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55-584: Grouville is one of the twelve parishes of Jersey in the Channel Islands . The parish is around 3.9 kilometres (2.4 mi) east of St Helier. The parish covers a surface area of 4,354 vergées (7.8 km²). The parish includes the south-east portion of the main island of the Bailiwick of Jersey , as well as the Minquiers islets several miles to the south, and is dominated by the broad sweep of

110-526: A Norman style chosen by the abbey or priory to which each church had been granted. St Mary and St Martin being given to Cerisy Abbey. In 1496, Henry VII bribed the Pope to allow Jersey to be moved from the diocese of Coutances to Westminster. The Reformation arrived in Jersey from France, making Calvinism rather than Anglicanism as the major form of Protestantism in Jersey. Due to Jersey's self-governance and

165-579: A day, as they share a patron saint). In order to maintain the historic ties to the Church of England there is a Rectorate comprising the Connétable and Procureurs, and the Rector and Churchwardens. Oversees the operation of the largest church within the parochial boundary. Each parish is headed by a Connétable ( English : Constable; Jèrriais : Connêtabl'ye ) who is elected for a four-year period by

220-539: A few of the main heads remain above water. The largest of these is Maîtresse, which is about 50 m (55 yd) long and 20 m (22 yd) wide and has about ten stone cottages in various states of repair. These are the most southerly buildings in the British Isles ; but they have no permanent inhabitants; though fishermen, vraic (seaweed used for fertilizer) collectors, yachtsmen, kayakers, and even radio amateurs make summer landfall. The etymology of

275-544: A member of the Honorary Police if, on the day of nomination, they are at least 20 years of age and less than 70 years of age. Honorary Police officers are on duty for one week at a time, usually every 3 or 4 weeks depending upon the roster within the Parish, and are on call 24 hours a day during that period. Honorary Police officers are elected to serve the Parish but in certain circumstances may assist or operate outside

330-775: A museum run by the Jersey Heritage Trust . A prehistoric artificial mound covers a passage grave aligned for the equinox . A mediaeval chapel , Notre Dame de la Clarté, built on the Neolithic mound was converted in the 18th century to a folly -like Gothic Revival residence, the Prince's Tower (demolished in the 1920s). During the German occupation of the Channel Islands in the Second World War ,

385-469: A popular holiday destination, and features a number of hotels. These include the Beausite Hotel, which is a later 20th century structure but incorporates a small structure dating back to 1636 which now serves as the hotel's bar. The Royal Jersey Golf Club is located on Grouville Common. It was founded in 1878 and granted its royal charter by Queen Victoria . The Pembroke Hotel, near the 16th tee,

440-456: A reorganisation of the Diocese of Coutances in the twelfth century by Archbishop Geoffrey de Montbrai , following Viking raids of the islands. The new boundaries paid little heed to the fiefs or to geographical factors (hence why Gorey and St. Aubin are not parish centres, despite being populated). By Norman times, the parish boundaries were firmly fixed and remain largely unchanged since. It

495-463: A saint, but the parish is still named for its church. Such uniform naming would be fairly unusual for parishes in England . In Jèrriais, the parishes have named groupings: the northern parishes are called les pâraisses d'amout (uphill parishes) and the southern and western parishes are called les pâraisses d'ava (sloped parishes). The origins of the Jersey parishes is unknown, however it

550-467: Is Carolyn Labey. Under the proposed electoral reform, it will form part of the North East electoral district consisting of St. Martin and Grouville, which will collectively elect three representatives (the least of any constituency) alongside the parishes' Connétables . Grouville is divided for administrative purposes into vingtaines as follows: The main part of the parish is in the south-east of

605-638: Is also the main oyster producing area of Jersey, and was also formerly noted for the production of vraic ( seaweed fertiliser ). The cottage industry formerly practised by Grouvillais of burning vraic gave rise to the traditional nickname of les Enfuntchis (the smoky ones, or the dim ones, in Jèrriais ) shared by the Grouvillais and their neighbours in St. Clement . Inland, the parish is also home to Jersey's most noted archaeological site at La Hougue Bie , now

