Jersey's last public hanging was a mistake
Queen's Jersey day-trip + Colour comes to Channel Television
Last man hanged publicly in Jersey
Joseph Le Brun was hanged in Jersey in 1875, making him the last man ever to be hanged in public in the British Isles.
Although convicted of murdering his sister, he maintained his innocence throughout, and it was only this week in 1886 – 11 years later – that the truth finally came out, as another man confessed to the murder himself, while lying in his deathbed.
Queen on a Jersey day trip
Queen Elizabeth II visited Jersey this week in 1957, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh. They arrived at St Helier on the Royal Barge, having sailed overnight from the mainland on the Royal Yacht.
This was the first time the Queen had visited Jersey since her coronation, so unsurprisingly the gifts kept coming. On shore, she was presented with a Jersey cow from the people of the island, which was to be added to the existing herd at Windsor. She was also given a large silver Jersey milk can, although it seems unlikely this would be used to collect the gift cow’s milk.
Colour comes to Channel Television
Channel Television switched from black and white to colour broadcasts this week in 1976, with a party in a tent beside its transmitter on Jersey’s Freemont Point. It had taken a long time and much discussion for the technicians to work out how to transmit the signals without causing interference to neighbouring networks, on account of the power that their own transmitter would need to put out.
Jersey’s most expensive house on sale
Jersey's most expensive house went on sale this week in 2007. With 12,000 square feet of accommodation and grounds of 61 acres, south-facing Radier Manor, which sits in Grouville, was – and still is – among the largest properties in the island.
It has a cinema, a gallery that can accommodate 50 guests for dinner, a library, several offices, a separate self-contained flat, two further cottages and three lodge houses, granite storage barns… the list goes on and on. It was advertised with a £12.5m price tag.
Jersey’s famous cow
A record-breaking Jersey cow found fame this week in 1892. During just one year, she produced more than her own weight in butter: Lily the cow weighed 430kg, and she produced 475kg of butter.
Breaking all known records made her something of a bovine celebrity, and she was greatly sought after for public appearances, including at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.
Jersey Royal potatoes protected
Jersey Royal potatoes were trademarked this week in 2007. They already had Protected Designation of Origin status, meaning nobody could use the term to describe their potatoes unless they had indeed been grown in Jersey in compliance with a specified process.
The successful trademark application covered not only the vegetables themselves, but also any associated clothing, alcoholic drinks (although beer was excluded), paper and printed goods, flowers, fruit and services.
Jersey FA established
Jersey Football Association was established this week in 1905 at the headquarters of the Royal Jersey Agricultural and Horticultural Society in Church Street. It oversaw seven local clubs and organised matches with teams from other islands and the mainland, including the first Upton Park Trophy match between Jersey and Guernsey, and the Muratti Vase.
The FA was disbanded during the First World War and, officially although not entirely in practice, during the Occupation.
Royal Militia founded
The Royal Militia of Jersey was formed this week in 1203. It has been through various guises over the years but, in 1337 its existence as a militia was formalised, and it remained as such until 1946, despite leaving the island in 1939 prior to the Occupation.