Bailiwick of Guernsey

Bailiwick of Guernsey (crown dependency)
Cliffs at St Martin's
Area:	30.1 square miles
Population:	65,573  (est, 2007)
Capital:	St Peter Port
Time zone:	GMT
Dialling code:	01481
TLD:	.gg

The Bailiwick of Guernsey (French: Bailliage de Guernesey) is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy. The islands of the Bailiwick and of the Bailiwick of Jersey are together known as the Channel Islands. The main island of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, where the vast majority of the population live, is Guernsey.

The Bailiwick, as a governing entity, embraces not only all ten parishes on the Island of Guernsey, but also several other islands. Of these, Alderney and Sark are largely autonomous, the latter a crown fief with its own hereditary Seigneur. The island of Brecqhou belongs to Sark, and the islands of Herm, Jethou, Burhou, and Lihou and their islet possessions are under the direct authority of the States of Guernsey.

The Bailiwick of Guernsey is not part of the United Kingdom, and while it participates with the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and the other Crown Dependencies in the Common Travel Area, it is not part of the European Union.

In the islands, The King's traditional title as head of state is "Duke of Normandy", for the Channel Islands are those parts of the Duchy of Normandy which remained loyal to the Crown when King John lost the landward part of Normandy in 1204.

Parishes

Guernsey is divided into ten parishes:

Parish Population (2001) Area (vergées) Area (sq miles) 1. Castel 8975 6224 3.938 2. Forest 1549 2508 1.587 3. St Andrew 2409 2752 1.741 4. St Martin 6267 4479 2.834 5. St Peter Port 16488 4074 2.578 6. St Pierre du Bois 2188 3818 2.416 7. St Sampson 8592 3687 2.333 8. St Saviour 2696 3892 2.463 9. Torteval 973 1901 1.203 10. Vale 9573 5462 3.456

The parishes of Guernsey

History

Rising sea levels caused by prehistoric global warming transformed Guernsey from being the tip of a peninsula jutting out into the emergent English Channel around 6000 BC, into an island when it and other promontories were cut off from Europe.

At this time, Neolithic farmers settled the coasts and built the dolmens and menhirs that dot the islands. The island of Guernsey contains three sculpted menhirs of great archaeological interest; the dolmen known as L'Autel du Dehus also contains a dolmen deity known as Le Gardien du Tombeau.

During their migration to Brittany, the Britons occupied the Lenur Islands (the former name of the Channel Islands)

In 933 the islands were annexed by the Duchy of Normandy. The Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the mediæval Duchy of Normandy. In 1204, King John of England lost Normandy to the King of France, but Guernsey and Jersey remained loyal, and every after Guernsey and its islands have adhered to the Crown in defiance of the French across the water. Several mediæval and Tudor castles bear witness to the islands' long role as a British stronghold agsinst the ancestral enemy.

During the Middle Ages the island was repeatedly attacked by continental pirates and naval forces, especially during the Hundred Years War when the island was occupied by the Capetians on several occasions, the first being in 1339.

Castle Cornet at night over St Peter Port boat harbour

During the Civil War, Guernsey sided with Parliament, while Jersey remained Royalist. Guernsey's decision was mainly related to the higher proportion of Calvinists and other Reformed churches, as well as Charles I's refusal to take up the case of some Guernsey seamen who had been captured by the Barbary corsairs. The allegiance was not total, however; there were a few Royalist uprisings in the southwest of the island, while Castle Cornet was occupied by the Governor, Sir Peter Osborne, and Royalist troops. Castle Cornet, which had been built to protect Guernsey, was turned on by the town of St Peter Port, who constantly bombarded it. It was the last Royalist stronghold to capitulate, in 1651, and was also the focus of a failed invasion attempt by Louis XIV of France in 1704.

During the wars with France and Spain during the 17th and 18th centuries, Guernsey ship-owners and sea captains exploited their proximity to mainland Europe, applying for Letters of Marque and turning their merchantmen into privateers.

By the beginning of the 18th century Guernsey's residents were starting to settle in North America. The 19th century saw a dramatic increase in prosperity of the island, due to its success in the global maritime trade, and the rise of the stone industry. One notable Guernseyman, William Le Lacheur, established the Costa Rican coffee trade with Europe.

During First World War approximately 3,000 island men served in the British Expeditionary Force. Of these, about 1,000 served in the Royal Guernsey Light Infantry regiment which was formed from the Royal Guernsey Militia in 1916.

The Bailiwick was occupied by German forces in Second World War between the fall of France in 1940 and the eve of VE Day in 1945. The islands reacted in different ways, dependent, it is said, on the attitude of their governors; the majority of Guernsey's population remained, while those of Alderney left at the urging of the President of Alderney. Sark's small population remained also. In every case though the young men of the islands were already gone, joining the British forces in 1939. The Lieutenant-Governor, as a serving officer, left the island before the Germans landed and the Bailiff was placed in charge. Before the occupation, many Guernsey children were evacuated to Britain to live with relatives or strangers during the war, and some children were never reunited with their families.

