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St. Peter Port (french: Saint-Pierre Port) is a town and one of the ten parishes on the island of Guernsey in the
Channel Islands The Channel Islands ( nrf, Îles d'la Manche; french: îles Anglo-Normandes or ''îles de la Manche'') are an archipelago in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two Crown Dependencies: the Bailiwick of Jersey ...
. It is the capital of the Bailiwick of Guernsey as well as the main
port A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as ...
. The population in 2019 was 18,958. St. Peter Port is a small town (commonly referred to by locals as just "town") consisting mostly of steep narrow streets and steps on the overlooking slopes. It is known that a trading post/town existed here before Roman times with a pre-Christian name which has not survived. The parish covers an area of 6.5 km2. The
postal code A postal code (also known locally in various English-speaking countries throughout the world as a postcode, post code, PIN or ZIP Code) is a series of letters or digits or both, sometimes including spaces or punctuation, included in a postal ...
for addresses in the parish starts with GY1. People from St. Peter Port, were nicknamed "les Villais" (the townspeople) or "cllichards" in Guernésiais.


Geography

St. Peter Port is on the east coast of Guernsey overlooking Herm and tiny Jethou, a further channel separates
Sark Sark (french: link=no, Sercq, ; Sercquiais: or ) is a part of the Channel Islands in the southwestern English Channel, off the coast of Normandy, France. It is a royal fief, which forms part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, with its own set of l ...
and surrounding islets such as Brecqhou; exceptionally
Normandy Normandy (; french: link=no, Normandie ; nrf, Normaundie, Nouormandie ; from Old French , plural of ''Normant'', originally from the word for "northman" in several Scandinavian languages) is a geographical and cultural region in Northwestern ...
's long Cotentin Peninsula and, to the south-east,
Jersey Jersey ( , ; nrf, Jèrri, label=Jèrriais ), officially the Bailiwick of Jersey (french: Bailliage de Jersey, links=no; Jèrriais: ), is an island country and self-governing Crown Dependencies, Crown Dependency near the coast of north-west F ...
are visible in clear conditions beyond from some, highest, vantage points. The parish borders St. Sampson in the north, The Vale in the north-west,
St. Andrew Andrew the Apostle ( grc-koi, Ἀνδρέᾱς, Andréās ; la, Andrēās ; , syc, ܐܰܢܕ݁ܪܶܐܘܳܣ, ʾAnd’reʾwās), also called Saint Andrew, was an apostle of Jesus according to the New Testament. He is the brother of Simon Peter ...
in the west and St. Martin in the south. The name of the nearest channel is the Little Russel, in which sits the Bréhon Tower; that separating Sark is the Big Russel. Both in width are less than half of Guernsey's greatest length and dotted with coastal rocks and stacks quite near those islands, some of which are narrowly submerged. ;Relief The land in the north and by the harbour is low-lying but not marshy. In the south, the land gets higher (but not as high as St Martin's or the
Forest A forest is an area of land dominated by trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, and ecological function. The United Nations' ...
). Grassy, gently terraced cliffs behind sea walls (including projections) topped by trees characterise the southern part of the coast here (by an aquarium, underground military museum and historic battery at semi-wooded Havelet). In the north is the retail-centred and more built-up /Admiral Park coastal locality. To the south of the town lies Havelet Bay and the coast path which leads to the very pretty Fermain Bay after a walk of about 20–25 minutes.


Climate

St. Peter Port has an oceanic climate ( Cfb) with mild summers and cool winters.


Subdivisions

Saint Peter Port is subdivided into four cantons: #Canton 1 or North Canton #Canton 2 or Canton of the North-West #Canton 3 or Canton of the South-West #Canton 4 or Canton of the South In addition, the islands of Herm and Jethou belong to the parish, but are not part of any canton. They belong to Electoral district Saint Peter Port South.


Sport and leisure

St. Peter Port has an English Isthmian League club,
Guernsey F.C. Guernsey Football Club is a community football club located in St. Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands. The club was formed in 2011 and became a member of the Combined Counties Football League Division One for the 2011–12 season. Histor ...
who play at Footes Lane. The Guernsey Rugby Football Club also play at Footes Lane and compete in National League 3 London & SE.


Parks and gardens

Candie Gardens Candie Gardens is a park in St Peter Port, Guernsey, originally established as a Victorian pleasure gardens in 1894. Origins The gardens were originally those of Candie House, and became a public park in 1894. Features The Upper Gardens fea ...
, an award-winning restored Victorian Garden, features statues of
Victor Hugo Victor-Marie Hugo (; 26 February 1802 – 22 May 1885) was a French Romantic writer and politician. During a literary career that spanned more than sixty years, he wrote in a variety of genres and forms. He is considered to be one of the great ...
and
Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 216 days was longer than that of any previ ...
. The Guernsey Museum at Candie and the
Priaulx Library The Priaulx Library, located in St Peter Port, Guernsey, contains the island's principal collection of local and family history. History The library building, Candie House, and its initial collection of books were donated to the island by Osmond ...
are both situated within the grounds of the garden respectively. Cambridge Park is a recreational park that includes Churchill Avenue, ‘a leafy tree-lined pedestrian Avenue’, named after Winston Churchill and a skate park. In 2014 the parish was a Gold & Category Winner in the RHS
Britain in Bloom Britain most often refers to: * The United Kingdom, a sovereign state in Europe comprising the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands * Great Britain, the largest island in the United King ...
competition, followed in 2016 with another Gold medal.


