Bygone Guernsey and its Coins
By Bill Exley
| . View 1/29. A busy Market Day in St. Peter Port around the late 1890's or early 1900's, one of my favourite scenes, looking up the Market Steps to Market Square / Place. Note the elegant Victorian attire of the crowd, with the chatting couples conversing in the local 'Guernsey Patois', English or pure French. They are always proud to maintain using their 'Patois', as so the Welsh in using their own unique Celtic Language / dialect, or - Cymraeg - e.g. / yr iaith Cymraeg - (the Welsh Language) . In the men’s' pockets you would have found a mix of English, French, Guernsey, or Jersey coins, as they were all gladly accepted as legal tender. Guernsey coins were first struck in 1830 and made up of the 8 Doubles, equiv. to our old Penny. 4, 2 and a tiny 1 double coin - Half a farthing! This small 1 Double coin was issued 12 times over 100 years, 1830 to 1938, so it must have been required. Some hourly rates, for various labour, was in Doubles per hour and small Timber, for domestic builds, was advertised at La Charroterie Mills priced at so many Doubles per foot. - (In 1830, my E1, - 1,648,640 coins were struck, so in common use, equiv. to a 1/8th of our old Penny)
St Ouen's Manor, Jersey C.I. Guernsey, Jersey, and the Isle of Man are all part of the U.K, but independent, with their own Tax and Judicial Laws. such as Corporal Punishment, e.g. Applying the Birch, in the presence of a doctor within St Peter Port Prison. This was later banned in the late 1960's, sometimes given to Drinking Louts / or Troublemakers, this also happened in Jersey and the I.O.M. - (1945 to 1976). - Those being Deported from Jersey via Guernsey, enroute back home to the U.K. were sometimes met at the quay by the Guernsey police, waiting as a deterrent, as the boat only stopped to carry out transfers, then continue on to England. There used to be a quaint Cycle Tax of approx. 10p per year (2/6d) and you had a changing-coloured disc in its own mounted bracket on the bike. A Car Road Tax is, or was, adjusted, to its C.C rating for charges due, making it fairer all-round. We had to comply with a 'Chicken' or 'Poulage Tax' of Seven and Sixpence (approx. 35p) and equiv. to the price of 2 chickens and only payable, in person, to the Royal Court office on behalf of the Queen. This tax comes under a centuries old Feudal Dues tax system still existent today. ( I assume ) These taxes do not apply to every property, it is a hit and miss, as to the Site or Plot history, and previous owners or farmers. o * O * O * o
During the 1940's / 60's the traveler to Guernsey, had a choice of using the midnight departure time from Southampton, or a more enjoyable daytime crossing via Weymouth. (a night crossing gave you more Holiday time on the island) .Guernsey is a tiny Island, lying about 90 miles S.W. of Lands End, and about 30 sq. miles, it's coastal road is 24 miles long, in perspective, it would fit into the Isle of Wight 4 times. (148 Sq miles) Later, we knew a 'Chara-Bang' as an excursion, day out or trip to the coast. Ships brought in Mail, (hence Mailboats), Newspapers and Cargo from England including White Goods, new Cars, and other heavy cargo. Mail and passengers are now served by regular daily flights from the U.K. o * O * O * o Here is a Montage of a 'Bygone Guernsey' from views saved for 65 years. A link to my book, Guernsey Coinage in 1968 - see Index page - or 1st Guernsey Sea Scouts 1946 - '53, memories by my mate, Billy Hill of Guernsey - (2018) . - . Or some food for thought, just trivia / then visit my Misc and Mash - / - or my Rock Climbing days in Guernsey, 1950s - back to Index Page. |
View 2/29.. A unique scene capturing the actual time the 'Arcade' in St Peter Port was being created, from land down below, being hacked from Granite Cliffs. The sheer Tenacity and Will Power to do the job, with no modern machinery. Artist - Louis Haghe. 1806/85 / ref Betty.
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| View 3/29.. High Street, Guernsey, a charming scene of 18th century High Street showng houses which were chiefly those of Gentry, but by the early 19th century adaptations to them began. The Town Church of St Peter Port forms a pleasant background of liveliness and interest. There has been a Le Riche shop to our right for many, many years selling fine wines, spirits and groceries, they even provided a 'Home - Delivery' service around the Island in the 1960's, and probably well before.. |
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| View 4/29.. The Quay, St Peter Port, Arist - Paul Naftel , where you would arrive coming out from my view below. The tallest building, in shadow on the left, is, or was, The Albion Hotel, with the quaint tiny pub, The Cosy Corner on the ground floor. ( enjoyed a Pint on a Sat morning, during 1962/69 ) The rear being the start of High Street, then the Arcade, Smith Street, Le Pollet and all the shops. |
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| View 5/29.. Cow Lane, or Rue des Vaches , Artist - a charming sketch by a Mrs Montgomery, c1831, - leading through the archway to The Quay (previous view) and Old Harbour, . The cobbled view point is taken from the bottom of Hgh street, with the entrance to the Town Church a few yards to our right. To the left has been a well known shop, Le Lievres, selling Fine China and delicate Glass wares for many years, it may have been there in 1831, but I have no supporting records.
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| View 6/29.. A street scene of old Guernsey, taken from the windows of Marshall's Hotel, St Pierre, Guernsey, to the right ,with shoppers, is the steep slope of Smith Street . It is en fête for a royal occasion, with festoons cross Smith Street, we see a few smart troops marching. |
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| View 11/29.. Market Place, St Pierre, Guernsey. - c1831 a fine study of the Market taken from the middle entrance in Fountain Street, looking through the vaulted crossway with it's fan windows high up, to Clifton Steps in the background. At this time, the Fish and Meat Markets would be on the left side and the vegitable market on the right. In the 1950's and before, to the far right, masses of flowers fos sale on high tiered shelves. This then leads to wide stone steps leading down to a lower level and exit onto the Market Square and steps - ( my Header View - 1/29 ) |
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View 12/29.. above - A similar view to my Title header but titled Market Place / from an early Moss Print |
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View 20/29 ..
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| o *O * O * o Links to my book, Guernsey Coinage - 1968 - (Adope reader, Acrobat File, large) , or 1st Guernsey Sea Scouts (1946 - '53) - Memories - by Bill Hill , Guernsey. (Dec - 2018) or Rock Climbing in Guernsey in the 1950's Fully protected by Copyright Law, Reproduction for Commercial use Strictly Prohibited . © . Back to Index page - or Guernsey / 1937 to c1969 - see ' The tales of Mr Blex ' Last revision made by Bill Exley on - / - 12th April - 2022 |
