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Bailiwick of Guernsey - Main Page
Image right Flag of Guernsey by User:Nightstallion - From the Open Clip Art website., CC0, Wiki Commons
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Bailiwick of Guernsey - Famous People
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Guernsey, officially the Bailiwick of Guernsey, is a possession of the Crown in right of Guernsey in the English Channel, off the coast of Normandy.
As a bailiwick, Guernsey embraces not only all ten parishes on the Island of Guernsey, but also the islands of Alderney and Sark – each with its own parliament – and the smaller islands of Herm, Jethou and Lihou.
The Bailiwick is not part of the United Kingdom, although its defence is the responsibility of the United Kingdom. It is a possession of the British Crown. It lies within the Common Travel Area of the British Isles and is not a member of the European Union, but has a special relationship with it, being treated as part of the European Community for the purposes of free trade in goods. Together, the Bailiwick of Guernsey and Bailiwick of Jersey form the geographical grouping known as the Channel Islands.
Bailiwick of Guernsey
Bailiwick of Guernsey comprises the islands of
- Guernsey,
- Alderney,
- Sark,
- Herm,
- Jethou,
- Brecqhou,
- Burhou &
- Lihou. All islands are inhabited, with the exception of Burhou, which is a bird sanctuary.
- French: Bailliage de Guernesey
- Administrative centre St Peter Port
- Area 78 km2 30.1 sq mi
- The main islanders have traditional animal nicknames: les ânes ("donkeys" in French and Norman): the steepness of St Peter Port streets required beasts of burden, but Guernsey people also claim it is a symbol of their strength of character – which Jersey people traditionally interpret as stubbornness.
- Population: 2012 estimate - 65,345; Saint Peter Port has a population of 16,488
- Official Languages
- English (predominant)
- French (legislative)
- Currency - Pound sterling
- Anthem:
- God Save the Queen (official)
- Sarnia Cherie (official) It was written in 1911 by George Deighton with music by Domenico Santangelo.
- National Flower - The Guernsey Lily (Nerine sarniensis) is the National Flower of Guernsey. Indigenous to the Cape 0f Good Hope in South Africa it is believed that it first arrived in Guernsey in the 17th Century. Probably aboard a returning Dutch vessel that either put in to Guernsey or was wrecked on the island. The earliest association with Guernsey is in John Evelyn's Gardener's Chronicle of 1664 where it is called "Narcissus Japonica or Guernsey Lily - that rare flower". Grown from a bulb it produces beautiful dark pink lily-like flowers.
- Famous for:
- Guernsey Cattle - fawn and white dairy cows that are particularly renowned for the rich quality of their milk, as well as their hardiness and docile disposition.
- The Ormer (Haliotis tuberculata - a mollusc of the abalone family) is a much prized delicacy in Guernsey.
- The Guernsey sweater is a traditional Guernsey knitwear item, originally worn by sailors and fishermen, who needed a warm and hardwearing top which would protect them against the elements. The Guernsey is made from oiled wool and is tightly knit according to a unique pattern.
- Motto
Main Towns
see map below and
Parishes
Guernsey is divided into ten administrative parishes for local government purposes. The smaller islands of Alderney and Sark are not parishes of Guernsey, except for ecclesiastical purposes. Like Guernsey, their Church of England parishes fall under the Bishopric of Winchester, and their respective parish churches are Saint Anne and Saint Peter.
Parish Map
Image above - adapted (colour) from Wiki Commons
Parishes in alphabetical order -
- Castel
- Forest
- St Andrews - the only parish without a coastline
- St Martins
- St Peter Port Capital
- St Pierre du Bois
- St Sampsons
- St Saviours
- Torteval
- Vale - divided into Vingtaine
- de l'Epine and
- Clos du Valle
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