 | | Music will be just one of the medieval entertainments at Jersey Revels. |
Let's be honest, the events of 1204 seem a very, very long time ago; something you probably imagine in slow-moving black and white and shrouded in those proverbial mists of time.
800 years later we find ourselves in 21st century when the legacy of those events long ago are about to be celebrated in full colour, as the Jersey Revels take over Gorey for three days.
The organisers aim to give locals and visitors alike a taste of life in the 13th century with crafts people, jousting, musicians, soldiers, players and replica shipping all gathering into the arena and harbour area to entertain, enthrall and inform.
 | | Gorey harbour will play host to replica medieval ships. |
The concept of having what is essentially a sanitised microcosm of the more appealing aspects of 13th century life may leave a little historic accuracy to be desired: but after all who wants to wander through through Gorey on a beautiful June day whilst sewage runs lazily along the gutter? The arguments for holding the Revels are persuasive, if a little curious. The event marks 800 years of the island's choice to remain faithful to the British Crown, but in reality has little to do with our feeling particularly British, except when we have to show our passports.
Here comes the History bit...
Despite the choice to remain as King John's subjects when he lost his Norman territories to King Philip Augustus in 1204 the island remained essentially French in its language, customs and names long into the 19th century.
 | | A medieval soldier shows his colours for Euro 1204. |
Interestingly Jersey's churches were to remain within the Diocese of Coutances until they were eventually transferred to the Bishopric of Winchester in 1568 during the reign of Elizabeth I. Meaning that in religious and therefore many parish matters, the island remained under a degree of French control.
Had we not sided with England, the last 800 years of our history would also have had a very different impact on Jersey's built landscape.
With easy access for an English enemy from the north and west, the island's key strategic defences would surely have been concentrated on these coasts rather than to the south and east to repel the French.
It is hard to imagine Jersey without the magnificence of Mont Orgueil or the great stone edifice of Elizabeth Castle anchored amongst the waves of St. Aubin's Bay.
 | | You just can't revel without food and ale. |
The phrase used so often to describe Jersey's constitutional position seems specially apt right now, We are indeed 'a peculiar of the British Crown' if not just plain peculiar! It is this which sparks so much interest in the island from the rest of the world.
We are and are not British just as much as we also are and are not French. And this strange equation gives Jersey its intriguing charm.
No doubt in 62 years time the powers that be will host events marking 1000 years since 1066. So we will be celebrating conquering England in the days that we were Normans; if nothing else, history is a fickle thing. If like us, you're unlikely to be around in 2066, the Jersey Revels might just prove the opportunity witness the celebration of just one aspect of our very chequered past.
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