During the occupation, some people from Guernsey were deported by the Germans to camps in the southwest of Germany, notably to Biberach an der Riß and interned in the Lindele Camp ("Lager Lindele"). There was also a slave-labour camp built in Alderney where forced labourers, predominantly from Eastern Europe, were kept. It was the only such camp built on British soil and is commemorated on memorials under Alderney's name in French: 'Aurigny'. Among those deported was Ambrose (later Sir Ambrose) Sherwill, who, as the President of the States Controlling Committee, was de facto head of the civilian population. Sir Ambrose, who was Guernsey-born, had served in the British Army during the First World War and later became Bailiff of Guernsey.

Certain laws were passed at the insistence of the occupying forces; for example, a reward was offered to informants who reported anyone for painting "V-for Victory" signs on walls and buildings, a practice that had become popular among islanders who wished to express their loyalty to Britain. On the other hand, the Germans permitted the islanders to raise the Union flag on the King's birthday.

Three islanders of Jewish descent were deported to Auschwitz, never to return.

Guernsey was very heavily fortified during Second World War as part of the "Atlantic Wall" and German defences stand today all around the coast. Hitler became obsessed with holding the islands, and over 20% of the material that went into the Atlantic Wall was committed to the Channel Islands. On 6 June 1944, the Allied forces swept into Normandy and drove the Germans south to the Loire and eventually out of France, but the Channel Islands were left behind. The Germans did not abandon the islands as expected but they remained an enclave of fortified, occupied land for a year until freed in the German surrender in 1945; symbolically the islands were surrendered a day before the unconditional surrender of all German forces.

Government

The Arms of Guernsey

The Crown's representative in the Bailiwick is the Lieutenant-Governor and the chief minister is the Bailiff. The Bailiwick is governed by the States of Guernsey, the islands' parliament, which is known in its legislative capacity as the States of Deliberation and consists of 45 elected People's Deputies and two representatives from Alderney, though none from Sark, together with the Procureur and H M Comptroller. The Bailiff presides.

A Projet de Loi (a bill) becomes law only when formally approved by Her Majesty in Council and promulgated by an Order-in-Council.

The States also make delegated legislation known as 'Ordinances (Ordonnances)' and 'Orders (Ordres)' which do not require Royal Assent. Commencement orders are usually in the form of Ordinances.

Each parish is administered by a Douzaine. Douzeniers are elected for a six year mandate, two Douzeniers being elected by parishioners at a parish meeting in November each year. The senior Douzenier is known as the Doyen (Dean). Two elected Constables (French: Connétables) carry out the decisions of the Douzaine, serving for between one and three years. The longest serving Constable is known as the Senior Constable and his or her colleague as the Junior Constable.

The legal system is Guernsey customary derived from Norman French customary law, heavily influenced and overlaid by English common law, justice being administered through a combination of the Magistrates' Court and the Royal Court. The Royal Court of Guernsey is made up of the Bailiff, who presides and determines issues of law, and between twelve and sixteen Jurats, who determine issues of fact and are elected to office by an electoral college known as the States of Election. Appeals lie from the Royal Court to the Guernsey Court of Appeal and thereafter to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

Several European countries have consulate presence on Guernsey. The French Consulate is based at Victor Hugo's former residence at Hauteville House. The German Honorary Consulate is based at local design and advertising agency Betley Whitehorne.

Geography

Guernsey coastal rocks

Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and other smaller islands have a total area of 30 square miles and a coastline of about 30 miles. Of this, the island of Guernsey alone has a total area of 25 square miles.

The highest point in the bailiwick is 375 feet above sea level at Le Moulin on Sark. The highest points of the main islands are:

• Sark: Le Moulin at 375 feet
• Guernsey: Hautnez at 363 feet
• Herm 322 feet
• Alderney: Le Rond But at 306 feet
• Jethou 248 feet

The Casquets, a group of islets, are notable for the lighthouse facility constructed there.

Economy

A Guernsey Post pillar box

Telephone boxes on Guernsey

Financial services, such as banking, fund management, and insurance, account for about 32% of total income. Tourism, manufacturing, and horticulture, mainly tomatoes and cut flowers, especially freesias, have been declining.

Light tax and death duties make Guernsey a popular offshore finance centre for private equity funds. However, while Guernsey is not a part of the European Union, EU rules are impinging on Guernsey's freedom in as far as they affect those investing there. As with other offshore centres, Guernsey is also coming under pressure from bigger nations to change its way of doing business, much of which is resisted. From 1 January 2008 it has operated a Zero-Ten corporate tax system where most companies pay 0% corporate tax and a limited number of banking activities are taxed at 10%. As a result it is confronting what it terms a financial "black hole" of forty-five million pounds or more according to some estimates which it aims to fill through economic growth and indirect taxation.

Guernsey also has a thriving non-finance industry. It is home to Specsavers Optical Group, which manages the largest optical chain in Britain, Ireland and far beyond. Healthspan also has its headquarters in Guernsey.

Guernsey issues its own sterling coinage and banknotes though United Kingdom coinage and banknotes also circulate freely and interchangeably.