Features

The features of the town include: * St Peter Port Harbour *
Town Church, Guernsey The Town Church is also known as the "Parish Church of St Peter Port", "Sancti Petri du Portu" and "Town Church of St Peter, Apostle & Martyr". The earliest known religious building on the site was in 1020 with a reference to a small rectangular ...
, the parish church of St Peter Port at the heart of the town * Buildings ** The Royal Court House (La Cohue Royale), seat of the
States of Guernsey The States of Guernsey (french: États de Guernesey), sometimes referred to as the Government of Guernsey, is the parliament and government of the British Crown dependency of Guernsey. Some laws and ordinances approved by the States of Guer ...
** Hauteville House,
Victor Hugo Victor-Marie Hugo (; 26 February 1802 – 22 May 1885) was a French Romantic writer and politician. During a literary career that spanned more than sixty years, he wrote in a variety of genres and forms. He is considered to be one of the great ...
's house of exile, which is now a museum under the aegis of the city of
Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. ...
). ** National Trust of Guernsey Victorian shop ** Elizabeth College founded in 1563 by
Elizabeth I of England Elizabeth I (7 September 153324 March 1603) was Queen of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. Elizabeth was the last of the five House of Tudor monarchs and is sometimes referred to as the "Virgin Queen". Eli ...
. The main building (built 1826) is a prominent feature of the skyline. ** Victoria Tower **
Priaulx Library The Priaulx Library, located in St Peter Port, Guernsey, contains the island's principal collection of local and family history. History The library building, Candie House, and its initial collection of books were donated to the island by Osmond ...
** Guille-Allès Library **
St James Saint James or St. James may refer to: People Saints *James, brother of Jesus (died 62 or 69), also known as James the Just *James the Great (died 44), Apostle, also known as James, son of Zebedee, or Saint James the Greater **Saint James Matamoro ...
concert hall ** Our Lady of the Rosary Church * The Market, the Arcade, the High Street, the Pollet, Smith Street, Mill Street and Mansel Street, which are all pedestrian priority and part of the shopping district * Cobbled streets and narrow passageways of the old town * Guernsey Museum at Candie (Candie Museum) * Candie Gardens * Marinas for visiting and local boats * Military: ** Castle Cornet, the historic fortress that guarded the strategic entrance to the port. The castle was formerly a
tidal island A tidal island is a piece of land that is connected to the mainland by a natural or man-made causeway that is exposed at low tide and submerged at high tide. Because of the mystique surrounding tidal islands, many of them have been sites of ...
, but since 1859 a breakwater has connected it to the enlarged
harbour A harbor (American English), harbour (British English; see spelling differences), or haven is a sheltered body of water where ships, boats, and barges can be docked. The term ''harbor'' is often used interchangeably with ''port'', which is ...
. **
German Naval Signals HQ German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...
, HQ of the German Naval Commander Channel Islands which was established next to La Collinette Hotel, and was responsible for all radio traffic to and from Germany and the other Islands. The last operational Signals HQ that was running up until 9 May 1945, using the Enigma code machines that were being decoded by the staff at Bletchley Park. ** Island war memorial at the top of Smith Street ** Parish war memorial at the bottom of Smith Street ** St Stephens war memorial in St Stephens church ** Liberation monument ** Anglo-Boer War memorial, in the Avenue **
Fort George Fort George may refer to: Forts Bermuda * Fort George, Bermuda, built in the late 18th Century and successively developed through the 19th Century, on a site that had been in use as a watch and signal station since 1612 British Virgin Islands * ...
** Cemetery at Fort George ** Commonwealth War Graves at Le Foulon cemetery ** Clarence Battery dating from the
Napoleonic Wars The Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) were a series of major global conflicts pitting the French Empire and its allies, led by Napoleon I, against a fluctuating array of European states formed into various coalitions. It produced a period of Fren ...
** La Vallette military museum ** German fortifications, built during the occupation 1940–45 ** Two
13.5 cm K 09 The 13.5 cm Kanone 09 (13.5 cm K 09) was a heavy breech-loading field artillery gun used by Germany in World War I. Built by Friedrich Krupp AG, in Essen, Germany, this gun was intended to supplement the 10 cm K 04. Only four of the ...
German World War I Canon near Victoria Tower * The Guernsey Aquarium, situated in fortified tunnels at La Vallette, built during the German occupation. Scheduled to close down permanently next month (October 2019) due to lack of income and funds. As of December 2021, it is now closed. * Bathing places at La Vallette * A number of protected buildings ** Castle Carey was built in 1840 for John Carey. It is a Gothic revival property, attributed to the architect John Wilson, who designed Elizabeth College and St James Concert Hall. It was briefly the residence of the Lieutenant Governor of the Bailiwick of Guernsey and hosted
Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 216 days was longer than that of any previ ...
and
Prince Albert Prince Albert most commonly refers to: *Albert, Prince Consort (1819–1861), consort of Queen Victoria *Albert II, Prince of Monaco (born 1958), present head of state of Monaco Prince Albert may also refer to: Royalty * Albert I of Belgium ...
during their visit to Guernsey in 1859, and the Duke of Cambridge in 1862.
Victor Hugo Victor-Marie Hugo (; 26 February 1802 – 22 May 1885) was a French Romantic writer and politician. During a literary career that spanned more than sixty years, he wrote in a variety of genres and forms. He is considered to be one of the great ...
’s novel '' Les Travailleurs de la Mer'', published in 1866 and dedicated to Guernsey, where he spent 15 years in exile, mentions Castle Carey. The castle stayed in the Carey family until William Wilfred Carey sold it in 1912. During the Second World War, the Germans occupying Guernsey used Castle Carey as an officers’ club. The parish of Saint Peter Port hosts: * Government House (office of the Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey * St Peter Port Douzaine * Guernsey Information Centre * Fire Station * States of Guernsey Police Service * Guernsey Ambulance and Rescue Service *
Saint Peter Port Lifeboat Station The Saint Peter Port Lifeboat Station was established in Guernsey in 1803. Originally based at Saint Sampson, it relocated to Saint Peter Port in 1881. History Established in 1803 and based in Saint Sampson, Guernsey, a tidal harbour. 6 Silver ...
*
Guernsey Border Agency The Guernsey Border Agency is the law enforcement body charged with tackling cross border crime and administering the customs and immigration systems for the Bailiwick of Guernsey. The agency is headed by a Chief Officer - Patrick Rice (Head ...
* Guernsey Post * Footes Lane * Ladies' College * Vauvert Primary School * Many shops * Number of banks * Large number of offices * The International Stock Exchange * Condor Ferries, a car ferry company which operates to Jersey, France and the UK, has its head office in Saint Peter Port. * Countryside walks * Val des Terres Hill Climb * St Peter Port Harbour Carnival * Town Carnival


