Castel, Guernsey

Castel
Parish

Location of Castel in Guernsey
Coordinates: 49°28′26″N 2°36′11″W / 49.474°N 2.603°W / 49.474; -2.603Coordinates: 49°28′26″N 2°36′11″W / 49.474°N 2.603°W / 49.474; -2.603
Crown Dependency Guernsey, Channel Islands
Government
 • Electoral district Castel
Area
 • Total 10.1 km2 (3.9 sq mi)
Area rank Ranked 1st
Population
 • Total 8,975
 • Density 890/km2 (2,300/sq mi)
Time zone GMT
 • Summer (DST) UTC+01 (UTC)

Castel (Guernésiais: Lé Casté; French Sainte-Marie-du-Câtel) is the largest parish in Guernsey in terms of area.

The Parish has clear evidence of changes in ancient sea-levels, with trunks of an oak forest visible on Vazon beach at very low tide and at 8m above sea level an ancient beach.[1]:139

The old Guernésiais nickname for people from Castel was ânes pur sàng.

The parish plays host to both Le Viaër Marchi and the North Show which includes the Battle of Flowers annually. It also produces a regular magazine called Castel matters

The postal code for street addresses in this parish begins with GY5.

Parish church

The statue menhir overlooks the Bas Pas

The parish church of St Marie de Castel, also known as Notre Dame de la Délivrance, was consecrated on 25 August 1203.[2] It is notable for its preserved medieval fresco.

A pre-Christian neolithic menhir dating from 2,500-1,800 BC in the churchyard, carved to represent a female, with breasts and a necklace in relief,[3]:81 possibly a fertility symbol. It was discovered under the floor of the church in 1878, possibly buried there to rid the church of a link to the older pagan beliefs.

In the churchyard is the tomb of James Saumarez, 1st Baron de Saumarez GCB, an admiral of the British Royal Navy,[4]

The church is thought to be built on an ancient fort, hence the name Castel or Catêl,[2] possibly a corruption of the Roman Castellum or castrum. In the area broken Roman roof tiles and pottery have been discovered, indicating Roman occupation.[3]:116

Features

Features of the parish include:

The parish of the Castel hosts:

Politics

The Castel comprises the whole of the Castel administrative division

In the Guernsey general election, 2016 there was 3,262 or 73%, turnout to elect five Deputies. Those elected (in order of votes received) being Richard Graham, Chris Green, Barry Paint, Mark Dorey and Jonathan Le Tocq.

See also

External links

References

  1. ↑ Berry, William. The history of Guernsey from the remotest period of antiquity to the year 1814.
  2. 1 2 Duncan, Jonathan. The History of Guernsey: With Occasional Notices of Jersey, Alderney, and Sark, and Biographical Sketches. Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, 1841. p. 394.
  3. 1 2 Sebire, Heather. The Archaeology and Early history of the Channel Islands. NPI Media Group. ISBN 978-0752434490.
  4. ↑ Record for Admiral James Saumarez, 1st Baron de Saumarez on thepeerage.com
  5. ↑ "Castel Church". BBC.
  6. 1 2 3 Dillon, Paddy. Channel Island Walks. Cicerone Press Limited, 1999. ISBN 9781852842888.
  7. 1 2 "NTG FOLK & COSTUME MUSEUM, SAUMAREZ PARK". National Trust Guernsey.
  8. ↑ "Castel Parish Memorial, Guernsey". Great War CI.
  9. 1 2 "Fort Hommet headland". Visit Guernsey.
  10. ↑ "Fort Hommet". Festung Guernsey.
  11. ↑ "Castel Church Statue Menhir". megalithicguernsey.
  12. ↑ "Cobo Bay". Visit Guernsey.
  13. ↑ "The ten cleanest beaches in Britain". The Telegraph.
  14. ↑ "Rue des Bergers". La Société Guernesiaise.
  15. ↑ "PROTECTED BUILDINGS". Environment - Guernsey government.
  16. ↑ "Guernsey Rovers AC". Rovers AC.
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