Articles

The Library's unique collections are a treasure chest of unusual, interesting and sometimes surprising material just waiting to be found. This anthology, written by the Editor, is based on an eclectic selection of our archive. The author asserts her copyright on all material on the Priaulx Library website except where copyright of other authors is expressly notified. Permission to reproduce material from this website and full attribution to the author is required in all cases.

19th century

Turner's Guernsey Sketchbook

12th March 2015

In 1931 Spencer Carey Curtis, acting on a tip-off from a Jersey antiquarian, Major N V L Rybot, visited the British Museum to hunt out one of Joseph Mallord William Turner's sketchbooks, labelled 'Guernsey:'

Prince Edward Island: the Brehauts and Joseph Avard

12th March 2015

Prince Edward Island off the Canadian coast of Newfoundland has strong links to Guernsey that are very much alive today. A question was put by a visitor to the staff in the Library, enquiring as to the reason for an emigration to the island that took place in 1806.

1834: Flowers and fruit

Collected from local newspaper reports by the Gardener's Magazine, X (1834).

The King versus Gavet and Lenfestey

'His case is but one out of many that might be adduced, to prove the wisdom of intrusting the punishment of offences, in a small community like ours, to the discretion of the judges rather than to the precise letter of an unyielding statute law.' From The Star, February 3rd 1834.

Famous coin comes home, February 1951

'Described as of the highest rarity.' The Guernsey Press, 20th February 1951. Photographs from Carey Curtis Scrapbook p. 81, Staff, in the Library.

October 1812

From local newspapers in our collection.

Lady climbers

From the Star of 26 August, 1880. An indignant letter to the Editor about the suitability for ladies of visiting the Gouliot Caves in Sark. 'To all women we say, Go to the Gouliot Caves.' Also featuring: the dishonesty of tourist guides in Sark and Jersey.

Herm carrageen, c. 1865

George Geary's great scheme. From The Star, January 27, 1883. From Guernsey cuttings (Andros Tupper collection). 'The Island of Herm and its resources.'

An ancient murder, 15 May, 1808

The murder of Olympe Mahy by 'a real rascal.' From The Star, June 30, 1927, written by Amias C Andros. The sculpted details on her tombstone are very worn now.

Jesuits, 1828

An Island Meeting to discuss an application to found a Jesuit seminary in Guernsey. Admiral Sir James Saumarez was in the chair. He was to forward the petition against the school and the meeting's resolutions to Robert Peel, for Peel in turn to present to the King. The complete text, printed as a pamphlet by Nicolas Mauger, can be found in the Library's Petitions and Trials scrapbook, Vol. I.

Search form