Millennium stone overlooking the Royal Bay of Grouville
That Was Jersey |
Local history for everyone |
CHANNEL ISLANDS |
As the second millennium since the birth of Christ drew to an end, everyone was full of ideas for projects to mark the occasion, and initiatives spilled over the years 1999, 2000 and 2001.
The Millennium Mosaic was a community project involving many islanders and sponsored by the Jersey Evening Post, under the care of the Jersey Heritage Trust. Visitors also added pieces to the mosaic panels as they were on working display in various locations. The fourteen panels completed so far depict hopes and fears for the future, based on input from many sources. A further three panels are in progress, and the final panel will complete the set. Wayne Audrain, already known as the designer of the Occupation Tapestry, again put his talent to work. The panels are on display at the Museum, and are awaiting a permanent home.
The Citibank 2000 project reveals its sponsor from the name adopted. The project was to create a huge range of photographs depicting island life in all its variety, and films were made available to the public to create a record of their own activities. The photographs are in the care of the Jersey Archive, and a book was published containing 200 photos taken by members of the public.
A UK-wide Millennium Tapestry was created to go on display in the Dome. This project included work from 1000 schools, including 12 Island primary schools (Beaulieu Prep, Bel Royal, Grouville, JCG Prep, La Moye, La Pouquelaye, St Lawrence, St Luke’s, St Mary’s, St Saviour’s, Le Squez and Rouge Bouillon).
With the approaching Millennium, the States of Jersey gave to each parish a wayside cross; the Société Jersiaise presented a granite standing stone to each parish. These were to be placed at locations designated by the individual parish, to stand as a memorial for the Island at the dawn of the third millennium.
Each large stone was supplemented by a smaller stone with a plaque. Each plaque shows the location of all the stones across the Island. It also shows the name of the Constable in the relevant parish, and other partners in the project.
The wayside crosses were based on the design of the medieval wayside cross, using the cross now at Elizabeth Castle as a model.
Parish |
Cross |
Stone |
| Grouville | Top of Grouville Hill | Edge of Gorey village, on the grass area between the car park and the beach |
| St Brelade | Top of Pont du Val, at the junction with the Airport Road | La Pulente |
| St Clement | Opposite the Parish Hall on commonland at Le Hocq | La Rue de Moulin, up past St Clement's Church |
| St Helier | Victoria Park | Havre des Pas |
| St John | La Route du Nord | Sorel Point |
| St Lawrence | Junction of Mont Felard and Le Mont Cambrai | Waterworks Valley near the ruins of Vicart Mill |
| St Martin | Near Archirondel at the foot of Le Mont des Landes | St Catherine's breakwater |
| St Mary | Greve de Lecq, where monks from Sark landed bringing Christianity to St Mary's | Priory, Devil's Hole |
| St Ouen | Entrance to St Ouen's manor | Mont du Vallette |
| St Peter | Top of Jubilee Hill | St Peter's school |
| St Saviour | St Saviour's school | Grands Vaux reservoir (Rue a la Dame) |
| Trinity | Parish church, top of Trinity Hill | Car park above Bonne Nuit (Le Betchet) |
Several parishes published a book featuring events and people from their history. Grouville, St Lawrence and St Martin all produced fascinating detail of families and places over the years. St John did a smaller book, and Trinity produced several information sheets.
Other projects included new kneelers for the parish church of St John, a new stained glass window in Grouville parish church and the creation of a footpath through Waterworks Valley in St Lawrence.
The Millennium provided a focus for many other projects. One project at the Jersey Library improved access to the founder’s collection, cataloguing and rearranging shelves. This collection contains many books donated by Philip Falle in the 18th century and other early publications.