During late 2011 the United Kingdom decided to end VAT relief on Channel Islands Goods. This is being contested by the Guernsey Government and several private firms.

Transport

Guernsey red ensign

Ports and harbours exist at St Peter Port and St Sampson's. There are two paved airports in the Bailiwick (Guernsey Airport and Alderney Airport), and 3 miles of railways in Alderney.

The States of Guernsey wholly own their own airline, Aurigny Air Services. The decision to purchase the airline was made to protect important airlinks to and from the island and the sale was completed on 15 May 2003. It was announced that the States would sell Aurigny to a rival Channel Islands' airline, Blue Islands, in July 2010, but the talks fell through in September 2010 due to uncertainty as to whether the Gatwick slots could be guaranteed.

The Guernsey Railway, which was virtually an electric tramway, and which began working on 20 February 1892, was abandoned on 9 June 1934. It replaced an earlier transport system which was worked by steam, and was named the Guernsey Steam Tramway. The latter began service on 6 June 1879 with six locomotives. This leaves Alderney as the only Channel Island with a working railway.

Residence

The housing market is split between local market properties and a small number of open market properties. Anyone may live in an open market property, but local market properties can only be lived in by those who qualify – either through being born in Guernsey (to local parents), by obtaining a housing licence, or by virtue of sharing a property with someone who does qualify.

Housing licences are for fixed periods, and are usually only valid for as long as the individual remains employed by a specified Guernsey employer.

These restrictions apply equally regardless of whether the property is owned or rented, and only applies to occupation of the property. Thus a person whose housing licence expires may continue to own a Guernsey property, but will no longer be able to live in it.

There are a number of routes to qualifying as a "local" for housing purposes. Generally it is sufficient to be born to at least one Guernsey parent, and to live in the island for ten years in a twenty year period. Once "local" status has been achieved it remains in place for life. Even a lengthy period of residence outside Guernsey does not invalidate "local" housing status.

Language

The ancient language of all the islands was Norman-French, though in differing dialects on different islands. Today the islands are almost monolingual in English:

• Guernsey: English is the language in general use by the majority of the population. Guernésiais, the Norman language of the island, is spoken fluently by only about 2% of the population (according to 2001 census), but 14% of the population claim some understanding of the language.
• Sark: Sercquais is spoken by a few people on the island of Sark
• Alderney: Auregnais was spoken on the island of Alderney until it became extinct in the early twentieth century.

Until the early twentieth century French was the only official language of the Bailiwick, and all deeds for the sale and purchase of real estate in Guernsey were written in French until 1971. Family and place names reflect this linguistic heritage.

Georges Métivier, considered by some to be the island's national poet, wrote in Guernesiais. The loss of the islands’ language and the Anglicisation of its culture, which began in the nineteenth century and proceeded inexorably for a century, accelerated sharply when the majority of the island's school children were evacuated to the United Kingdom for five years during the German occupation of 1940-1945.

Sport

The island's traditional colour for sporting events is green.

• The Island Games (biennial): Guernsey participates and hosted the games in 1987 and 2003
• Commonwealth Games: Guernsey participates in its own right

The Guernsey Football Association runs Guernsey football. The top tier of Guernsey football is the Sure Mobile Priaulx league where there are 7 teams. The Corbet Football Field donated by Jurat Wilfred Corbet OBE in 1932 has fostered the sport greatly over the years. Although more recently the island has upgraded to a larger, better quality stadium, in Foote's Lane.

The Guernsey Gaels was founded in 1996 and competes in the European Gaelic football leagues, the island hosts its own tournament each year with teams from all over Europe visiting the island.

Guernsey also has one of the oldest softball associations in the world. The Guernsey Softball Association was formally established in 1936, it is now one of the oldest and longest running softball associations to be found. Affiliated to the International Softball Federation (ISF) the GSA has both fast and slow pitch leagues with over 300 members.

Guernsey was declared an affiliate member by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2005 and an associate member in 2008.

Guernsey also enjoys motor sports. In season, races take place on the sands on Vazon beach on the west coast. Le Val des Terres, a steeply winding road rising south from St Peter Port to Fort George, is often the focus of both local and international [[hill-climb races. In addition, the 2005, 2006, and 2007 World Touring Car Champion [[Andy Priaulx is a Guernseyman.

The racecourse on L'Ancresse Common was re-established in 2004, and races are held on most May day Bank Holidays, with competitors from Guernsey as well as Jersey, France and the UK participating.

Sea Angling around Guernsey and the other islands in the Bailiwick from shore or boat is a popular pastime for both locals and visitors with the Bailiwick boasting 12 UK records. [[Fishing in Guernsey.

Pictures

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  The Little Chapel, Les Vauxbelets, Guernsey

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  Little chapel interior

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  Fountain Bordage signs St Peter Port Guernsey

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  Guernésiais BBC sticker

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  Festival of the Sea (in Guernésiais)

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  Victoria Tower (Guernsey)

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  QE2 Marina, Saint Peter Port

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  Relief map of Guernsey from SRTM data

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Bailiwick of Guernsey)

• States of Guernsey – official government site
• VisitGuernsey/ Guernsey tourism