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660-471: Is an old spelling for Gorey, containing St Martin, St Saviour, Grouville and St Clement; Groceio could derive from de Gruchy, and contains St John, Trinity, St Lawrence and St Helier; and Crapoudoit, likely referring to the stream of St Peter's Valley, contains the remainder of the parishes in the West. This was a time of building or extending churches with most parish churches in the island being built/rebuilt in

715-413: Is certain that they are ancient institutions. It has been suggested that the five central parishes (St Saviour, St John, St Mary, St Peter and St Lawrence) date to around 475 AD. The parish system is much more important in Jersey than in England or post-Napoleon France. The uniformity of the parishes in size ensured their dominance over the feudal boundaries. The uniformity may in fact be designed out of

770-401: Is empowered to enter into contracts on behalf of the parish if so authorised by a Parish Assembly. Centeniers ( Jèrriais : Chent'nyi ) are the highest ranking police officers in Jersey and are elected at a public election within each parish for a term of three years to undertake policing within the parish. The centenier is the only officer authorised to charge and bail offenders. Formerly,

825-417: Is located in the north of the parish, very partly shared with St Saviour. In 1987, it was described as "left unspoiled, with just one very minor road traversing it". There were once three water mills along its length, recorded as early 1274. Both Victor Hugo and George Eliot have written about the valley. In 1976, the Jersey water company proposed to flood the valley to increase water storage capacity. This

880-562: Is the highway authority for parish roads in each parish. In accordance with the Loi (1914) sur la Voirie it superintends the repair and maintenance of by-roads in the parish, establishes boundary stones, issues Choses Publiques licenses, examines planning applications that fall within its responsibilities, supervises refuse collection, adjudicates fines during the Visite du Branchage , and proposes new road names, as may be necessary, for approval by

935-648: Is the decision-making body of local government, comprising ratepayers (including mandataires ) and electors of the parish . The Parish Assembly: The religious heads of the parishes are the Rectors . The responsibilities of the Rector have changed over time, but they have at times: represented the Church and their parish in the States and presided over parish assemblies on religious matters. They were originally appointed by religious heads in mainland Normandy. However, since

990-611: The principaux and the parvuli. The principaux were the wealthier parishioners and were eligible to rule the parishes. The criteria to be considered a principal differed by parish and was determined by the amount of rate paid on property. According to the Rolls of the Norman Exchequer, in 1180 Jersey was divided for administrative purposes into three ministeria: de Gorroic , de Groceio and de Crapoudoit (possibly containing four parishes each). Gorroic

1045-659: The Honorary Police . Supplementary bodies are also elected to serve specific needs; in the largest parish St Helier these include; the Accounts Committee , the Welfare Board , and the Youth Council . Matters of import are brought before a gathering of the municipality and members of the public for consideration and vote. A Parish Assembly ( Jèrriais : Assembliée dé Pâraisse ) in Jersey

1100-599: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) for friendly discussions to decide to which country the Minquiers and Ecrehos belonged. The French fished in the waters, but Jersey exercised various administrative rights. The ICJ considered the historical evidence, and in its judgment of 17 November 1953 awarded the islands to Jersey (as represented by the United Kingdom). In 1998, some French 'invaded'

1155-684: The Ramsar convention . In 933 AD, the Duchy of Normandy annexed the islets, along with the other Channel Islands and the Cotentin Peninsula . After William, Duke of Normandy conquered England in 1066, the islands remained united to the Duchy until Philip Augustus conquered mainland Normandy in 1204. In 1259 Henry III did homage to the French king for the Channel Islands. Edward III , in

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1210-703: The Roads Committee are carried out. Their chief role is the annual Visite du Branchage and the triennial Visite Royale . In the Parish of St Helier , the Roads Inspectors also undertake additional non-statutory responsibilities with regard to the policing of infractions of the Road Traffic Act (Jersey) and other areas of the law within the parochial remit such as dog licensing and fly posting. They also serve as conduits of information to

