Jethou
| Jethou | |
 Jethou from St Peter Port, Guernsey | |
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| Location | |
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| Area: | 44 acres |
| Data | |
| Population: | 3 (1996) |
Jethou is a small island that is part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey in the Channel Islands. It is privately leased, and not open to the public. It lies in the sea immediately south of Herm and has an area of approximately 44 acres.
The island's name is onec of several in the Channel Islands with the suffix -hou suffix, which is a Norman word meaning "small island", from holmr ("island") in the tongue of the Norsemen who founded Normandy.
History
It is said that once Jethou was part of Herm, but that in the year 709, a storm washed the strip of land away which connected them.[1]
In 1416, Jethou became part of Henry V's estate and still remains a Crown lease now owned by the States of Guernsey.
Modern history
From 1920 to 1923, Jethou and Herm were held on lease by Compton MacKenzie, the prolific writer (and former intelligence officer) and the lease remained part of that estate for years.
The British 1957 musical Free as Air by Dorothy Reynolds & Julian Slade was set on the fictitious island of 'Terhou', which was based on Jethou.
On the top of the island is a marker. It is said that in earlier times, pirates were hanged on it with chains, like nearby Crevichon.
Jethou is flanked by two islets, Crevichon to the north and Fauconniere to the south. There is one house on the island and two cottages as well as a large garage where vehicles such as quad bikes and tractors are stored.
The current tenant is Sir Peter Ogden.
Politics
Unlike the largely autonomous islands of Sark and Alderney within the Bailiwick, Jethou is administered entirely by the States of Guernsey,[2] and elects members to the States of Deliberation as part of the St. Peter Port South electoral district.[3]
References
Outside links
- Jethou Homepage
- Free Gutenberg Project book, a Crusoe-like novel on Jethou
- Stamps from Isle of Jethou
- Island of Jethou at Britlink
| The Channel Islands |
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Bailiwick of Guernsey: Guernsey • Alderney • Sark • Herm • Brecqhou • Burhou • Ortac • Les Casquets • Jethou • Lihou • Crevichon • Les Houmets |
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Bailiwick of Jersey: Jersey • Les Écréhous • La Motte • Les Minquiers • Pierres de Lecq • Les Dirouilles |