The Priaulx Library, Guernsey

27/08/2026

Here's a miniature said to be of James Saumarez, from the Royal Museums Greenwich collection. Does it look like him? Yes! It has no artist attributed, but the style and sensitivity of the depiction indicate it is pretty certainly by Philippe Jean, the Jersey miniaturist and portrait painter who was greatly favoured by the wealthy elite of Guernsey and of England, including royalty. Jean had served in the Navy before taking up painting, and this is one of a set of miniatures depicting Naval officers associated with Lord Nelson. If it is by Jean it must date between 1785 and 1802, the date of Jean's death. The image is made available through a Creative Commons licence, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND)

26/08/2026

LIBRARY TOUR! There's a free tour of the Priaulx Library at 10.30 a.m. on Saturday, September 5th. Book your place via Eventbrite (link in the comment below). The tour is free but places are limited, so don't miss out! Parking is available at the Library for visitors. This month's theme is 'Back to school'. The two little fellas in the photograph from our collection attended the Câtel School, somewhat unwillingly it would appear #

22/08/2026

On summer evenings in 1905, Guernsey favourites the Gaieties came from the mainland to entertain the crowds in Candie Grounds. They were a troupe of usually six players, three men and three women - we have photographs in the Library collection. Special guest and star turn was 15 year-old banjo prodigy Charlie Rogers. Charlie would have his hand damaged by a bullet in WWI. Photo from classic.banjo.ning.com, improved with AI

21/08/2026

CHALK AND PORRIDGE! Newly digitised school admission records, dating back to 1882, have been added to FindMyPast and offer fascinating insight into childhood in Guernsey. Whether your ancestor attended Vale, St Andrew’s, Hautes Capelles, Notre Dame du Rosaire, or St Joseph’s, these 6,468 new records help bring their early years to life. Delve into the past and uncover the stories hidden in these school registers. FindMyPast have also updated their collection of Guernsey prison registers with 8,966 records spanning 1854 to 1896! All this can be viewed for free in the Priaulx Library - the pic is a detail from the Girls' Intermediary Prize Day in 1939, in the Library collection

13/08/2026

NEW BOOKS! Two novels about Iris Doyle, an astrologer who lives on Alderney, and her investigations into mysterious murders that take place there! Popular and prize-winning French author Béatrice Nicodème lives in Loire-Atlantique and writes historical and detective novels for children and adults. Her publishers call these two 'cosy mysteries' - Alderney is unsettling, but not too much, and her likeable and eccentric heroine's adventures never get too out of hand! Available from the Priaulx Library

12/08/2026

Ever wondered how people watched eclipses without the special glasses and expert advice we have today? Carle Vernet’s cartoon, “Eclipse enthusiasts, 7 September 1820”

Et vous, lèverez-vous les yeux vers le ciel ce soir pour observer l’éclipse ? 🌙

Carle Vernet, « Les amateurs d'éclipse, 7 septembre 1820 », CC0 Paris Musées / Musée Carnavalet

11/08/2026

NEW BOOK! Murders, disappearances, a cult ... 'The vanished of Blackmore': a French 1920s Gothic mystery set in Blackmore island - better know to us as Alderney! Available from the Priaulx Library

11/08/2026

What did people do to keep their letters secret before passwords and encryption? 🔐✉️
This blog explores the fascinating history of hidden messages, from wax seals and ingenious letter-locking techniques to ciphers that protected private correspondence for centuries.

🔗 Read the blog to uncover the hidden history of codes, correspondence and communication: library.chethams.com/blog/keep-it-secret-keep-it-safe-wax-seals-and-letter-locking

09/08/2026

NEW BOOK! "Prize-winning author Nandini Das uncovers the revelatory global story of Tudor and Stuart England, told through the merchants, migrants, sailors, travellers and spies who helped forged a nation." Published 2026 by Bloomsbury.