1265-529: The Royal Court . There is an Honorary Police ( French : Police honorifique ) force in each parish in Jersey. Honorary Police officers have, for centuries, been elected by parishioners to assist the Connétable of the Parish to maintain law and order. Officers are elected as Centeniers, Vingteniers or Constable's Officers each with various duties and responsibilities. The Honorary Police provided

1320-539: The Second World War . A French fishing boat, skippered by Lucian Marie, approached the island of Minquiers and anchored nearby. A fully armed German soldier approached and asked for help saying "We've been forgotten by the British, perhaps no one on Jersey told them we were here, I want you to take us over to England, we want to surrender". This was on 23 May 1945, three weeks after the war in Europe ended . In July 1970,

1375-402: The 1360 Treaty of Brétigny , waived his claims to the crown of France and to Normandy, but reserved various other territories to England, including the Channel Islands. By 1911, the 1911 Britannica recorded that Maîtresse Île "affords a landing and shelter for fishermen." During World War Two , a small company of Wehrmacht soldiers on the Minquiers were among the last to surrender in

1430-598: The German forces and imported labourers constructed bunkers in and alongside the ancient mound, now also transformed for museum interpretation. La Rocque was the site of the landing of the French forces on 6 January 1781. The skirmish at La Platte Rocque was ancillary to the Battle of Jersey . The parish is a first-level administrative division of the Bailiwick of Jersey, a British Crown dependency . The highest official in

1485-569: The Minquiers on behalf of the 'King of Patagonia ' in 'retaliation' for the British occupation of the Falkland Islands . The Union Jack was restored the next day. The Minquiers are mentioned at length by Victor Hugo in his novel Toilers of the Sea . He mentions how treacherous they are, and says that their combined area is bigger than mainland Jersey itself. Hugo lived in both Guernsey and Jersey at various points in his life, and so

1540-619: The Parish Assembly. The Connétable presides over the Roads Committee, which also includes the Rector and three Principals of the Parish [five Principals for St Helier] elected for a term of three years by the Parish Assembly. Instructions are passed to Roads Inspectors whose duty it is to ensure that the repairs are carried out. In St Helier, the larger Roads Committee also undertakes additional non-statutory responsibilities with regard to parks and other matters, and acts, in

1595-517: The Parish. Anyone standing for election as a member of the Honorary Police will have to undergo a criminal record check. The Parish Assembly elects two Roads Inspectors for each Vingtaine [or Cueillette in St Ouen] for a three-year term of office in accordance with the Loi (1914) sur la Voirie. Roads Inspectors are responsible for the repair of by-roads of the Parish and have to ensure the instructions of

1650-472: The Royal Bay of Grouville. It borders St. Clement , St. Saviour and St. Martin . The parish of Grouville shares, with the neighbouring parish of St. Martin, a dedication to St. Martin of Tours . The ecclesiastical parish and parish church are dedicated to "St. Martin de Grouville" to distinguish them from the parish of St. Martin (historically ' St. Martin le Vieux '). The Church of St Peter la Rocque

1705-507: The absence of a municipal council, as an advisory body to the Connétable . By convention, the two Procureurs du Bien Public of St Helier attend meetings of the Roads Committee, but cannot vote. The Parish is further divided into Vingtaines ( Jèrriais : Vîngt'nyi ) (or, in St Ouen , Cueillettes). Each vingtaine is represented by two Vingteniers , two Roads Inspectors and three Constable's Officers . All are elected and sworn officers of

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1760-488: The alienation of the islands from the continental church, the responsibility has laid with the Crown. Though, generally the Rector had to be local and have a degree. The Rector is supported by two Surveillants (Churchwardens). There are a number of nicknames for residents of the various parishes: Minquiers The rock shelf around the Minquiers has a larger surface area than Jersey itself, but at high tide only

