Tuesday 23 March 2010

ABC Wednesday, J for JERSEY, JOHN Nettles



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Jersey, its flag.


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Mont Orgueil was built in the 13th century to protect JERSEY from French invasion.

Click to enlarge.

The island of JERSEY and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Duchy of Normandy that held sway in both France and England. JERSEY lies in the Bay of Mont St Michel and is the largest of the Channel Islands. It has enjoyed self-government since the division of the Duchy of Normandy in 1204.
I have never been on JERSEY, but I always watched the TV series Bergerac, which was a British television show set on JERSEY. JOHN Nettles (who later starred in British crime series Midsomer Murders as Tom Barnaby) played the part of JIM Bergerac.

From Wikipedia:

JERSEY has been an island for approximately 8,000 years . The earliest evidence of human activity in the island dates to about 250,000 years ago when hunters used the caves at La Cotte de St Brelade as a base for hunting mammoth. The Neolithic period is marked by the building of the ritual burial sites known as dolmens. Archaeological evidence shows that there were trading links with Brittany and the south coast of England during this time.

Although part of the Roman world, we know very little about the island until the 11th century. The Channel Islands, then called the Lenur Islands, were occupied by the Britons during their migration to Brittany (5th-6th century).Tradition has it that it was Saint Helier from Tongeren in modern-day Belgium who first brought Christianity to the Island in the 6th century, and Charlemagne sent his emissary to the island in 803.

Normans
The island took the name JERSEY as a result of Viking activity in the area between the 9th and 10th centuries. The Channel Islands remained politically linked to Brittany until 933 when William Longsword, Duke of Normandy seized the Cotentin and the islands and added them to his domain; in 1066 Duke William II of Normandy defeated Harold at Hastings to become king of England; however, he continued to rule his French possessions as a separate entity.


With thanks to Denise Nesbitt, who created ABC.For more interesting ABC posts click on the logo in the sidebar or Here. This week we are looking for words beginning with J.

28 comments:

Miss_Yves said...

I often watch " Barnaby "on the french TV
I couldn't have recognized he main actor, younger in Bergerac"-unknown !

Miss_Yves said...

the main actor, of course!

And we visited Jersey a long time ago . Charming place .
Do yu know the novel "Le cercle littéraire des amateurs d'épluchures de pommes de terre", the plot of which is at Guernesy, during the second world war ?

Miss_Yves said...

www.bibliosurf.com/Le-Cercle-litteraire-des-amateurs

Anya said...

Ik leer hier nog een heleboel geschiedenis.
Interesant badankt :-)

(Enne ook al een beetje lentegevoel
het wordt warmer van de week :-)
Fijne avond !!

Miss_Yves said...

it's the right meaning !
Funniy title, pleasant and rather interesting novel-by the way of letters -
A modern best-seller

We enjoy '"Barnaby"

Thanks for your kind comments !

Rune Eide said...

Once upon a time I was supposed to visit Jersey, but nothing came of it. Now I regret it deeply. Thank you for sharing!

Arkansas Patti said...

Ah, you always send me Googling. Now I will have to scope Jersey out on Google earth, and see if I can get Bergerac or Barnaby on Netflix. Thanks for the lesson and the new places to visit.

Vicki Lane said...

I've wanted to visit the Channel Islands ever since I read Elizabeth Goudge's GREEN DOLPHIN STREET. Lovely post, Wil!

Paula Scott Molokai Girl Studio said...

Yes, I too will have to go a Googling! I never knew...

Sylvia K said...

What a fascinating history! I love it! Living in a very "young" country, I'm always fascinated by this kind of history and these are the kinds of places I love to visit! Marvelous post for the day Wil! Have a great week!

Sylvia

Christina, Sweden said...

thanks for the story!
Jersey is a great place, trvelled round there many years ago and would love to go back. Remember the narrow roads where I had to drive on the wrong side....

Christina

Unknown said...

You are the best teacher. I feel like I need to print your posts out so I can have a little education session with Kaishon at supper time : ) Thank you for sharing!

anthonynorth said...

Another great post. I liked John Nettles in Bergerac AND Midsomer Murders, from which he's just retired.

Hildred said...

Oh, I never, never miss Barnaby, - he is one of my favourites, and great to see him in his younger days.

Stan Ski said...

I remember Bergerac on TV, though I've never visited Jersey.

photowannabe said...

Absolutely fascinating history. I'm afraid I'm quite ignorant of so many things. Great post Wil.

Tarun Mitra said...

Nice place it looks :)

Tumblewords: said...

Ah, thank you for the informative post - what a pleasure to be able to learn this way!

Nydia said...

I quote Arkansas Patti LOL!

Loved the info.

Kisses from Nydia.

Anonymous said...

Great minds think alike. :)

I miss the Bergerac series! I think John Nettles wanted to make more but he wanted to live in Jersey too and our government wouldn't let him ...so that was it. Bit of a mistake if you ask me as everyone who has seen it, still remembers it, and our island. It was great advertising!

Gattina said...

Very interesting post, have never been there.
Gattina from ABC team

Middle Ditch said...

Lovely history lesson. I loved Bergerac and am in the process of ordering the whole series and can then indulge in watching it all over again.

Great post Wil

Etje said...

Jaren geleden ben ik daar eens naartoe geweest en vond het prachtig

Roger Owen Green said...

"JERSEY has been an island for approximately 8,000 years . The earliest evidence of human activity in the island dates to about 250,000 years ago..."

I'm afraid I'm confused. If it was an island for 8000 years, was it attached to the mainland before that?

Dina said...

I'd like to see those dolmens on Jersey.

Wil, I have a windmill for you!

Jeannette StG said...

Thanks for sharing the interesting history, Wil! I enlarged the pic -a very attractive place! It sounds I would like to see the series Bergerac you are talking about!

jay said...

I've always wanted to visit the Channel Islands and never have. Maybe one day ...

Cloudia said...

Now I know where New Jersey got it's name!




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