The Bailiwick of Jersey is a Crown dependency which is situated near the coast of Normandy, France.
The Bailiwick is made up of the island of Jersey, which is the largest island in the Channel Islands, as well as nearby uninhabited islands and rocks which are named Les Dirouilles, Les Minquiers, Les Pierres de Leq, Les Écréhous, and other reefs and rocks.
The Bailiwick of Jersey and the Bailiwick of Guernsey are collectively called the Channel Islands, however the Channel Islands are not a political unit, but a geographic one. Hence, the two Bailiwicks are quite different. For example. Jersey has its own relationship to the Crown than other Crown dependencies, including Guernsey.
Jersey is a self-governing parliamentary democracy which is under a constitutional monarchy. It has its own legal, financial, and judicial systems and the right of self-determination.
The farming on the island focuses on dairy and the breeding of dairy cows, which are entirely Jersey cattle, given that no other breed of cattle has has been allowed on Jersey since 1789. Seaweed is the fertilizer used for the farms which raise potatoes and tomatoes for export. Woolen jerseys were traditionally knitted on Jersey, though the production of them has dwindled.
Jersey's Parliament, the States of Jersey, is made up of 49 elected members who are elected as independent people, as there are no parties in the Assembly. The monarch has as his or her personal representative the Lieutenant Governor. Jersey citizens have British nationality.
Like the Bailiwick of Guernsey, the Bailiwick of Jersey is not part of the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom, however, is responsible, constitutionally speaking, for the defence of Jersey.
In the ninth century, the Jersey was invaded by the Vikings, and in 933, Jersey, was annexed to what would become part of the Norman Islands by the Count of Rouen, William Longsword.
In 1066, William Longsword's progeny, William the Conqueror vanquished England, and for a while, England and the Duchy of Normandy were under one king. In 1204, King John lost all of his territories in the mainland of Normandy to King Philip II Augustus. King John was able to retain the Channel Islands. In 1259, the Treaty of Paris had the King of England surrender the Duchy of Normandy. The Channel Islands became self-governing territories of the English crown.
In 1406, approximately 1,000 Frenchmen invade Jersey by way of St. Aubin's Bay. They defeated the 3,000 islanders who were defending the island, but still they failed to capture the island.
Because of the strategic location of the Islands, the British fortified them quite heavily, and in 1781 the French tried again to invade Jersey, sending 2,000 soldiers to capture the island. Only 1,000 of them actually made it to Jersey, and they initiated what is known as the Battle of Jersey. That battle lasted about thirty minutes, and the British soldiers prevailed. Each side lost about thirty men, all of the French commanders were among them, and the British took about 600 French soldiers prisoner and sent them to England.
The Jersey economy was built on shipbuilding, fishing, agriculture, milling, and manufacturing of woolen goods. Trade with the bailiwick ushered in not just prosperity, but neutrality between France and England. The nineteenth century marked better transportation to and from the islands, and with that came tourism.
Then came World War II, and Germany occupied Jersey from July 1, 1940 until the German surrender on May 9, 1945. Some of the people in Jersey were evacuated to England, but unlike Guernsey, most of them remained behind. Using slave labour by prisoners of war, a large number of fortification. Supplies from mainland France were crucial to Jersey, and after the D-Day landings, food was in short supply. Red Cross provisions finally arrived, along with news of the advance of the Allied troops in Europe. But Jersey and her sister bailiwick were among the last places liberated. Today, Jersey celebrates Liberation Day on May 9 of each year, with huge celebrations in Liberation Square.
Categories
Getting From Here to ThereJerseyLes Ecrehous | Les MinquiersLes Pierres de Lecq |
Recommended Resources
An introduction to the island of Jersey and other Channel Islands that represent the last remnants of the medieval Dukedom of Normandy is presented, with geographical and demographical facts and statistics.
http://zhenghe.tripod.com/j/jersey/
Channel Islands Family History Society
Although the original intent was to form local CIFHS branches in the other Channel Islands, the organization currently includes only the Bailiwick of Jersey, its purpose being to form a record and gather research data relating to the family history of Channel Islanders. Its site includes membership information, meeting schedules, and an overview of its research facilities, publication, and journal.
https://jerseyfamilyhistory.org
Channel Islands Occupation Society (Jersey) LTD
The CIOS is a non-political volunteer organisation dedicated to preserving and recording all aspects of the German occupation of Jersey during the Second World War. Its projects are outlined, along with a schedule of events, attractions related to the German occupation, and photographic archives.
https://www.cios.org.je
The official web site for public services and information about the government of the Bailiwick of Jersey includes an alphabetical listing of services, departments and contacts, as well as information and guides on such topics as working in Jersey, taxes, travel and transport, industry, finance, education, and the environment.
https://www.gov.je/Pages/default.aspx
Supported by the Jersey Tourism Development Fund, this comprehensive guide to the island and Bailiwick of Jersey includes an overview of the island, including maps and practical information for those who are interested in visiting, including area accommodations, sights, activities, restaurants, and travel details.
https://www.jersey.com
Features information, photographs and reports on the species and varieties of bird life and habitat within the Channel Island of Jersey and its offshore islands and islets. Bird count and other statistical data reports are available for downloading.
http://www.jerseybirds.co.uk/
Details of scheduled Christian events are posted here, for the purpose of avoiding the double booking of dates, the publication of Christian events, and to allow events to be prayed for in advance.
http://www.christiancalendar.org.je/
The pages of this site includes information about Jersey coins and banknotes, particularly for numismatists, collectors and others with an interest in the currency of the States of Jersey in the British Channel Islands. Photographs and detailed information are presented for the majority of the featured coins and bank notes.
http://www.jerseycoins.com/
Jersey Financial Services Commission
The Commission is responsible for the regulation, supervision and development of the financial services industries in the Bailiwick of Jersey, and serves as the supervisory body for those sectors that are subject to regulatory oversight, such as accountants, lawyers, estate agents, high value goods dealers, and non-profit organisations. The Directory General is also the Registar of Companies for the bailiwick.
http://www.jerseyfsc.org/
The site features hotels, guest houses and campsites in Jersey, Channel Islands, offering maps, images, 360-degree virtual tours, and downloadable PDF information files, as well as special offers, brochures, and other resources.
http://www.jerseyisland.com/
The official web site of the Jersey Legal Information Board (JLIB) publishes collections of legal material that includes all of the Laws in Force and Revised Laws, the Jersey Law Reports, as well as the Jersey Judgments, the Unreported Judgments of the Jersey courts from 1997 to date, and Practice Directions of the Royal Court, as well as the current version of the Royal Court Rules, the Jersey and Guernsey Law Review and a student section.
https://www.jerseylaw.je/Pages/default.aspx
This guide to the Bailiwick of Jersey, on the Channel Islands offers links to general information about the bailiwick, and to businesses, accommodations, events, and travel data.
http://www.jersey.co.uk/
Formerly Jersey Telecom, in business since 1895, the company rebranded itself as JT Global in 2011. Its personal, business and wholesale products and services are defined, along with a historical timeline, career information, and other resources. Its business and residential services are discussed, including its policies, terms, and conditions of service.
https://www.jtglobal.com/Global/
Offers information, photographs and links to additional data about lighthouses located within the Bailiwick of Jersey, including travel and viewing guides.
http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/lighthouse/jey.htm
PMNW Jersey is an independent charity registered in Jersey, utilizing volunteer police officers who deliver programmes on the consequences of crime to schools in Jersey. Its site includes a statement on the necessity of the programme, schedules, and information on how others can help.
http://www.pmnwjersey.com/