1815-517: The civil and religious administrative districts of Jersey in the Channel Islands . There are twelve in total; all have access to the sea and share a name with their ancient parish churches. The parishes and the roles within their structures are ancient; some of the parishes perhaps date to the fifth century AD. They are governed by principles and customs that form part of the Norman customary law from which Jersey law originates. As such, many of

1870-500: The coastal part to the east of La Grande Route des Sablons along the coast, with the 'village centre' of the parish located at Ville-ès-Renauds, which has a number of shops and the parish school. Further inland, the parish rises up to the Mont de Grouville. The parish church and hall are located further inland at the foot of the hill along the main road to St. Helier. The parish also includes the more residential 'village' part of Gorey , with

1925-422: The distinctive parish structure in Jersey, the Crown allowed Calvinism to establish itself in Jersey until 1620. This form of Christianity privileged the position of the parish generally, which maintained and boosted the role of the parish within the country's cultural mindset and political structure. In the 19th century, the Church of England experienced a reduction in its role in civil affairs, including within

1980-431: The former French Prime Minister Félix Gaillard , who served in that office from 1957 until 1958, disappeared during a yachting journey; his body was found in the sea off Les Minquiers some days after his disappearance. In August 2018, one of the twenty buildings on the islands was sold to private individuals using a Jersey company. Only five sales have been recorded in 50 years. In 1950, Britain and France went to

2035-576: The island of Jersey, part of the Channel Islands archipelago. It borders St. Clement , St. Saviour and St. Martin . The parish hall is located around 3.9 kilometres (2.4 mi) east of the Royal Square in St Helier. The parish is dominated by the sweeping Royal Bay of Grouville (part of which is often called Gorey Bay), stretching from Mont Orgeuil Castle in St. Martin, which dominates the skyline to

2090-571: The matter, the States agreed to flood the valley in the face of possible water shortages, were new capacity not provided. The reservoir opened in November 1991 and has a capacity of 1,193 megalitres (enough to supply the whole island for 48 days). It is two reservoirs and there is a 1.9 miles (3.1 km) public footpath encircling both reservoirs, with natural flora and fauna. Grouville is twinned with: Parishes of Jersey The parishes of Jersey ( Jerriais : Les pâraisses dé Jèrri ) are

2145-522: The more touristic 'pier' part in St. Martin. The parish is makes up the majority of the catchment area for its namesake primary school, however which also takes students from a small part of St. Martin. Grouville Primary School is a feeder school for Le Rocquier . The parish features a large golf course, known as the Royal Jersey Golf Course, however lacks any other significant sporting facilities. In modern times, Grouville has been

2200-588: The name is disputed, and could either come from the Breton language minihi meaning a sanctuary, or from minkier meaning a seller of fish. Thousands of years ago, around the time of the last glacial period , when sea level was lower, the Channel Islands were high ground on the plain connecting the European Continent and southern England. The most significant islands in the group are: Others include: The Minquiers are designated protected under

2255-420: The north, out to the sea in the south at La Rocque. It is the third smallest parish, only measuring 8 square kilometres (4560 vergées). The Minquiers are also part of the parish of Grouville. The parish is quite urbanised, with 22% of the parish built-up, but is also quite an agricultural parish. Its mix of land uses can be compared closely to that of St. Lawrence . The parish population is mostly located along

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2310-460: The only law enforcement prior to the appointment of paid police officers for the Parish of St Helier in 1853 and later to serve the whole Island. The Honorary Police still provide an essential and very valuable service to the parish and community. These officers are elected for a period of three years and take an oath in the Royal Court. All Honorary Police officers must live in the Parish at

2365-470: The parish (elected at a public election since 2003 in accordance with the Public Elections (Amendment) (Jersey) Law 2003 ; formerly an Assembly of Electors of each parish elected the procureurs in accordance with the Loi (1804) au sujet des assemblées paroissiales ). A Procureur du Bien Public is elected for a mandate of three years as a public trustee for the funds and property of the parish and

