Vale, Guernsey

Vale
Parish

Location of Vale in Guernsey
Crown Dependency Guernsey, Channel Islands
Government
 • Electoral district Vale
Area
 • Total 8.8 km2 (3.4 sq mi)
Population (2001)
 • Total 9,573
 • Density 1,100/km2 (2,800/sq mi)
Time zone GMT
 • Summer (DST) UTC+01 (UTC)

Vale (Guernésiais: Lé Vale; French: Le Valle) is one of the ten parishes of Guernsey.

In 933 the islands, formerly under the control of William I, then Duchy of Brittany were annexed by the Duchy of Normandy. The island of Guernsey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Duchy of Normandy.[1]

Much of the Vale parish belonging to the fief Saint Michael, which benefited the Benedictine monks who lived in an abbey that had been built next to the Vale Church from when it was granted in 1032 by Robert of Normandy who had apparently been caught in a storm and his ship had ended up safe in Guernsey. The rights to the fief were removed by Henry VIII when he undertook the Dissolution of the Monasteries.[2]:128–9

Vale Castle

The Castle of Saint Michael, now called Vale Castle, has an origin going back at least 1,000 years and was used as a refuge against pirate attacks. In 1117 there was a large ceremony to celebrate the finalisation of major works.[2]:130–1 In 1372 Owain Lawgoch a claimant to the Welsh throne, at the head of a free company, on behalf of France, attacked Guernsey, popularly called “La Descente des Aragousais”. Owain Lawgoch withdrew after killing 400 of the Island militia,[3] The poem of the same name refers to the castle as the Château de l'Archange, the location of the last ditch stand against the insurgents.[4]:34

In 1615 it was the requirement of the island to maintain the Vale castle, as against the Crown which maintained Castle Cornet.[4]:31 It has been a focal point for defence, the latest modifications being undertaken by workers on behalf of the German occupiers.

Modern era

Until 1806 the parish occupied territory on the mainland of Guernsey, the Vingtaine de l'Epine, as well as the whole of Le Clos du Valle, a tidal island forming the northern extremity of Guernsey separated from the mainland by Le Braye du Valle, a tidal channel. Le Braye was drained and reclaimed in 1806 by the British Government as a defence measure. Vale now consists of two non-contiguous territories.

The Vale postal code mainly starts with GY3 with some starting GY8.

Features

The features of the parish include:

  • Vale Parish Church, St Michel du Valle [5]:169
  • L'Ancresse Common [6]
  • Bordeaux Harbour
  • The Vale Mill (the parishes most prominent landmark) [5]:172
  • Northern half of Saint Sampson's Town
  • Northern half of Saint Sampson's Harbour [7]
  • Vale Pond, nature reserve [8]
  • Beaucette marina
  • Military:
  • Archaeology:
    • Le Dolmen de Déhus, which incorporates a megalithic art carving known as Le Gardien [5]:169[12]
    • La Varde passage grave, the largest dolmen on the island
    • Les Fouaillages, L'Ancresse Common
    • La Platte Mare, cist in circle
    • La Mare es Mauves, cist in circle [13]
    • Martelo 7, cist in circle
  • Beaches
    • Pembroke [14]
    • L'Ancresse [14]
    • Ladies Bay
    • Bordeaux Harbour [15]
  • A number of protected buildings [16]

The parish of the Vale hosts:

  • Guernsey Electricity Power Station
  • Fort le Marchant shooting range
  • numerous industrial premises
  • Maison Maritaine
  • Vale Douzaine Room
  • Vale Primary School
  • 18 hole golf course on L'Ancresse Common
  • Annual music festival 'Vale Earth Fair' at the Vale Castle
  • numerous quarries
  • many old and some still in use, vineries. (greenhouses)
  • Countryside walks [5]:166
  • A weekly 5km Parkrun event
L'Ancresse Loophole Tower no. 6
Le Gardien of Le Dolmen de Déhus

Other

The parish was twinned with the Normandy port of France Barneville-Carteret in 1987.

Politics

Vale comprises the whole of the Vale administrative division

In the Guernsey general election, 2012 there was a 3,510 or 71% turnout to elect seven Deputies.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Marr, J., The History of Guernsey – the Bailiwick's story, Guernsey Press (2001).
  2. 1 2 Berry, William. The history of Guernsey from the remotest period of antiquity to the year 1814.
  3. ↑ The Guernsey and Jersey Magazine, Volumes 1-2. 1836. p. 169.
  4. 1 2 Marr, James. Bailiwick Bastions. Guernsey Press. ISBN 0 902550 11 X.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Dillon, Paddy. Channel Island Walks. Cicerone Press Limited, 1999. ISBN 9781852842888.
  6. ↑ "L’Ancresse Common". Environment Dept, Guernsey.
  7. ↑ "Doomsday Reloaded D-block CI-534000-5479000". BBC.
  8. ↑ "Vale Pond". La Société Guernesiaise.
  9. ↑ "Vale Parish Memorial, Guernsey". Great War CI.
  10. ↑ "History of the Vale Castle". BBC.
  11. ↑ "Rousse Tower". BBC.
  12. ↑ "Dehus Dolmen – Guernsey’s Most Impressive Passage Grave". megalithicguernsey.
  13. ↑ "La Platte Mare". megalithicguernsey.
  14. 1 2 "L'Ancresse/Pembroke Bays". Visit Guernsey.
  15. ↑ "Bordeaux Harbour". Visit Guernsey.
  16. ↑ "PROTECTED BUILDINGS". Environment - Guernsey government.

Coordinates: 49°29′34″N 2°31′22″W / 49.49278°N 2.52278°W / 49.49278; -2.52278

Vale is the north of Guernsey and has the maximum height of 30m

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