Local history chapter and verse at Jersey Archive

Wednesday 23 September 2015

You can get well-versed on some local history next week when some very old poems go on show.

Poems written by Islanders dating back as far as the 17th century are going on display as part of the big literary festival – the Jersey Festival of Words.

Archives and Collections Director Linda Romeril said: “Jersey Heritage is delighted to be able to support the Island’s first literary festival and to have a chance to show some of the treasures that we hold at Jersey Archive.

“Many of the poems on display, such as ‘The Loss of the Normandy’ and the Occupation poetry, are inspired by significant historic events. Through poetry and literature we can gain valuable insights into people’s reactions to and interpretation of those events.”

The material includes poems inspired by the Occupation, the Island’s Maritime connections, the natural world and the Jèrriais poems of hearth and home. You can also get to see copies of two poems with Elizabethan and Shakespearian connections written by Sir Robert Devereux, Second Earl of Essex and David Garrick, the 18^th century actor.

A book of verse by Augusta Chambers de Gruchy is also going on display including a poem entitled ‘The End’. She left Jersey with her husband William to live in London after the banking crash of the 1880’s.

Leading 17^th century poet Abraham Cowley took coded messages between England and France during the Civil War and poetry describing Jersey’s lack of culture features in a second volume on display.

You can see the poems free of charge from 29 September during normal Tuesday to Thursday opening hours and you can find out more about the festival here.