Guernsey’s last witch trial
The last witch trial in Guernsey took place this week in 1914. Aimee Lake, the accused, was charged with witchcraft for fortune-telling, reading tea leaves, and allegedly putting a mortal curse on her neighbour.
Despite the harmless nature of the apparently magical powders she sold, Lake was convicted as a witch and sentenced to serve eight days in prison. The court expressed regret at its inability to impose a longer sentence.
New Guernsey Airport proposed
The States of Guernsey proposed the construction of a new, purpose-built airport on high ground at La Villaize, this week in 1935. The decision was made due to the inadequacy of Guernsey's existing aerodrome at L’Eree, which was becoming too small and impractical considering the rapidly growing importance of air transport.
The proposed airport, covering 130 acres, was estimated to cost £150,000 (around £10.3m today) and was designed to have four landing strips.
Despite public opposition, it was eventually built on the proposed site, and it was opened for business in 1939. However, the airport didn't see regular services until after the war, as it was used as a military airfield by the German forces throughout the occupation.
Sark becomes dark sky island
Sark was awarded Dark-Sky status this week in 2011, becoming the world's third international Dark-Sky Park and the first international Dark-Sky Community in Europe. This designation was granted by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) in recognition of the island's efforts to combat light pollution, which makes it possible to view the stars with the naked eye.
Sark's natural suitability for this status was due to its lack of street lights or motorised traffic, aside from tractors. The Dark-Sky status has been a key selling point for the island's tourism industry, attracting astro-tourists who visit for star-gazing breaks.
The island's government and various public institutions have also made efforts to reduce light pollution and conform to the International Dark-Sky Community's requirements, further solidifying Sark's commitment to preserving its dark skies.
Guernsey ferry stranded outside St Peter Port
The Earl Godwin, a British Rail car ferry, encountered a very rough night at sea this week in 1977. The ship had to heave-to seven miles outside St Peter Port due to the rocking motion of the boat, which started to shift cars on deck. This action was necessary to prevent the balance of the vessel from being affected, which could have led to a risk of capsizing. The waves also washed a life raft overboard.
The Channel and the south of England were experiencing widespread storm force winds, with gusts sustaining 60mph in London and approaching 100mph at the coast, where they threw up 15ft waves. The storm also caused significant disruption on the mainland, felling trees in nine counties and delaying trains.
Isaac Newton has his say on Guernsey invention
Sir Isaac Newton was consulted about a mysterious invention by Guernsey’s Henry de Saumarez this week in 1715. Henry had invented a device for tracking how far a ship had sailed, which he described in a written statement to the Royal Society. The invention was a dial connected to a water wheel that would demonstrate the distance the ship had run.
Famed mathematician and scientist Sir Isaac Newton was asked for his thoughts on the invention. While he acknowledged that it would be less trouble to track a ship's progress with such a device than by the traditional log-line, he expressed his lack of experience in sea affairs and his uncertainty about the accuracy of the invention.
The matter was then referred to the king, George I, who handed it on to the Admiralty, and by the 1840s the device had been lost. The invention, although innovative, did not receive approval and its fate remains unknown.
Guernsey poet George Metivier born
Poet George Métivier was born in Guernsey this week in 1790. He is considered by many to be Guernsey’s “national” poet. He primarily wrote in Guernesiais, the local language, and is remembered for writing the first Guernesiais dictionary, and translating the Gospel of St Matthew into the local language.
Despite initially studying medicine in Edinburgh, he returned to Guernsey to pursue writing and produced his first volume of poetry, Rimes Guernesiais, within a year of his return. Métivier used the pen name Un Câtelain in honour of his connection with Castel, the western parish where his grandfather had settled. He passed away at the age of 91 on March 23, 1881, leaving behind a significant body of work.
Guernsey lifeboat in dramatic rescue
The St Peter Port lifeboat and the Lee-on-Solent lifeguard collaborated to rescue 22 crew members from two ships that had collided in the Channel this week in 2006.
One of the ships, the Ece, was a chemical tanker carrying 10,000 tonnes of phosphoric acid. Despite the initial concern, phosphoric acid is actually weak, non-toxic, non-flammable, and is used in various applications, including water treatment and as a food additive. The Ece, however, couldn't be recovered and eventually sank, losing its entire cargo.
The other ship involved in the collision was the General Grot-Rowecki, a bulk carrier carrying 26,000 tonnes of phosphorus. It continued to the port of Police in Poland with its cargo intact.