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ALDERNEY HERITAGE
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| Heritage |
Alderney, third largest of the Channel Islands, is roughly 3.5 miles long by 1.5 at its widest, is about 2,000 acres in extent, and is situated in the mouth of the Channel, 9 miles due West of Cap de la Hague in Normandy. It has high cliffs to the S and W, in the eastern part of which the older harder rocks are overlaid with sandstone, (the only Channel Island to contain this rock), with the main plateau area, about 80m high, containing most of the agricultural land and sloping steeply down to the N and E.
Until the mid 18th century, when the first harbour at Braye was built, in historic times almost the entire population lived in the town area, developed from the original ‘nucleated village’ settlement in a hollow around the Bourgage and the church. There were only the water mill at Platte Saline and few buildings, except for defensive positions, outside this area. The farm buildings were mostly attached to the houses, many of which were built back into the slope of the ground behind them. text by Brian Bonnard
The island’s proximity to France means that species found on mainland Europe but not in Britain, are sometimes seen here. Among Alderney’s more unusual residents are black rabbits and about 1,000 extremely rare blonde – yes blonde – hedgehogs, also known as “Alderney Spike Girls”. The origin of the blonde hedgehogs which carry no fleas, remains a mystery, although some claim the first species arrived, on the island in the 1960’s, in a Harrods shopping bag. Not albinos, these hedgehogs have a rare recessive gene giving rise to beady, button-black eyes and attractive creamy-coloured spines and Alderney is the only Channel Island known to host them. What’s more, they don’t carry fleas.
The island is also on the migratory route of many birds, and the island has some very unusual guests.
The Alderney Society Museum
High Street Tel +44(0)1481 823222
The museum was started in 1966 and at the start of the UK registration of museums it gained fully registered status at the first attempt. It is also a member of the Association of Independent Museums. In the UK Museums, Libraries and Archives Commission’s regional councils, the Alderney Society Museum is one of the Channel Island museums associated with the South West Museums, Libraries and Archives Council.
The museum’s collections are concerned exclusively with Alderney, and cover geology, archaeology, the natural environment and social history, including the British garrisons of the 18th to 20th centuries and the German military occupation of 1940 to 1945.
Of particular interest are exhibits relating to Iron Age burial urns and rotary quern making, the building of Braye Harbour and associated defensive forts and gun batteries by the British government, and the discovery of the remains of a wreck of the Elizabethan period.
The museum is open in the morning daily and on weekday afternoons between Easter and the end of October and also has a wide selection of books and guides for sale.
PTGH wish to thank Alderney Tourism for their help in providing the above information. 22/11/05
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