Jersey flag at a coastal home
That Was Jersey |
Local history for everyone |
CHANNEL ISLANDS |
The area of each parish is given on the Parish page. The area of the Island is 46 square miles (or 65,569 vergées).
The population of each parish is given on the Parish page. The resident population of the Island as recorded in the 2001 census is 87,186.
The States flag has uncertainties in its history. For about 200 years (or very much longer, according to some sources), the flag was white with the red diagonal cross (saltire) on it.
The arms were added in 1980, and a crown is shown above the shield of the arms.
The States emblem has many variations. It shows three leopards (or lions), and the seal showing these three creatures dates from King Edward I in 1279. In the years since then, the leopards have been drawn in many ways, some officially crafted by different States departments, and others by less official bodies.
The emblem shown here is from the States Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, at the entrance to Howard Davis Farm. This dates from 1929; more recent versions demonstrate changing fashion and design since then.
The Island is divided into 12 parishes, and these are the basic unit of administration. However as the Island’s population has grown, some services have been centralised for convenience.
The Queen's representative in Jersey is the Lieutenant-Governor, although earlier holders of this post were known as Governors. His official residence is Government House in St Saviour.
The house was originally known as Belmont and was acquired in 1821. The previous Government House was in King Street, where Woolworths now is.There is also a "Governor's House" at Elizabeth Castle, dating from its use by Sir Walter Raleigh who built the castle.
The House is used for a wide range of official functions, and once a year on the eve of the Queen's official birthday, all Islanders are invited to celebrate the occasion at Government House.
Each Lieutenant-Governor is appointed for five years. The names of some of the former Governors will be recognised, as streets are named after them, or because they are famous for some particular service to the Island.
1600 - 1603 Sir Walter Raleigh (or Ralegh) was responsible for building Elizabeth Castle.
1772 - 1795 General Henry Seymour Conway devised and implemented the plan for towers around the Island for defence. Go to Coastal Towers to read more.
Conway named as Lieutenant-Governor Moses (or Moyse) Corbet, who is known for his surrender to the French troops in 1781, just before the Battle of Jersey.
1796 - 1807 During the Governorship of Townshend, General George Don was appointed as Lieutenant-Governor in 1806. He made rapid improvements to the training of the militia, set up a signalling system to warn of movements of the French fleet from St Malo, and designed and implemented roads throughout the Island. He was a man of enormous energy who worked tirelessly for progress in many areas. The impressive sculpture in the Parade in St Helier commemorates his work for the Island. Don Road and Don Street are also named after him.
1821 - 1854 William Carr, Lord Beresford is remembered in Beresford Street. One of his Lieutenant-Governors was Sir Colin Halkett. It was he who acquired Belmont as the new Government House in the 1820s. His name is remembered in Halkett Street and Halkett Place.
1924 - 1929 Sir Francis Bingham was Lieutenant-Governor, and his interest in all Islanders and all aspects of Island life was much appreciated. Mount Bingham was named in his honour.