Écréhous
Native name: Les Écréhous,Êcrého | |
|---|---|
 Aerial view of the Écréhous. | |
 | |
| Geography | |
| Location | English Channel |
| Coordinates | 49°16′59″N1°55′59″W/ 49.283°N 1.933°W |
| Major islands | Maîtr'Île La Marmotchiéthe Lé Bliantch'Île |
| Administration | |
Jersey | |
| Parish | Saint Martin, Jersey |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
| Official name | Les Écréhous & Les Dirouilles, Jersey |
| Designated | 2 February 2005 |
| Reference no. | 1455[1] |
TheÉcréhous(or inJèrriais:Êcrého) are a group ofislandsand rocks situated six miles (9.6 km) north-east ofJersey,and eight miles (12.8 km) fromFrance.They form part of theBailiwickof Jersey and are administratively part of theParish of St Martin.
Etymology[edit]
The name 'Ecrehous' isNorsein origin. "Esker" as in Skerry meaning a stony bank and 'Hou', thetoponymfound also inJethou,Lihou,Brecqhou,Burhouand other islets, derives fromholm,meaningisland.The first part of the name appears to be traced back to the Norse wordsker,meaningreef.The Ecrehous are actually, geologically, part of the same island group asLes Dirouilles(west) and LesPierres de Lecq('the Paternosters') (further west).
Islets[edit]
The most significantisletsin the group are:
- Maîtr'Île
- La Marmotchiéthe ('La Marmotière' ingallicizedform)
- Lé Bliantch'Île (La Blanche Îlein gallicized form);
others include:
- Les D'mies
- La Grand' Naithe
- L'Etchièrviéthe
- Lé Fou
- La Froutchie
All but the three largest are submerged athigh tide.There are no permanent residents on the islands and there is no fresh water there. Due to erosion, they are now much smaller than they may have been within historic times. Maîtr'Île, the largest of the islets, is about 300 metres (0.19 mi) long.[2]There are a small number of fishermen's huts, some used as holiday residences, on the largest islets, and one official building, a customs house, on La Marmotchiéthe.
History[edit]
During thelast ice age,sea levels were lower and the islands were high ground above a plain that connected the European Continent with southern England.
Sovereignty[edit]
The islets, along with the other Channel Islands and theCotentin Peninsula,were annexed to theDuchy of Normandyin 933. AfterWilliam, Duke of Normandyconquered Englandin 1066 the islands remained united to the Duchy until the conquest of mainlandNormandyin 1204 byPhilip Augustus.In 1259Henry IIIdid homage to the French king for the Channel Islands. WhileEdward IIIin the 1360Treaty of Brétignywaived his claims to the crown of France and to Normandy, he reserved various territories to England.
Chapel and Priory[edit]
In 1203, shortly before the division of Normandy in 1204,John, Duke of Normandygranted the Ecrehous to theAbbey of Val-Richerso that they might build a church there. The chapel measured 10 feet 3 inches (3.12 m) in width and 16 feet 6 inches (5.03 m) in length; the priory accommodation for the monks formed an extension to the chapel.[3]In 1309 it was reported that a prior was living in the Ecrehos with one monk and a servant; a navigation light was lit every night.[3]
In 1413 alien priories were suppressed, and the monks returned to Val-Richer. Their church and priory on La Maîtr'Île fell into ruins.[4]
Crime use[edit]
In the 17th century the Ecrehous were used by smugglers. It was recorded that the main smuggled goods in the 1690s through the Ecrehous was lead and gunpowder destined forSt Malô.[5]
In order to help control voting in Jersey, it was not unknown for citizens to find themselves taken and stranded on the Islands until after voting had taken place.[5]: 72
Long-term residents[edit]
Though they are only inhabited sporadically by holidaymakers and fishermen, in the past there have been more permanent residents on the Ecrehous due to more abundant vegetation. Two eccentrics who lived on the Ecrehous for a long time proclaimed themselves to beLe Roi des Écréhous(The King of the Ecrehous) and claimed that sovereignty over the islands belonged to them.[6]Philippe Pinel lived on Bliantch'Île from 1848 to 1898 and exchanged gifts withQueen Victoria.In the 1960s and 1970sAlphonse Le Gasteloisfound refuge in the islands from unfounded public suspicion of being theBeast of Jersey(a notorious sexual attacker of children who was later arrested, thus clearing Le Gastelois of suspicion).
