555 AD

The hermit St Helier who gives Jersey’s capital its name and who lived on a small rocky islet near Elizabeth Castle is murdered by raiders.

800

During the ninth century, Vikings plundered the island, giving Jersey its name.

933

Jersey becomes part of the Duchy of Normandy as William Longsword wins the Channel Islands.

1066

The Channel Islands become part of the Anglo-Norman realm when William the Conqueror defeated King Harold and won the English crown at the Battle of Hastings.

1204

Jersey was ruled by Normandy for nearly three centuries until islanders pledged allegiance to King John. That decision triggered a special relationship with the English crown, which continues to this day.

1212

The Hundred Years War between England and France begins. Close to the French mainland and serving as a first line of defence, the island was heavily fortified. Mont Orgueil Castle was built to guard the island’s east coast.

1461 – 1468

War of the Roses. The French seized Mont Orgueil Castle and ruled Jersey for seven years.

1500

During the 16th century, Jersey’s production of knitwear reached such a scale that laws were passed restricting who could knit, and when.

1590

Work starts on Elizabeth Castle, built to defend St. Aubin’s Bay and named after the Queen by Sir Walter Raleigh.

1600s

Many islanders were involved with Newfoundland fisheries during this time and would set sail for the Newfoundland cod fisheries in February/March, only returning in the autumn.

1633

The Hamptonne farm complex takes its name from Laurens Hamptonne, who purchased it in 1633. The property is also known as ‘La Patente’, as is the name of one of the roads that passes it, after the Grants by Letters Patent received by its owner Richard Langlois in 1445, and by King Charles II to Laurens Hamptonne in 1649.

1650-51

During the English Civil War, King Charles II twice took refuge in Jersey before the island was captured by the Parliamentarian army in 1651. Later, New Jersey is named after Jersey following a gift of land from the king to the island’s governor in recognition of his protection.

1781

In the Battle of Jersey, a French invading party attempted to take over the island, capturing St Helier in a dawn raid. They were defeated by an army led by Major Peirson, who lost his life in the attack. A series of Martello towers were built around the island as defences against further attacks.

1852

1902

Jersey’s first Battle of Flowers was held to celebrate the coronation of King Edward VII.

1912

In the early days of flying, the world’s first International Air Race saw planes fly from from St Malo to Jersey and back.

1940-1945

The Channel Islands were the only part of Britain to be occupied by German forces. The five-year occupation came to an end on 9 May 1945 – Liberation Day, an event still celebrated in Jersey with an annual Bank Holiday. Find out more at Jersey War Tunnels.

Jersey’s beautiful coastline by sit-on-top kayak with a fully qualified instructor.

No previous experience needed. Daily tours from locations island-wide. All equipment provided. Individual & group bookings for all ages.

Call +44 (0) 7797 853033 or book online: www.jerseykayakadventures.co.uk

The team at Visit Jersey found their five favourite social posts with ways to cool down in Jersey when temperatures hot up.

Make like a mermaid

Take a refreshing dip in the shallows of our crystal-clear bays as you float above soft golden sands and shiny smooth pebbles.

@graciebandthesea

Amble the north coast

Let the gentle breeze cool you down on the undulating paths as you admire the views across the water to our neighbouring Channel Islands and France.

@yvonneanderson.je

Enjoy sweet views

Take a lick of our ‘legend- airy’ ice - cream on the terrace at Le Braye, with our iconic La Rocco Tower sitting pretty in the distance.

@jersey_dairy

Jump on The Duchess

Take a spin around the island’s stunning south coast. Feel the wind in your hair - and look out for bottle -nosed dolphins @thejerseyduchess

Go electric

Explore the island on an electric bike. Wizz through gorgeous green lanes and out to La Corbière Lighthouse for the sunset, without even breaking a sweat!

@evieondemand

GET SET! THINGS TO KNOW WHILE YOU’RE HERE

Where are you?

You’re on our beautiful little island in the English Channel but you’re a lot closer to France (around 14 miles at the closest point) than you are to England (closer to 100 miles). You’re surrounded by four other main Channel Islands; Guernsey, Alderney, Sark and Herm and a handful of smaller inhabited and uninhabited islands. Our nearest coastal towns in France are Granville and the historic port of Saint-Malo. The term “Channel Islands” began to be used around 1830, possibly first by the Royal Navy as a collective name for the islands.

Où es-tu?

