Saint Peter Port

St. Peter Port (French: Saint-Pierre Port) is a town and one of the ten parishes on the island of Guernsey in the Channel Islands. It is the capital of the Bailiwick of Guernsey as well as the main port. The population in 2019 was 18,958.

St. Peter Port Saint-Pierre-Port
Parish
Saint Peter Port, Town Church, Elizabeth College entrance, Castle Pier Lighthouse, Castle Cornet, Victoria Tower, Elizabeth College building, Hauteville House, QE2 Marina
Flag
Location of Saint Peter Port on Guernsey, in the Channel Islands
Coordinates: 49.4555°N 2.5368°W / 49.4555; -2.5368
Crown Dependency	Bailiwick of Guernsey
Government
• Electoral district	Divided into St Peter Port North and St Peter Port South
Area
• Total	6.5 km2 (2.5 sq mi)
Elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2019)
• Total	18,958
• Density	2,900/km2 (7,600/sq mi)
Time zone	GMT
• Summer (DST)	UTC+01
Postal code	GY1
Website	www.stppcons.com

St. Peter Port is a small town (commonly referred to by locals as just "town")^[1] consisting mostly of steep, narrow streets and steps on the overlooking slopes. It is known that a trading post/town existed here before Roman times with a pre-Christian name which has not survived.

The parish covers an area of 6.5 km². The postal code for addresses in the parish starts with GY1.

People from St. Peter Port were nicknamed "les Villais" (the townspeople) or "cllichards" in Guernésiais.

Geography

St. Peter Port is on the east coast of Guernsey overlooking Herm and the tiny Jethou; a further channel separates Sark and surrounding islets such as Brecqhou; Normandy's long Cotentin Peninsula and, to the south-east, Jersey are visible in very clear conditions from some of the town's highest vantage points. The parish borders St. Sampson in the north, The Vale in the north-west, St. Andrew in the west and St. Martin in the south.

The name of the nearest channel is the Little Russel, in which sits the Bréhon Tower; that separating Sark is the Big Russel. Both in width are less than half of Guernsey's greatest length and dotted with coastal rocks and stacks quite near those islands, some of which are narrowly submerged.

Relief

The land in the north and by the harbour is low-lying but not marshy. In the south, the land gets higher (but not as high as St Martin's or the Forest). Grassy, gently terraced cliffs behind sea walls (including projections) topped by trees characterise the southern part of the coast here (by an underground military museum and historic battery at semi-wooded Havelet). In the north is the more built-up Admiral Park development. To the south of the town lies Havelet Bay and the coastal path which leads to the very pretty Fermain Bay after a walk of about 20–25 minutes.

Climate

St. Peter Port has an oceanic climate (Cfb) with mild summers and cool winters.

Climate data for St. Peter Port (2010-2020 normals, extremes 1947–present)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	13.3 (55.9)	15.0 (59.0)	19.4 (66.9)	24.3 (75.7)	25.9 (78.6)	30.8 (87.4)	32.6 (90.7)	34.3 (93.7)	30.6 (87.1)	23.6 (74.5)	18.0 (64.4)	15.6 (60.1)	34.3 (93.7)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	8.7 (47.7)	8.4 (47.1)	10.0 (50.0)	12.6 (54.7)	14.8 (58.6)	17.6 (63.7)	20.0 (68.0)	19.5 (67.1)	18.3 (64.9)	15.4 (59.7)	11.9 (53.4)	10.1 (50.2)	13.9 (57.0)
Daily mean °C (°F)	7.4 (45.3)	6.7 (44.1)	7.9 (46.2)	9.9 (49.8)	12.1 (53.8)	14.7 (58.5)	17.0 (62.6)	16.9 (62.4)	15.8 (60.4)	13.5 (56.3)	10.4 (50.7)	8.7 (47.7)	11.8 (53.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	5.9 (42.6)	5.2 (41.4)	5.8 (42.4)	7.2 (45.0)	9.4 (48.9)	11.9 (53.4)	14.0 (57.2)	14.3 (57.7)	13.3 (55.9)	11.6 (52.9)	8.9 (48.0)	7.4 (45.3)	9.6 (49.3)
Record low °C (°F)	−7.8 (18.0)	−7.2 (19.0)	−2.2 (28.0)	−1.4 (29.5)	0.1 (32.2)	5.4 (41.7)	8.3 (46.9)	9.2 (48.6)	5.8 (42.4)	3.5 (38.3)	−0.8 (30.6)	−3.8 (25.2)	−7.8 (18.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	90.7 (3.57)	73.1 (2.88)	50.5 (1.99)	38.9 (1.53)	43.6 (1.72)	37.8 (1.49)	33.3 (1.31)	53.6 (2.11)	52.3 (2.06)	82.5 (3.25)	97.8 (3.85)	99.5 (3.92)	753.6 (29.67)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm)	20.8	18.1	14.2	10.2	10.8	11.4	10.4	13.9	12.8	17.2	20.7	20.3	180.9
Average snowy days	1.0	1.0	1.0	0.6	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	4.6
Mean monthly sunshine hours	61.0	85.6	127.6	194.7	234.5	246.6	250.7	230.1	180.1	117.1	77.8	58.2	1,864
Percent possible sunshine	22.7	29.1	34.7	47.7	49.6	51.2	51.7	52.0	47.8	35.3	28.7	22.8	41.8
Source 1: Guernsey Met Office 2018 Weather Report[2]
Source 2: Weather-online.co.uk[3]

