Captain White's Logbook
Excerpts from the log-book of Captain William White of the Jerbourg Signal Station, as printed in the Guernsey newspaper The Star c. 1904.
19th century
Letters acquired: Sebastopol, Topliss, McCrea
The Library acquired at an island auction summer 2013 three separate sets of letters and source materials of local interest.
Register of the French Church of New York, 1688-1804
The De Lanceys in New York.
Rachel Tostevin's Birthday Book
The Priaulx Library was gratified to receive from America a small volume entitled Birthday Scripture Text Book. It was sent to the Library by Mr F B Harrington of Upperco, Maryland, who had purchased it in a sale as part of a book lot.
Finucania: the enigmatic Matthias Finucane
This overview of the artist Matthias Finucane consists of a biography researched by his descendant, the late Julia von Bertele, and a catalogue, created by Dinah Bott of the Priaulx Library, that aims to illustrate and provide information on all of his known works. It is intended that the catalogue grow organically to reflect further information that comes to light about both his life and his artistic output; he resided for most of his working life in the Channel islands and produced here both portrait miniatures and prints. The Priaulx Library is pleased to host this unique project of great local interest. Contact a Librarian if you have any material to add or can help with any of the many questions that remain unsolved about Matthias' life. The images here reproduced are believed to be in the public domain unless expressly credited.
Daniel de Lisle Brock and the Corn Bill, 1835
'The depression in the price of agricultural produce may be ascribed to various causes: pretty certain it is, however, that neither legal or illegal importations of foreign corn are of the number and still more certain it is that the Channel Islands can have no connexion with any of these causes.' From a Letter from the Deputies of Guernsey and Jersey to Lord Verulam, Colonnade Hotel, Charles Street, 6th May, 1835.
Lamentations de Damaris: a poem about old Fountain Street
The remodelling of Fountain Street was undertaken by the States at their own expense. They formed a Committee to oversee the works, which took place over several years in the 1820s. George Métivier wrote a poem in Guernsey French about the demolition of the street, which was so narrow in places that residents were said to be able to shake hands from the third storeys of their houses, from the point of view of one of its oldest denizens.
Victor Hugo and Guernsey: Hugo's workmen
5th July 2017
An interview with, and the obituary of, 'the oldest man in the island,' Thomas Mauger Gore, carpenter and builder, who helped Victor Hugo realise his vision at Hauteville House and especially at Hauteville II, Juliette Drouet's house in Guernsey. Obituary from The Star of Tuesday March 6, 1928, interview in the same newspaper, July? 1927. Part of the Victor Hugo and Guernsey project. [By Dinah Bott]
Victor Hugo and Guernsey: A visit to Hauteville House, 1883
28th June 2017
From an American publication which lasted all of five years: The Continent, published by Albion Tourgee, Vol 4, 1883, p. 135. An extract from an article, 'The Normandy of the Sea.'
Victor Hugo and Guernsey: Paul Stapfer
16th June 2017
The Parisian Paul Stapfer was born in 1840 and graduated in Classics in 1860. In 1866 he joined the staff at Elizabeth College, Guernsey, to teach French. He calculated that this employment would give him time to work on his doctorate in English literature, and that he could thus both improve his English and observe the doings of Victor Hugo. He was the author of a significant book of memoirs of Victor Hugo, Victor Hugo à Guernesey: souvenirs personnels. This is part of the Victor Hugo and Guernsey project. [By Dinah Bott]