That Was Jersey
Local history for everyone

CHANNEL ISLANDS

Victorian era

Dates in Jersey

1827 Post Office began country deliveries
1827 Steamships began regular services with the UK
1831 Gas light was introduced
1832 First cholera epidemic
1834 Jersey's currency was changed from the French livre tournois to English pound sterling
1835 Savings Bank was opened
Victoria became Queen - 20 June 1837
1837 Plans drawn up for a new St Helier Harbour
1840 Railway from London reached Southampton which connected with steamships
1840s Development of the Jersey Cows distinctive milk, fawn colouring and dark muzzle began
1845 Sewage system introduced to St Helier
1846 Three-hour Royal Visit of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
1847 Riots over the price of bread, one of the causes of mass emigration
1849 Second Cholera epidemic
1852 Victoria College built and opened
1854 The States created a Police Court, Petty Debts court and a paid police force
1854 Appointment of Governor was officially ended
1854 States of Jersey changed composition and expanded to include 14 Deputies
1857 First time that potatoes had been harvested in the Spring (after persuasion by John Le Caudey, a farmer in St Ouen)
1858 Telegraph to England introduced
1865 Jersey had become the fifth largest shipbuilding port in the British Isles
1867 End of the oyster industry due to over dredging and destruction of oyster beds
1870 Railway constructed from St Helier to St Aubin
1874 La Corbière lighthouse built
1880 Jersey Ladies College was opened
1880 Hugh de la Haye created the first crop of Jersey Royal Fluke potatoes
1880s Maritime trading and the re-export of goods to the Americas, especially cod-fishing ended
1891 Ballot box introduced for local elections
1898 Telephones introduced
1900 English language allowed in States debates
Queen Victoria died 22 January 1901

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