Subdivisions

Castle Cornet

Saint Peter Port is subdivided into four cantons:^[4]

1. Canton 1 or North Canton
2. Canton 2 or Canton of the North-West
3. Canton 3 or Canton of the South-West
4. Canton 4 or Canton of the South

In addition, the islands of Herm and Jethou belong to the parish,^[5] but are not part of any canton. They belong to Electoral district Saint Peter Port South.^[6]

Sport and leisure

St. Peter Port has an English Isthmian League club, Guernsey F.C. who play at Footes Lane. The Guernsey Rugby Football Club also play at Footes Lane and compete in National League 3 London & SE.

Media

St. Peter Port is covered by the local television news programmes: BBC Channel Islands News and ITV News Channel TV. Guernsey's two main radio stations: BBC Radio Guernsey and Island FM are based in the town. The local newspaper is the Guernsey Press.

Parks and gardens

Candie Gardens

Candie Gardens, an award-winning restored Victorian Garden, features statues of Victor Hugo and Queen Victoria. The Guernsey Museum at Candie and the Priaulx Library are both situated within the grounds of the garden respectively.

Cambridge Park is a recreational park that includes Winston Churchill Avenue, ‘a leafy tree-lined pedestrian avenue’, named after Winston Churchill, and a skate park.^[7] In 2014, the parish was a Gold & Category Winner in the RHS Britain in Bloom competition,^[8] followed in 2016 with another Gold medal.^[9]

Features

The features of the town include: St Peter Port Harbour Town Church, Guernsey, the parish church of St Peter Port at the heart of the town Buildings The Royal Court House (La Cohue Royale), seat of the States of Guernsey Hauteville House, Victor Hugo's house of exile, which is now a museum under the aegis of the city of Paris). National Trust of Guernsey Victorian shop[10] Elizabeth College founded in 1563 by Elizabeth I of England. The main building (built 1826) is a prominent feature of the skyline. Victoria Tower[11] Priaulx Library[12]: 16  Guille-Allès Library[13] St James concert hall Our Lady of the Rosary Church The Market, the Arcade, the High Street, the Pollet, Smith Street, Mill Street and Mansel Street, which are all pedestrian priority and part of the shopping district Cobbled streets and narrow passageways of the old town Guernsey Museum at Candie (Candie Museum)[14] Candie Gardens[15] Marinas for visiting and local boats Military: Castle Cornet, the historic fortress that guarded the strategic entrance to the port. The castle was formerly a tidal island, but since 1859 a breakwater has connected it to the enlarged harbour. German Naval Signals HQ, HQ of the German Naval Commander Channel Islands which was established next to La Collinette Hotel, and was responsible for all radio traffic to and from Germany and the other Islands. The last operational Signals HQ that was running up until 9 May 1945, using the Enigma code machines that were being decoded by the staff at Bletchley Park.[16][17] Island war memorial at the top of Smith Street[18] Parish war memorial at the bottom of Smith Street[19] St Stephens war memorial in St Stephens church[20] Liberation monument Anglo-Boer War memorial, in the Avenue[21] Fort George[22]: 126  Cemetery at Fort George Commonwealth War Graves at Le Foulon cemetery Clarence Battery dating from the Napoleonic Wars La Vallette military museum[22]: 126  German fortifications, built during the occupation 1940–45[12]: 40  Two 13.5 cm K 09 German World War I Canon near Victoria Tower The Guernsey Aquarium, situated in fortified tunnels at La Vallette, built during the German occupation. Scheduled to close down permanently next month (October 2019) due to lack of income and funds. As of December 2021, it is now closed. [22]: 126 [23] Bathing places at La Vallette A number of protected buildings[24] Castle Carey was built in 1840 for John Carey. It is a Gothic revival property, attributed to the architect John Wilson, who designed Elizabeth College and St James Concert Hall. It was briefly the residence of the Lieutenant Governor of the Bailiwick of Guernsey and hosted Queen Victoria and Prince Albert during their visit to Guernsey in 1859, and the Duke of Cambridge in 1862. Victor Hugo’s novel Les Travailleurs de la Mer, published in 1866 and dedicated to Guernsey, where he spent 15 years in exile, mentions Castle Carey. The castle stayed in the Carey family until William Wilfred Carey sold it in 1912.[25] During the Second World War, the Germans occupying Guernsey used Castle Carey as an officers’ club.

