Ferries to Jersey
Jersey The Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown dependency off the coast of Normandy. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes several nearly uninhabited islands and other rocks and reefs. Together with the bailiwick of Guernsey it forms the Channel Islands. The defence of all these islands is the responsibility of the United Kingdom. However, Jersey is not a part of the UK or the European Union, but is a separate possession of the Crown, comparable to the Isle of Man. The Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Duchy of Normandy that held sway in both France and England. Jersey lies in the Bay of Mont St Michel and is the largest of the Channel Islands. It has enjoyed self-government since the division of the Duchy of Normandy in 1204. History Jersey like the other Channel Islands, is steeped in history and discoveries in the 20th century have shown evidence of mankind dating back to 4000 BC. The Romans occupied Jersey (named Caesarea) from around 56 AD. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, a few centuries of Christianised peace was shattered by the arrival of Vikings. A Viking longhouse was found in St Helier, and in 933 the islands were added to the Duchy, and after 1066 became subject to the English Crown. Being so close to France, Jersey was invaded several times by the French over the ensuing centuries with possession of the island switching back and forth between the English and French six times. In the 1800′s, wealthy French residents fleeing the revolution settled in the Channel Islands, and many of the town houses in Jersey were built during that period. During the Second World War the islands were occupied by German forces and huge numbers of defensive positions were built as part of Hitler’s Atlantic Wall. The islands were liberated in May 1945, and every year the islanders celebrate their freedom on 9th May. What to See and Do in Jersey
