Library Document Collection

Actions de graces, prayers of thanksgiving

Beautiful prayers in French, previously used in Guernsey. As written in the History of Guernsey Churches scrapbook in the Library. During the Reformation this type of prayer was said after a baptism; later they were used at special services of thanksgiving, such as at the end of wars, or recovery of a monarch from illness.

Bread and hot cross buns

From the History of the Guernsey Churches scrapbook.

Fairy wells, by Victor Coysh

From his Random Notes. La Fontaine des Faies and Le Gibet des Faies.

Militia Drills, early 18th-century

Page from militia drill by Phillips Loggers, Priaulx Library collection

The Library has in its extensive local militia collection a photocopy of what was no doubt a most invaluable document in its time: a suggested drill, and loading instructions for the flintlock musket, written in the early 18th century for the officers of the Guernsey militia by Phillips Loggers.

Jerbourg Signal Station and the Saumarez Tower

Saumarez Tower at Jerbourg, Priaulx Library Collection

The story of a picture in our collection, rather than a book; a black-and-white photograph of a watercolour showing Jerbourg Signal Station. Behind the signal-post is Saumarez Tower, the only known representation of this short-lived landmark. A copy of this watercolour is in the possession of the Guernsey Museum. In that picture, the roofs and the small cylindrical tower are shown as red. The photograph, taken at the behest of Captain Philip de Saumarez, was lent a century ago to local historian Edith Carey by Mrs Ozanne, the artist's descendant, and placed in one of Miss Carey's scrapbooks, now at the Library.

Guernsey - The Pick of the Bunch: a tourist brochure from 1934

Cover of the Guernsey 1934 tourism brochure

The Priaulx Library has a great deal of ephemera amongst its collection, including tourist brochures. This is a particularly attractive example, from 1934, produced by the 'States' of Guernsey Advertising Committee' and printed by the Guernsey Press Co., Ltd. This 168-page brochure seems to have been written as a guide to Guernsey for both the potential holidaymaker and prospective resident.A full week in Guernsey, including return travel from London, seven nights accommodation, and three Motor Tours—£6-8-6!

The Grange again

The earlier history of the Grange, according to the Library's 19th-century Lukis MSS, transcribed by Edith Carey. Edith Carey's additions are in brackets.

Occupation ephemera: bureaucracy

A small selection of our collection of blank forms and regulations issued by the German military and Guernsey civil authorities. Some printed by Banks, Boosey & Co., Ltd., Guernsey. Click the links to see the items.

The lucky ones will be those who die quickly: Autumn 1944

A letter from A N Symons, Medical Services Officer, to the President of the Controlling Committee of the States of Guernsey, September 1944. From the Priaulx Library collection.

Letters and fashion plates from the time of Jane Austen

Winter fashion 1801 from Priaulx Library Collection

Some fascinating letters from a young Caroline Guille Le Marchant to her friends in Bath and London, from Edith Carey's Scrapbook, and some contemporary winter ladies costumes for Christmas, from two bound volumes of fashion-plates, entitled in French Figures. The plates are hand-coloured; some are from The Fashions of London and Paris, a monthly magazine that began publication in 1798, published by Richard Phillips.

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