Parish location map
That Was Jersey |
Local history for everyone |
CHANNEL ISLANDS |
Population (2001 census) 3,628
Area (in vergees) 5,732
St Martin is in the north-east of the Island, with a long and varied coastline, from Rozel round to Gorey. This includes St Catherine's Breakwater which awas built for defence against the French, but the project was never completed. Mont Orgueil Castle (also known as Gorey Castle) is located on the southern edge of the parish. Rural St Martin has a large farming community.
The aerial view gives a bird's eye view of St Martin's school. The school has developed along the side of the road (along the left edge of the photo); the school playing field is to the top of this picture and the main entrance is on the left. The mature trees are a welcome sign of a predominantly rural parish. The public hall (home of the parish's administration) is next to the school, just out of picture at the bottom. The parish church lies just a short distance further along this road.
This church is dedicated to St Martin-le-Vieux, which occasionally leads to confusion with the parish of Grouville (dedicated to St Martin, Bishop of Tours). The parish shares the red and silver bands with Grouville. However, on the St Martin parish emblem, the three (not four) red bands are noticeably broader, and there are just seven bands altogether, rather than eight.
Here the emblem is seen on a roadside memorial near Archirondel. It is also prominent on the Public Hall.
The church in St Martin's parish is called St Martin the Old (to distinguish it from Grouville's St Martin). Its spire has twice been struck by lightning. The first time in 1616 occurred as people were going to church; the spire broke in two. The spire was rebuilt, but was struck again in 1837.
As with many churches, the stained glass is an important feature.
There are also statues and sculptures. This one shows St Martin, dressed as the soldier he once was, and was donated by Lady Trent, the wife of the founder of Boots the Chemist. She was a Jerseywoman, and enjoyed making many varied donations throughout the Island.
St Martin is the only parish to have a Public Hall, rather than a Parish Hall. The reason was the wariness of St Martin parishioners when the States offered to assist parishes with the cost of a hall. The cost of the public hall in St Martin was covered by public subscription.
The Cross is situated near Archirondel. The cross also serves as a reminder of chapels in that area which are no longer in existence.
The Stone was placed at the entrance to St Catherine's breakwater.
The Ecrehous reef is included with the parish of St Martin. There are three main islands, and throughout history few people have lived there for any length of time. There have been two notable exceptions, each of whom was known as the King of the Ecrehous.
Philip Pinel lived with his wife in a cottage which he built on Blanch Ile, in the nineteenth century. They lived there for 50 years.
In the twentieth century Alphonse Le Gastelois moved there to escape the people who alleged that he was the Beast of Jersey, responsible for attacks on children across Jersey. He stayed on Marmoutier for 14 years. In his absence the real Beast of Jersey was found and imprisoned.