Channel Islands

What are the Channel Islands?

The Channel Islands are located in the English aisles. They are located just off the Normandy France coastline and about 70 miles from the British Coast. They consist of 2 Bailiwicks; the Jersey and Guernsey Bailiwicks. A Bailiwick is an administrative term that was used to refer to an area headed by a Bailiff.

The Jersey Bailiwick consists of the Jersey Island. The Guernsey Bailiwick consists of Guernsey, Alderney, Burhou, Sark Lihou, Herm, Jethou and other smaller islands (islets). The islets are not inhabited. The Channel Islands are subdivided into smaller divisions or towns referred to as parishes. For instance Guernsey has ten parishes. The main towns of the Channel Islands are Saint Helier and Saint Anne.

The two Bailiwicks are run separately and don’t have similar amenities such as a common media like newspapers or television stations. The Channel Islands are not part of Britain, but they are British dependencies.

Some of the key industries in the Channel Islands are tourism, and agriculture. The Channel Islands have developed their own transport and communication services and financial services. Currently the languages spoken here are French and English, though Normandy used to be spoken prior to the 20th century.

History of the Channel Islands

It is said that the Channel Islands were originally part of the mainland. In fact they were parts of the Santa Monica Volcanic Mountains, which remained when the rest of the mountain submerged under water. Due to geological activities and upheavals, the Channel Islands got separated from the mainland. This was about 6500 years ago during the Ice Age period.

Traces of early man have been found in the Channel Islands, which go as far back as migration of people from Spain into the Islands. Also traces of Iron Age man have been found on the island.

At one time Romans occupied the Channel Islands and used it for commercial purposes. They occupied the island for about 200 years and named the islands. For instance Guernsey was Sarnia, Jersey was Caesarea and Alderney was Riduna. When the Roman Empire went down, Christianity was introduced into the Channel Islands during the Dark Ages. It is believed that Saint Helier moved into the Island during this period and he spread Christianity.

Vikings came up and introduced Normandy culture. Naming of the islands with words that end with ‘ey’ was done by the Vikings. The British took over the Channel Islands from the Normandy’s and with time, allowed them internal government. The Channel Islands are renowned for much of the witchcraft activities and witch hunting during the 16th century, when a lot of people suspected of being witches were burnt at the stake every year.

During the 19 century, there was an influx of the French into the island as they fled from the French Revolution. They are responsible for putting up the historic buildings that dot the Channel Islands. During the 20th century, the Germans annexed the Channels islands, which were part of the British Commonwealth at that time, from 1940-45. But the Islands got there independence on the 9th of May 1945.