Guernsey pictorial directory and stranger's guide : $b embellished with numerous wood-cutsBellamy, Thomas, of Guernsey
History
Guernsey pictorial directory and stranger's guide : $b embellished with numerous wood-cuts
Bellamy, Thomas, of Guernsey
Guernsey (Channel Islands) -- Guidebooks
_Roads_--Are reckoned equal to any on the Continent, and are entirely
exempt from turnpike tolls. It is only within the last half century good
roads have been established, for which the public are indebted to the
exertions and ingenuity of the late Sir John Doyle, while Governor of the
island, notwithstanding he met with the most ignorant opposition from the
country people or farmers, whose real interest it chiefly served; and which
they now acknowledge to be the veins of the island, whereby they circulate
the wealth and produce of their soil. In this excellent undertaking, which
was the era of civilization in Guernsey, Government lent a hand, by
allowing the money derived from the sale of the Braye du Valle to be
applied for the same. At present, the roads are kept in repair by a rate on
land proprietors bordering the main roads, and by grants of money from the
States. The lanes that here and there intersect the island, may be said to
be the old roads, and furnish the green-lane botanist with delightful,
cooling, and shady walks throughout the heat of summer.
_Ruins_--Are not numerous, the chief being the old chapel of St Apoline,
and the priory in the island of Lihou. The former is in the parish of St
Saviour, amid a solitary and woody district, which has all the appearance
of monastic seclusion. It is about seven and twenty feet long, by thirteen
across, having a narrow square headed opening at the East end, and a rude
segmental doorway, and a narrow window divided into two parts on the South
side. The whole is covered with a ponderous vaulted roof of stones, and is
the most ancient ruin in the island, being supposed to be built about the
year 900. The sides of the walls and roof appear to have been once adorned
with fresco paintings, as several figures of saints and the Virgin Mary are
still discernible on the South ceiling. The silver-gilt chalice, belonging
to this chapel, is one of the few relics of Romish times which the island
possesses, and it is now in the custody of the present Baillif, John
Guille, Esq., of St George. Round the bowl are the words "Sancte Paule ora
pro nobis." From this it is supposed the chapel was originally called St
Paul's, which by the attrition of time has worn itself into Apoline.
The priory on the little isle of Lihou, belonging to Mr James Priaulx,
consists of little more than a few broken walls. Sufficient however remains
to enable one to determine its different compartments, of which the chapel
forms the principal portion.[A]
[A] During the last war, the Lieutenant-Governor supposing this chapel
might be turned into some use by the enemy, issued orders for its
complete demolition, which was effected by a barrel of gunpowder.
Lately a pavement of small green and red glazed Norman tiles have
been discovered, as also some silver monastic medals, and silver
pennies of Edward I.
[Illustration: St Sampson's Church.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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