2420-535: The parish is the Connétable of Grouville. The incumbent office holder is John Le Maistre, who has held the office since 2013. The parish administration is headquartered at the Parish Hall next to the parish church. At present, the parish forms one electoral district for States Assembly elections and elects one Deputy, as well as eight Senators in an islandwide constituency. The current Deputy for Grouville

2475-491: The parish roles and structures have often been ill-defined. The main role of the modern parish is similar to local government structures in other countries, with the parishes having powers over waste collection, law enforcement and roads maintenance. These responsibilities are mostly shared with the States . Eleven of the twelve parishes are named for the saint of their parish church. The remaining parish's church does not have

2530-436: The parishes rarely share the same boundaries as the ancient fiefs of Jersey. The parishes do not all have nucleated settlements around villages. Each parish has a visual identity in the form of a parish crest, which are present on some street signs. These were created for the visit of George V in 1921. Each parish also has a day, normally the feast day of the parish patron saint (for this reason Grouville and St Martin share

2585-423: The parishes. The codification of the island's laws and subsequent reforms, brought on by the popularity of Nonconformism and the acceptance of religious pluralism , re-distributed the balance of power between the civil and religious parts of the parishes. Nevertheless, the offices of the parish were still closely related to the Church, so Nonconformists were generally excluded from parish roles. The boundaries of

2640-432: The recording of contracts, court decisions and legislation by the parishes. In 1545, the States set up a system of districts based on parish boundaries for defensive purposes. This started the relationship between the parish and the military. Archery ranges, parade grounds and arsenals known as Les Buttes were set up in various parish centres. In the thirteenth century, parishioners had become split into two categories:

2695-531: The residents of the parish. In 2018, eleven of the twelve Connétables were re-elected unopposed. Connétables have the right ex officio to be members of the States Assembly . The Connétables of all 12 parishes meet at the Comité des Connétables to discuss matters that affect all parishes, such as rates. The Procureur du Bien Public (two in each parish) is the legal and financial representative of

2750-532: The senior centenier of each parish (known as the Chef de Police) was the Constable's deputy in the States of Jersey when the Constable was unable to attend a sitting of the States — this function has been abolished. A Roads Committee of five elected principals is also available to offer advice on a range of issues; chiefly related to the roads. In Jersey, the Roads Committee (French: Comité des Chemins )

2805-472: The time of their first election or, in the case of St Helier, be a ratepayer or mandataire of that Parish. If an officer moves out of the Parish during her/his term of office, they may continue their term of office with the approval of the Attorney General and the Connétable of the Parish and may stand for re-election provided there is no break in service. A person may be nominated for election as

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2860-671: Was a former clubhouse, once called the 'Golf Inn'. During the Occupation, the course was turned into a mine field. There are two German gun emplacements along the opening hole. The club's most famous player is Harry Vardon ; he won the Open Championship a record six times. Within the Royal Bay, there are a number of Martello towers , built during the Napoleonic Wars , including the offshore Seymour and Icho towers. Queen's Valley ( French : La Vallée des Moulins )

2915-476: Was built in the 19th century. The name 'Grouville' may derive from: the name Groult or Gueroult is often found today in Normandy and is believed to derive from the ancient probably Norman name Gueroalt (Geirroalt) The Royal Bay of Grouville gained its royal epithet when it impressed Queen Victoria during her visit in 1846. The bay is popular with tourists for its broad sandy beach and shallow, warm water. It

2970-466: Was likely set in place due to the tithe system under Charlemagne , where each property must contribute to the church, so each property would have had to be established within a parish. Although in France the role of the parishes remained strictly ecclesiastical, in Jersey the parishes adopted a role in secular administration as well. For example, there is the ancient practice of l'ouie de paroisse -

3025-402: Was met with protests; three campaign groups - Concern, Friends of Queen's Valley and Save our Valley - were supported by thousands of islanders opposing the flooding, with alternative suggestions such as capping the population at 80,000, installing water meters and desalination. TV presenter David Bellamy led a protest walk attended by 2,000 islanders. However in 1986, in the tenth States debate on

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