Maritime

The Ibex

28th May 2026
Detail of a postcard showing the SS Ibex leaving Guernsey harbour (c) Priaulx Library
Some travelling nostalgia from The Marine Engineer, London: 1893. Edn. of May 1, 1892. 'Improved passenger steamship service to and from the Channel Islands. Weymouth Route.' The modern and comfortable delights of the new Ibex steamer, with its gold Japanese wallpaper, which was contemporary with and encouraged by the launch of the Weymouth boat train in 1889. The train was an icon for Channel Island travellers for nearly a century, until its much lamented withdrawal in September 1987. It lasted considerably longer than the Ibex, which was retired and broken up in 1925. The image of the Ibex leaving St Peter Port harbour is from a postcard in the Priaulx Library collection.

The Lydia, 1853

17th September 2025
The 173-ton brig Lydia was built at Stonelake's Yard in St Sampson, to specialise in carrying passengers to Adelaide and Melbourne. It eventually found a home in Australia. From The Age, 1934. In 1853 it sailed from St Sampson's harbour for Australia in front of a cheering crowd of 2,000 people. It was a most unusual place of departure from Guernsey, but it was the home of the ship and of Stonelake's yard. Sixty berths were available, of which 42 were taken up at £24 per passenger. 'The majority were tradesmen' (Coysh, 1985).

Will of Jean Vautier, 1699

21st November 2024
I, Jean Vautier being sound of body [but] being of a profession in which I often fnd myself in danger of death because of storms at sea ... Firstly, to the poor of St Peter Port, 20 sous tournois. Item . To my two sisters, Marie and Elizabeth, 10 sous each and as for the remainder: to my beloved wife Catherine Le Poitevin for her to live the rest of her life in the house and land that I own at Fermain, in right of my mother, Marie Le Chevalier [La Chevaliere]. Drawn up at St Peter Port 9 May 1699. Jean Patron, witness, William de Putron, witness. IGBD   Reg: 4 May 1703

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