Resolution of disputed status[edit]
In the 19th and early 20th centuries there were several occasions on which nominal control was displayed, including flags and buoys, and there were several occasions on which the British government indicated to the French government that it wished to settle the matter.
In 1950Francetook theUnited Kingdomto theInternational Court of Justice(ICJ) for discussions to decide to which country theMinquiersand Ecrehous belonged. The French fished in the waters, butJerseyexercised various administrative rights. In theMinquiers and Ecrehos case,the ICJ considered the historical evidence, and in its judgment of 17 November 1953 awarded the islands to Jersey.[7]
On currency[edit]
La Marmotchiéthe is depicted on the 2010 issueJersey 50 pound note.
Protected status[edit]
In 2005, the States of Jersey designated it as an area under theRamsar convention,signifying it was a wetland of international importance and giving it an enhanced status and recognition.[8]A management plan for the area has yet to be published. There was a public consultation in 2010 into Jersey's management of Ramsar areas but the results were not made public.
In 2022, four areas of Les Ecréhous islands were introduced under Jersey's wildlife law. This decision was made in order to protect the breeding activities and nesting of wild birds, some of them including European shags, great cormorants, common terns, the roseate terns, and oystercatchers. In practice, this means unauthorized people cannot enter during breeding periods, the speed of boats is limited, dogs may not enter, and the use of drones, lasers, and fireworks is prohibited.[9]
Pilotage and sailing[edit]
Entrance to the islands can be difficult. However, it is possible to visit at all states of tide with the main entrance from the southwest.[10]
Gallery[edit]
-
19th century illustration -
Maîtr'Île Flag Mast 2008 -
Maîtr'Île Flag Mast 2008 -
Maîtr'Île from the South -
Looking South from Maîtr'Île
References[edit]
- ^"Les Écrehous & Les Dirouilles, Jersey".RamsarSites Information Service.Retrieved25 April2018.
- ^Coysh, Victor (1985).Channel Islets: The Lesser Channel Islands.Guernsey Press Co Ltd.ISBN0902550128.
- ^abBalleine's History of Jersey.p. 26.ISBN1860776507.Balleine's History of Jersey,1998
- ^Balleine, George Reginald (1951).'The Bailiwick of Jersey'.Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.ISBN0340002670.
- ^abCooper, Glynis.Foul Deeds and Suspicious Deaths in Jersey.Casemate Publishers, 2008.ISBN9781845630683.
- ^Bicudo de Castro, Vicente; Fleury, Christian; Johnson, Henry (2023)."Micronational claims and sovereignty in the Minquiers and Écréhous".Small States & Territories.6(1): 35–48.
- ^"Minquiers and Ecrehos (France/United Kingdom): Summary of the judgment of 17 November 1953".icj-cij.org.International Court of Justice.
- ^"Les Écrehous & Les Dirouilles, Jersey".rsis.ramsar.org.Ramsar Sites Information Service.
- ^"Islands get special protection status for birds".BBC News.Retrieved13 April2022.
- ^Carnegie, Peter (2015).Channel Islands, Cherbourg Peninsula & North Brittany.RCC Pilotage Foundation. pp. 131–135.ISBN9781846234439.
Further reading[edit]
Physical[edit]
- Files on the ICJ case can be found in theNational Archives,mostly in the FO 371 sequence.
- Les Ecrehous, Jersey: History and Archaeology of a Channel Island Archipelago(ISBN0-901897-21-3) byWarwick Rodwell.
- Histoire des Minquiers et des Écréhous.Robert Sinsoilliez.Éditions l'Ancre de Marine.
