The Day King John Commited Murder and the Channel Islands lost a potential Duke
History can often turn on the actions of a single individual. April the 3rd 1203 was such a day when King John committed murder. If he hadn’t committed this heinous crime then the whole history of Guernsey and the Channels Island could have been radically different.
1066 and all that … the day the Channel Islands became part of England
On Sunday the 14th October 1066 ‘William the Bastard’, Duke of Normandy (andthe Channel Islands), invaded and defeated the Anglo Saxon king of England, so that henceforth the Bastard was to be forever known as William the Conqueror. In this article we look how at how he won at Hastings.
Wordsmith – Test your Guernsey French
Guernsey French is theoretically the mother tongue of our island home, Guernsey. However it is dying out rapidly. So how many of these Guernsey French words do you know (or can guess)? Improve and test your Patois wordpower by matching each of the words below to one of the multiple possible definitions.
St Magloire – Patron Saint of Sark
October 24th is the feast day of a local Saint you may never have heard of, Saint Magloire. He’s credited with introducing Christianity to Sark and as such has been adopted as the patron saint of the island.
The Bayeux Tapestry – The Missing Ending
The Bayeux Tapestry is a beautiful historical artefact that never fails to impress. However this thousand years old embroidery, has a secret. It’s ending is missing! That is until the residents of Alderney crafted a new ending for this iconic artefact.
Guernsey Icons – The Guernsey Milk-Can
Today the Guernsey milk-can has almost disappeared. We still see them of course, but we see little silver ones in jewellers’ shops and bigger ones in copper in old houses and in antique shops. However there are still some people who make them in the old way.
Guernsey Patois – A Language Apart
Guernsey Patois is a very ancient tongue indeed. A descecdant of old Norman French and developed in splendid isolation within the island it has become a true ‘language apart’.
Guernsey Legends – Duke Richard of Normandy and the Devil
It is said that some of the strange imprints on some of the rocks and granite boulders in Guernsey were made by the Devil’s cloven feet as he has prowled around our island home. This legend is one such tale about how Duke Richard of Normandy actually met and fought the Devil
Sark – A Potted History
In this article we have a whirlwind look at the history of one of the most enigmatic of the Channel Islands, Sark.
Power to the People – The Clameur de Haro
The ordinary Guernseyman, and indeed all Channel Islanders, have an extra-ordinary legal power at their fingertips, available no whereelse in the world. The “Clameur de Haro”.
The Queen … “Our Duke”
“The Queen, Our Duke” – an odd thing to say, especially in a loyal toast to the English Sovereign. Nonetheless whenever Channel Islanders raise their glasses to her majesty that’s the toast that will be made.
Budloe Night – Guernsey Bonfire Night
Budloe Night in Guernsey is also Bonfire Night. They’re seen as the same now, but were they originally ?
1204 – The Birth of Guernsey’s Constitution
Guernsey today is an independent crown dependency. How did this state of affairs, common to all the Channel Islands, come about ?
The Bayeux Tapestry
The Bayeux Tapestry is a fascinating historical artifact. It depicts such a pivotal moment in British and Channel Island history, that of the invasion & conquest of England by William the Conqueror in 1066. It’s a beautiful artifact that’s nearly 1,000 years old!
Kings & Queens of England
From the 10th century Athelston to our very own Elizabeth II, the history of the British monarchy is one of religious conflict, political intrigue, invasion, love, murder, gluttony and colourful connections. Here’s a time line of them all.
