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.

Social History

Le Publiciste: Thomas de la Rue and Mr Greenslade fall out, 1813

The proprietor of the short-lived but interesting newpaper Le Publiciste, the printer and publisher Thomas Greenslade, published a letter in his newspaper on 26th December 1812, highlighting his disagreement with his editor, Thomas de la Rue. De la Rue was busy starting up his own newspaper in Guernsey, Le Miroir Politique, which had its first issue in February 1813, and went on to found the printing company that still bears his name.

Brehon Tower

From The Star, August 31, 1915.

How women helped, 1919

From Sarnia's record in the Great War, published by The Star in 1919.

A Farmer's Vacation, 1873: Sark

Baker's Valley, Sark, in 1880, from Priaulx Library Collection

From George Wearing's A Farmer's Vacation, 1873, pp. 231 ff. The photographs are from the Library collection; that of the Seigneurie in Sark is by Thomas Singleton and dates from c. 1875; above is Baker's Valley in around 1880. 'The population of the island is less than six hundred souls, and of these over ten per cent are confirmed drunkards.'

Shrimps, 1763

The Royal Court republished this 1763 Ordnance in January 1813.

Taxation

From Duncan's History of Guernsey, 1841, pp. 270 ff. From Ferdinand Brock Tupper.

Taxation and parish meetings, 1840

From Sarnia, or the Holy Land, a new guide to the privileged island of Guernsey, &c. by a Twenty Years' resident: Payn, Jersey, 1840, pp. 83-4.

Actions de graces, prayers of thanksgiving

Beautiful prayers in French, previously used in Guernsey. As written in the History of Guernsey Churches scrapbook in the Library. During the Reformation this type of prayer was said after a baptism; later they were used at special services of thanksgiving, such as at the end of wars, or recovery of a monarch from illness.

Explanation of the nature of Real Property in Guernsey: Rents, 1815

Bails and rents continued, from the Report of the Royal Commissioners Deputed to the Island of Guernsey in 1815. First is a succinct explanation of giving to rent, as selling a property in Guernsey was in effect known, by John Jacob from his Annals of 1830.

The Guernsey farmhouse and cottage, 1846

Old Guernsey Kitchen, Thomas Grut, Priaulx Library Collection

Continuing the extract from the Dublin University Magazine, 1846. The Guernsey diet and the lower classes' utter lack of musicality.

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