Biography

Sark, 1890: A photographer's holiday

This description of a holiday in Sark was written by a well known Methodist minister, Reverend Nehemiah Curnock, for the Methodist Recorder, of which he was the editor. It was reprinted in the Star in December, 1890. Curnock was taking photographs with a 'Kodak instantaneous' camera; he was in the forefront of technology, for Eastman had only patented it in September, 1889. The box camera took a 100-exposure film; the whole camera could be returned to the company for the photographs to be developed, or equipment could be bought to develop the pictures at home without a darkroom. The photograph is from the Library Colletion and shows La Collinette in 1936.

The pride of the Iris, from the Star, December 14, 1858

The horrible death of 21-year old Guernseyman Lieutenant Edward Murray Tupper, RN, in the New Hebrides (now Vanuatu).

Irving Brock and the Huron chiefs: a most chimerical idea

Huron chiefs 1825 Copyright Library & Archives Canada

'The most interesting characters I ever saw—whose appearance here has been more beneficial than if volumes had been printed on Indian civilization.' By Dinah Bott, Priaulx Library.

Obituary of John Guille, June 1843

Just fifty years and one month ago there presided over the Royal Court of Guernsey a gentleman who, throughout his whole life, proved himself to be a thorough Guernseyman, endowed with the highest principles of honour and integrity, but one also possessing a native intensity of purpose and independence of character.

Captain William Macey

The Star, May 9, 1895. Reprinted from the Leyton Free Press, May 4, 1895.

Paul Le Mesurier

The Monthly Magazine, XX (II) 1805, pp. 571 ff. 'At Upper Homerton, in his 51st year, Paul Le Mesurier, esq., alderman of London, representative in two parliaments for the borough of Southwark, a director of the East India Company, and Colonel of the Honourable Artillery Company.'

Walter Ollivier: They used to swallow the gunpowder

Walter Ollivier in 1957, Priaulx Library Collection

Ollivier the gunsmith, by Bernard Brett, from The Star November 1947. The business at 1, Tower Hill, was begun by his great-great grandfather in 1800.

Nicolas Lenfestey des Brehauts

From The Guernsey Free Churchman, January 1925 p. 7. The life of the Methodist preacher, by George Rabey.

Rosa Brock's Sketchbook

Rosa Brock, Alpine scene, Priaulx Library collection

These lovely watercolours are the work of Rosa, the daughter of General Sir Isaac Brock's brother, Savery Brock. They have been given to the Library on long-term loan by Rosa's great-great-neice, Sally Greenaway of New Zealand.

Antiquities at Rosenheim

Rosenheim from A Farmer's Vacation 1873 in the Priaulx Library Collection

A report of a meeting of the Société Guernesiaise in c. 1927. Rosa Brock's house 'Rosenheim,' now known as 'The Chain House,' was a very popular stop on a typical visitor tour of Guernsey, for its highly decorative gardens. The photograph below, from the Library collection, shows the famous 'sun and moon' trough in situ in the gardens. The Library is lucky enough to hold Rosa's exquisite book of watercolours.

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