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.

Library Document Collection

Lost things: La Maison Bonamy of the Pomare

From Edith Carey's Report of the Folklore Section of the Société Guernesiaise, Rep. and Trans. 1931, p. 149. The photograph shows the overgrown ruins from the road before their recent redevelopment.

The English Butcher and the Brewer, April 1801

Thomas Bishop posting of Frederick Mansell, 1801, Priaulx Library Collection

'Let me come at him, I will do for him, Damn him, a Butcher, I will do for him.'

The Metivier Family

St George from Bellamy's Pictorial Guide

Despite many advantages, the Métivier family, which included George Métivier (1790-1881), philologist and Guernsey's 'national' poet, suffered many ups and downs, and the collection of family letters held in the Library makes entertaining reading. The woodcut is by Dr Thomas Bellamy from his Pictorial Dirctory of 1843 in the Library collection.

Ralph Durand

Ralph Durand (1876-45) came from an important Guernsey Huguenot family and was the Librarian at the Priaulx before and during the Second War. He was an explorer and author whose family history, described here, is full of interest, and includes refugees, soldiers, ministers, a provost of Eton, an actor-manager, and politicians.

Second Bill of Partage of Guillaume Henry's estate, 1512

Transcribed in Partages No. 1, Staff.

Will of Gillette Sampson, 1663

From Guernsey's Ecclesiastical Court. No. 7 in Edith Carey's Wills and Legacies, Staff.

Will of Marie de la Rue 1663

No.5 in Edith Carey's Wills and Legacies, Staff.

Will of Anne Blondel, 1662

No. 4 in Edith Carey's Wills and Legacies (Staff). The film of the original Ecclesiastical Court records may be consulted in the Library.

Will of Thomas Le Page, 1669

No. 49 in Edith Carey's Wills and Legacies books of transcriptions.

Le Pelley notes from Col. Le Pelley's MSS II

Contrats pour lire: 21 July 1589. Jean Le Pelley fils Collas de St Pierre du Bois [sells ] 6 bs de rente a Thomas de Lisle. Ditto 18 June 1598. Collette Pezett fille de Jean, de St Pierre Port [widow] de Jean Le Fyvre [sells] pour £33 sterling d'Angleterre & 12bs d'annuelle rente, La Croutte Pezett en St André, au fyeu des Esperons, cont. 10 vergees de terre, au north du Cortill John Bailleull, à l'est [] des Gouyes appartenant à Martin Belin à cause de [sa] femme fille de Thomas de Garys. A Collas Le Pelley fils Charles. Do. 5th September 1570 . Edmond Ettur [sells] à Pierre Le…

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