Vous êtes sur notre belle petite île de la Manche mais vous êtes beaucoup plus proche de la France (environ 22 km au plus près) que de l'Angleterre (plus près de 100 km). Vous êtes entouré de quatre autres îles anglo-normandes principales ; Guernesey, Alderney, Sark et Herm et une poignée de petites îles habitées et inhabitées. Nos villes côtières les plus proches en France sont Granville et le port historique de SaintMalo. Le terme « îles anglo-normandes » a commencé à être utilisé vers 1830, peut-être d'abord par la Royal Navy comme nom collectif pour les îles.

Wo befinden Sie sich?

Sie sind auf unserer wunderschönen kleinen Insel im Ärmelkanal, aber eigentlich viel näher an Frankreich (nur etwa 22 Kilometer Luftlinie) als an England (bis dorthin sind es über 160 Kilometer).

Eine Handvoll kleinere bewohnte und unbewohnte Inseln und die vier größeren Kanalinseln Guernsey, Alderney, Sark und Herm umgeben Sie. Granville und der historische Hafen von Saint-Malo sind unsere nächstgelegenen französischen Küstenstädte. Der Begriff „Kanalinseln“ wird seit etwa 1830 verwendet, wahrscheinlich hat die Royal Navy ihn damals eingeführt als Sammelbezeichnung für die Inseln.

Money

Pounds Sterling is the legal tender but we also have our own banknotes and coins which are classed as accepted tender elsewhere in the UK, people can take it, but they don’t have to - so don’t forget to spend your last few pound notes on souvenirs before you leave. If you forget though, a pound note also makes a great souvenir. Also, if you hold one of our bank notes up to the light you’ll not see Queen Elizabeth II’s image in the hologram but the image of one of our own royalty.

De l'argent

La livre sterling est la monnaie légale, mais nous avons également nos propres billets et pièces qui sont classés comme monnaie acceptée ailleurs au RoyaumeUni, les gens peuvent le prendre, mais ils n'y sont pas obligés - alors n'oubliez pas de dépenser vos dernières livres notes sur les souvenirs avant de partir. Si vous oubliez cependant, un billet d'une livre fait également un excellent souvenir. De plus, si vous tenez l'un de nos billets de banque à la lumière, vous ne verrez pas l'image de la reine Elizabeth II dans l'hologramme, mais l'image de l'un de nos propres membres de la royauté.

Geld

Das Britische Pfund Sterling ist das offizielle Zahlungsmittel, aber wir haben auch unsere eigenen Banknoten und Münzen, die theoretisch überall in Großbritannien als akzeptiertes Zahlungsmittel gelten. Theoretisch. Besser geben Sie vor Abreise Ihre letzten paar Jersey-Pfund aus für nette Souvenirs. Oder Sie behalten einfach direkt eine Jersey-Pfundnote als Souvenir. Denn wenn Sie eine unserer Banknoten gegen das Licht halten, sehen Sie im Hologramm nicht das Bild von Königin Elizabeth II., sondern das Bild eines unserer eigenen Könige.

Our Population

Since the last census in 2011 it’s estimated that our population has grown to around 105,500. You’ll find most of us in and around St. Helier leaving most of the northern, easterly and westerly parishes unspoilt and rural in nature. Roughly 50% of Jersey dwellers on the last census were locally born with 31% from the UK, 7% from Portugal/Madeira, 3% from Poland, 2% from Ireland and the rest from elsewhere.

Notre population Depuis le dernier recensement de 2011, on estime que notre population est passée à environ 105 500. Vous trouverez la plupart d'entre nous dans et autour de Saint-Hélier, laissant la plupart des paroisses du nord, de l'est et de l'ouest intactes et de nature rurale. Environ 50% des habitants de Jersey lors du dernier recensement étaient nés localement, dont 31% du Royaume-Uni, 7% du Portugal / Madère, 3% de Pologne, 2% d'Irlande et le reste d'ailleurs.

Unsere Bevölkerung

Seit der letzten Volkszählung im Jahr 2011 ist unsere Bevölkerung auf rund 105.500 angewachsen. Sie finden die meisten von uns in und um St. Helier, während die nördlichen, östlichen und westlichen Gemeinden überwiegend ländlich geprägt und ruhig sind. Etwa 50 % der Einwohner Jerseys wurden schon auf der Insel geboren, 31 % stammen aus dem Vereinigten Königreich, 7 % aus Portugal/ Madeira, 3 % aus Polen, 2 % aus Irland und der Rest aus anderen Ländern.