The Parish of St Brelade and How to Escape the Island

Way back in our first post (I think), there's a photo of a Martello Tower -- the big round building painted in red and white (many others are unpainted). Jersey was the only British Isle to be occupied by the Germans during WWII and during the occupation lots of buildings were erected across the island. Hence the Martello Towers, which were essentially watch towers, placed strategically around the coast. The sea wall down where we live, at Ouaisne, was also a German-built structure (technically, it was German-planned but labour-built... by POWs, or Russian concentration camp workers to be exact). All across the island there are half-finished structures; towers, forts, tunnels and walls. Martello Towers are somewhat of a Jersey icon and depending on the light they can look pretty spooky! One or two around the island have been converted to homes or studios, but I think the majority are under Trust ownership (National Trust for Jersey).

Liberation Day: May 9th. It's a holiday, with lots of things happening to commemorate Jersey's freedom down at St Helier. Actually, remember the Hash House Harriers? The very serious, competitive and focussed running group we've joined? Well this year (as in years gone) they will be marshalling the Liberation Day events in town (very seriously of course). No, I have no idea what that entails, although I shall endeavour to brush up on my history facts and street names before then. No use having a tourist ask a tourist for directions.

Well, oops, I've rambled. What I really wanted to tell you was this interesting little fact about Jersey, the thing about Escaping. We walked into town the other day, and James asked me to name the parishes we walked through to get there. There are 12 parishes in Jersey and most of them are named after saints. We live in the parish of St Brelade. So here is how you escaped the Island of Jersey in the old days, when you'd done something terrible such as pilfered an orange from the market stall or suchlike.

(From Jersey Tourism's Walk Guide): THE GREAT ESCAPE

"All 12 parishes in Jersey combine elements of country and coast. And it's thanks to one of the Island's many ancient -- not to say quirky -- laws and customes. In bygone times when a crime was committed, the guilty party was allowed to take refuge in the nearest church for eight days. On the ninth, he or she could chose between a court appearance or self-exile from the Island. Each parish church had to have a safe path to the beach -- known as Le Perquage (many roads still retain this name) -- so that the criminal could walk to a boat. Every parish therefore has its own stretch of coastline, however small."

History lesson over. I just thought it was intersting... The photos above were taken in the parish of St Brelade. I love the weathervane! If you look closely, there are some old women growing out of the flower-bed-boat along with the pansies. The big building is the Salle Paroissiale de St Brelade -- or the St Brelade Parish Hall.