A SELECTED CHRONOLOGY

OF JERSEY

(Taken from 'A Short History of Jersey' by Joan Stevens)

This subject is covered in more detail. Click on red button. (All dates shown are AD)

555

Martyrdom of Saint Helier

 

  933

 Channel Islands came under control of Duke of Normandy

 

 1066

 Duke of Normandy conquered England

 

 1204

King John lost Normandy. Channel Islands remained loyal to him 

 

 1213

King John granted Constitutions to the Islands 

 

 1373

Bertrand du Guesclin, Constable of France, invaded Jersey 

 

 1416

Confiscation of Alien Priories by the Crown 

 

1461

Maulevrier's attack and occupation which lasted until 1468

 

1518

Serious outbreak of plague. Also in 1563 and 1626

 

1542

Beginning of Saint Aubin's Fort

 

1547

Orders received for removal of all signs of Catholicism

 

1550

Sale of ecclesiastical property for the benefit of the Crown

 

1565

Colonisation of Sark, from Jersey, by Helier de Carteret

 

1572

Many French Huguenots sought refuge

 

1590

Construction started on Elizabeth Castle

 

1600-1604

Governorship of Sir Walter Ralegh

 

1646

Visit of Charles, Prince of Wales

1649

Execution of Charles I. Proclamation of Charles II Second visit of Charles, now recognised as King in Jersey

 

1670

Beginning of St. Aubin's Harbour

 

1708

Signal post erected on Mont de la Ville (now Fort Regent)

 

1741

Foundation of General Hospital, but building began in 1765

 

1751

Statue of George II by John Cheere erected in Royal Square

 

1766

Admiral Philippe de Carteret circumnavigated the world

 

1768

Chamber of Commerce founded, the first in the British Isles

 

1771

Code of laws drawn up

 

1774

Introduction of Methodism

 

1781

The Battle of Jersey

 

1784

Appearance of the first local newspaper

 

1787

John Wesley visited Jersey

 

1790

Arrival of many French refugees from the Revolution

 

1794

Establishment of a Post Office

 

1804

Building of Fort Regent started

 

1806

General Don, Lieutenant-Governor, started network of main roads

 

1832

Outbreak of cholera, and again in 1849

 

1847

Savings Bank opened

 

1847

St Catherine's breakwater started

 

1852

Opening of Victoria College

 

1857

Election of first Deputies to the States

 

1870

Railway from St Helier to St Aubin opened

 

1873

Railway from St. Helier to Gorey opened

 

1874

Corbiere Lighthouse built

 

1885

Western railway extended to La Corbiere

 

1907

Mont Orgueil Castle handed over to the States by the Crown

 

1914

Mobilisation of militia for home defence (War casualities 862 killed, 6,292 served)

 

1915

Jersey Overseas Contingent left for war service

 

1923

Elizabeth Castle handed over to the States by the Crown

 

1934

First passenger aeroplane arrived. England-Jersey airmail service began

 

1940

June 18 - Island demilitarised. June 28 - Germans bombed the island. July 1 - Ultimatum demanding surrender sent by Germans. German troops arrived

 

1942

Evacuation of 1,186 English persons to Germany

 

1944

December 30 - First trip of Red Cross supply ship 'Vega'

 

1945

May 9 - Liberation by British forces

 

 

1950

Law passed to permit divorce

 

1953

International Court awarded Les Ecrehous and Les Minquiers to Britain

 

1957

Visit of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip

 

1962

Val de la Mare reservoir constructed

 

1970

Tunnel under Fort Regent constructed

 

1976

Discovery of important hoard of bronze age implements

 

1982

Second land reclamation scheme started, enclosing a large area to the west of Albert Pier

 

1984

Submarine electricity supply cable laid between France and Jersey