Main roads

The following main roads (listed from north-south) provide important links between St Peter Port and the other parishes: * Les Banques (leads up the coast to St Sampson's and the north of the island) * Rohais (leads to the parish of Castel) * Mount Row (leads to St Andrew's and the west of the island) * Ruette Brayes (leads to St Martin's and the south of the island) * Fort Road (leads to St Martin's) The following coastal roads (listed from north to south) are also very important as they provide access to the shops, carparks and the
harbour A harbor (American English), harbour (British English; see spelling differences), or haven is a sheltered body of water where ships, boats, and barges can be docked. The term ''harbor'' is often used interchangeably with ''port'', which is ...
: * St George's Esplanade * North Esplanade * South Esplanade * Mount Durand


Politics

Saint Peter Port comprises two
administrative division Administrative division, administrative unit,Article 3(1). country subdivision, administrative region, subnational entity, constituent state, as well as many similar terms, are generic names for geographical areas into which a particular, ind ...
, St Peter Port South and St Peter Port North. In the
2016 Guernsey general election The 2016 Guernsey general election was held on 27 April 2016 to elect 38 members of the States of Guernsey who will serve until 2020. There was a by-election in October 2016 to fill a vacancy in the district of Vale. Electoral system Followin ...
in: * St Peter Port South there was a 2,068 or 63% turnout to elect five Deputies * St Peter Port North there was a 2,639 or 65% turnout to elect six Deputies.


Notable people

*
Margaret Ann Neve Margaret Ann Neve ( Harvey, 18 May 1792 – 4 April 1903) was the first recorded female supercentenarian and the second validated human to reach the age of 110 after Geert Adriaans Boomgaard. Neve lived at Saint Peter Port on the island of Gu ...
Supercentenarian and the oldest woman in the world until her death in 1903 * Sir Isaac Brock – Major General, "Hero of Upper Canada", War of 1812 * Matt Le Tissier, footballer * Alison Merrien MBE, World indoors bowls champion * George Métivier, poet * Heather Watson, tennis player, Team GB athlete and Wimbledon Champion *
Victor Hugo Victor-Marie Hugo (; 26 February 1802 – 22 May 1885) was a French Romantic writer and politician. During a literary career that spanned more than sixty years, he wrote in a variety of genres and forms. He is considered to be one of the great ...
, French writer, In exile in St-Peter Port from 1855 to 1870. * Cameron Chalmers, athlete


Numismatic History

Guernsey bank notes feature a number of parish buildings: * One pound, the Market and the Royal Court * One pound commemorative, the Market and Fountain Street * Five pound, the Town Church * Ten pound, Elizabeth College * Twenty pound, St James concert hall * Fifty pound, Royal Court house


See also

*
Maritime history of the Channel Islands The Channel Islands are a group of islands off the coast of France. The largest island is Jersey, followed by Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and a number of smaller islands, islets and rocky outcrops. The islands were separated from mainland Europe with ...


References


External links


The St. Peter Port Parish Constables WebsiteThe Town Church Website
{{Authority control Peter Port Saint Peter Port