Elizabeth Castle
That Was Jersey |
Local history for everyone |
CHANNEL ISLANDS |
The reign of Queen Victoria was a significant time in the history of the United Kingdom. Victoria was born in 1819. Her father died when she was quite young, and she was only 18 years old when her uncle William IV died in 1837 and she became Queen on 20th June in that year.
In 1840 she married Albert, a German cousin, who brought his own wisdom, engineering and musical abilities. Together they worked for the good of the nation for 20 years. Sadly he died in 1861, and the Queen went into mourning and retired from public life. After 10 years her Prime Minister persuaded her to take up public duties again. She is the longest-reigning British monarch, reigning for 63 years, until her death in 1901 at the age of 81.
The Queen made two royal visits to Jersey. Her first visit was in 1846, and it was the first state visit of a monarch to the Island. Find out more about the Queen's visits.
During the long years of Victoria’s reign, British society experienced unprecedented growth and development. Many of the inventions which still form an essential part of our heritage date from this period: railways, dignified architecture, domestic appliances, education, social welfare, holidays. It was known as an age of philanthropy - many people who were reasonably wealthy devoted themselves and their wealth to the betterment of society, promoting hospitals, decent prison conditions, education for the poor, improved working conditions, harnessing technology and much more besides. For more information on the British Empire see the website at www.britishempire.co.uk
Here in Jersey we can see many of these benefits in our own history. Check out some of the topics highlighted here, and explore further by using the Useful Resources pages.
The Jersey breed of cattle was established, with a Herd Book started in Jersey in 1866.
The early 1880s saw the development of the Jersey Royal Fluke, an early potato which has been important to agriculural exports for over 100 years.
The fishing industry passed through dramatic times (e.g. riots in 1838) with the Oyster Fisheries, when boats from France and the South of England vied with Channel Island boats for access to the catch. The boom passed with over-fishing, but part of the legacy is the expansion of Gorey village to cope with the oyster trade.
The Victorians were interested in everything, and it was during this period that dolmens and pouquelayes were discovered across the Island (e.g. Mont Ubé in 1838). Curiosity prompted research on all aspects of the Island's heritage, and the Société Jersiaise was founded in 1873 to collect information and artefacts and to provide research facilities for its members. Some remains found at the ancient sites belong to the Société.
Many of the Island's buildings date from Victoria's reign, including some parish halls. Many of the parish schools were built at the turn of the century (1900-1901). (Go to the individual parish pages for illustrations of these.) Victoria College and the former building of the Ladies College in Rouge Bouillon (Schools) show different Victorian styles of architecture. There are Banks and public buildings of various kinds that were built by our Victorian ancestors, along with hotels (Hotels & Tourism), shops and many granite inscriptions.
St Helier expanded quickly during the 19th century, and many of the houses have been well cared for, and show typically Victorian touches. Look out for iron railings (especially along Victoria Avenue, but also throughout town), plaster mouldings with detail often picked out in a variety of colours, dormer windows with carved surrounds, and well-proportioned terraces and crescents.
There is more information about Victorian St Helier and the expanding townscape in this website and books on the architecture of Jersey include many of the Victorian features of buildings, particularly in St Helier.
During the Victorian era, as the town population expanded, new churches and many chapels for non-conformist and Roman Catholic congregations were built. Look out for them, across the Island where many of the Methodist chapels are Victorian, and throughout town; most of them have stones with their dates clearly marked.
As the British Empire expanded, communications became more important. In former years communications were based in small localities. Newspaper printing presses, a nationwide postal system, the introduction of telegraphs and codes of signals, and the amazing invention of the telephone: all these contributed to the efficiency and growth of the Empire. Jersey was part of an important communication system to provide early warning of military activity by the French, as telegraphs were sent from one signal station to the next across the Channel. Newspapers played an important role in Island life too, keeping the population informed on local, national, and world, affairs.
The Victorians were great engineers, creating railways and trains, steamships, industrial processes and machinery. In 1840 there was a salt factory (in First Tower) and the island also had a sugar refinery. In addition to designing transport networks, they also provided the infrastructure so essential to modern towns with postal services, sewerage and drainage systems along with provision of piped water and a comprehensive range of public facilities, including covered markets, post offices and letterboxes on the street.
The provision of harbour facilities in St Helier is due largely to Victorian engineering. The naming of Victoria and Albert Piers indicates loyalty to the monarch as well as the importance of wharves and warehouses to Island trade. So many ships sank or were badly damaged on the rocks around the Island that eventually a lighthouse was built at La Corbière, and other lights were established around the coast.
The development of covered markets was an important part of the developing retail trade in the Island. The markets, separate sites for fish, cattle and general, moved site as they were improved.
Financial institutions have long been important to Jersey. There were many banks operating across the Island, many of thejm issuing their own bank notes. In addition to banks issuing notes, many other organisations (including the parishes) also issued notes, as a means of raising money for a variety of projects. Eventually regulation became necessary.
The railways were an important feature of Victorian transport. The first part of Jersey's railway system went from St Helier west along St Aubin's Bay. Later that line was extended to La Corbière, and a new line linked St Helier to Gorey in the east.
A new awareness of public health issues led first to the setting up of the Jersey Waterworks Company and then its successor, the Jersey New Waterworks Company, which took on the responsibility in 1882. Cholera epidemics and other health problems were eased by the availability of clean safe water to drink. Drainage and sewerage services followed.
The inventions that made photography possible came during the Victorian era. However, painters and engravers were still in demand, supplying illustrations for some of the new guidebooks that were published for visitors to the Island.
