DAY 9 11 June Jersey – Saint-Malo

Elizabeth Castle is just off the coast was Walter Raleigh’s stronghold and was a refuge for Charles II, and played a huge role in Jersey’s history. We did not visit it as we have seen many castles and not enough time to fit it in. Instead, we visited the Maritime Museum and its occupation tapestry.

 One of those funfair mirrors.

Our next stop was Jersey Museum in the former house of a Merchant and was quite well done. The family had fallen on hard times and had to sell up. Apparently one Tripadvisor reviewer was disgusted that the contents were being sold off, believing that this was for real and not part of the storyline - idiot!  We thought the museum’s Jersey cream tea was a bit expensive. That was until it arrived and the two scones each were enormous!

This was part of the Celtic hoard recovered from La Houge Bie.

The Battle of Jersey took place in 1781 in the streets of the town between the British and the French. They fought it out in a square and there are still musket ball holes in the outside walls of the pub which is named after him.. Both French and British commanders were killed in the action, Major Peirson’s grave is inside the church and his French opponent’s grave was outside, but I forgot to look for it.  

We visited Fort Regent which is now a leisure centre and had a good view of the harbour of St. Helier and Elizabeth Castle in the background.

We reflect on the three Channel Islands that we have visited. Each has a different character, and this is by their own admission. Guernsey had a population of 60,000 and for the Germans was the most important, being the most easterly of the islands. Its capital was the very picturesque St. Peter Port. Sark was a small island with only 500 people and has no vehicles except for tractors. The sense of community is certainly different and almost medieval in some ways. Jersey did not seem as attractive with a lot more suburban areas, although this is where the money is, Jersey makes most of its money through finance.

Here is the pilot boat approaching Saint Malo and the French coast.

Rainbows over razor wire - welcome to France.