The parish of Saint Peter Port hosts: Government House (office of the Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey St Peter Port Douzaine Guernsey Information Centre Fire Station States of Guernsey Police Service[12]: 34  Guernsey Ambulance and Rescue Service Saint Peter Port Lifeboat Station Guernsey Border Agency Guernsey Post Footes Lane Ladies' College Vauvert Primary School Many shops Number of banks Large number of offices The International Stock Exchange Condor Ferries, a car ferry company which operates to Jersey, France and the UK, has its head office in Saint Peter Port. Countryside walks[22]: 125  Val des Terres Hill Climb St Peter Port Harbour Carnival[26] Town Carnival[27] The Town Church Liberation Monument

Main roads

The following main roads (listed from north-south) provide important links between St Peter Port and the other parishes:

• Les Banques (leads up the coast to St Sampson's and the north of the island)
• Rohais (leads to the parish of Castel)
• Mount Row (leads to St Andrew's and the west of the island)
• Ruette Brayes (leads to St Martin's and the south of the island)
• Fort Road (leads to St Martin's)

The following coastal roads (listed from north to south) are also very important as they provide access to the shops, carparks and the harbour:

• St George's Esplanade
• North Esplanade
• South Esplanade

Politics

Saint Peter Port comprises two administrative division, St Peter Port South and St Peter Port North.

In the 2016 Guernsey general election in:

• St Peter Port South there was a 2,068 or 63% turnout to elect five Deputies
• St Peter Port North there was a 2,639 or 65% turnout to elect six Deputies.

Notable people

See also: List of people from Guernsey

• Margaret Ann Neve – Supercentenarian and the oldest woman in the world until her death in 1903
• Sir Isaac Brock – Major General, "Hero of Upper Canada", War of 1812
• Matt Le Tissier, footballer
• Linda Martel, (1956-1961) healer
• Alison Merrien MBE, World indoors bowls champion
• George Métivier, poet
• Heather Watson, tennis player, Team GB athlete and Wimbledon Champion
• Victor Hugo, French writer, In exile in St-Peter Port from 1855 to 1870.
• Cameron Chalmers, athlete

Numismatic History

See also: Guernsey pound

Guernsey bank notes feature a number of parish buildings:

One pound, the Market and the Royal Court One pound commemorative, the Market and Fountain Street Five pound, the Town Church

Ten pound, Elizabeth College Twenty pound, St James concert hall Fifty pound, Royal Court house

See also

• Maritime history of the Channel Islands

References

1. "St Peter Port Guernsey | Guernsey's Capital". www.visitguernsey.com. Retrieved 2021-08-30.
2. "2014 Weather Report" (PDF). Guernsey Met Office. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 November 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
3. "Normals 2010-2020". Weather-online. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
4. "St. Peter Port Parish, Canton Boundaries". Stppcons.com. 2007-11-14. Archived from the original on 2011-10-06. Retrieved 2012-10-04.
5. "Bailiwick of Guernsey". Crwflags.com. Retrieved 2012-10-04.
6. "Guernsey Election of States Deputies, 2008". Islandlife.org. 2008-04-23. Retrieved 2012-10-04.
7. "Cambridge Park | Visit Guernsey".
8. "RHS Britain in Bloom 2014 UK Finals Judges' Reports". Britain in Bloom.
9. "RHS Britain in Bloom 2016 UK Finals Full Results". RHS Britain in Bloom. Archived from the original on 2016-10-18. Retrieved 2016-10-17.
10. "Places to visit". National Trust of Guernsey.
11. "Victoria Tower". Guernsey Museums. 15 October 2012.
12. "Townie No 1" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
13. "Guilles Alles Library". Archived from the original on 2015-12-07.
14. "Candie Museum". Guernsey Museums. 12 July 2012.
15. "Candie Gardens". Guernsey Museums. 19 July 2012.
16. "German Naval Signals HQ".
17. "German Naval Signals HQ - Guernsey Museums". Archived from the original on 2018-08-22.
18. "Bailiwick of Guernsey War Memorial". Great War CI.
19. "St Peter Port Parish War Shrine, Guernsey". Great War CI.
20. "St. Stephen's Parish Memorial, Guernsey". Great War CI.
21. "South African War Memorial". Guernsey Museums. 8 August 2012.
22. Dillon, Paddy (1999). Channel Island Walks. Cicerone Press Limited, 1999. ISBN 9781852842888.
23. "The Aquarium in Guernsey set to close". BBC News. 25 September 2019.
24. "PROTECTED BUILDINGS". Environment - Guernsey government.
25. Careyroots http://www.careyroots.com/castle.html Archived 2015-08-10 at the Wayback Machine
26. "Harbour Carvival". Guernsey Round Table.
27. "Town Carnival". Town Centre Partnership.

External links

• The St. Peter Port Parish Constables Website
• The Town Church Website