Inhabited since prehistory, it became part of the Duchy of Normandy in the 10th century. The Channel Islands came under the British crown when William, Duke of Normandy invaded England in 1066 and seized the crown. A fascinating fact is that even today, the Queens title in the Bailiwick of Guernsey is that of the Duke of Normandy, the local toast being, a little bizarrely, ‘The Queen, Our Duke. The Bailiwick of Guernsey is a Crown Dependency, meaning that the Queen is the head of state but it is
The island prints its own banknotes, including the £1 note, but theirs is not a separate currency, just a local issue of Sterling, with the same value as mainland.
Invaded in June 1940, the Channel Islands were the only British territories to be occupied by the Germans during World War Two.
The invasion of the Channel Islands during World War Two remains a hugely important part of the islands every year on Liberation Day in May.
The Liberation the 50th anniversary, on the 9th May 1995, of the Liberation of Guernsey from German occupying forces.
The shadow points to three inscriptions marking significant events on the day the island was liberated in 1945.
Also recorded is Winston Churchills memorable statement: Our dear Channel Islands are also to be freed today.
Unveiled by HRH The Prince of Wales on Liberation Day, 1995, the obelisk of 50 layers of blue Guernsey granite, representing the 50 years of freedom, with the cut angle at the top representing the trauma of the occupation years.
This 4.2 metre tall granite obelisk forms the gnomon of a sundial. It was erected in 1995 it deliberately only works one day in May per year.
Today was wet and windy as we walked along the harbour and through the cobbled streets but we could imagine how pretty it would be on a clear dry day.
She has family who were there throughout the occupation in the Second World War and some who were evacuated so has many family anecdotes to pass on.
She was also the tour guide who helped the film crew research the very successful film of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, a film about the occupation.
