In April, the Lord Coutanche Library was delighted to welcome eight visitors from Normandy, representing the Association Jersey–Cotentin and the Comité de Jumelage Granville–Saint-Brelade, accompanied by Judy Smith and Jean Le Maistre.
Although several members of the group have visited Jersey for many years, this was their first opportunity to discover both the Lord Coutanche Library and the Société Jersiaise. They were delighted to learn more about the Société Jersiaise and its role in preserving Jersey’s heritage, having previously been unaware of the organisation despite their long-standing connection with the island.
The Librarian presented a selection of items from the Library’s collections, which the group explored with great enthusiasm. Visitors were particularly impressed by the richness and diversity of the material on display, including rare books, historic maps, prints, watercolours, drawings and other fascinating archival items.
Highlights included early works relating to the history and customs of Normandy, 16th‑ and 17th‑century maps, and artwork by Philip John Ouless depicting scenes from Normandy. The visit provided an excellent opportunity to share the Library’s remarkable documentary heritage with an engaged and appreciative audience.
We look forward to welcoming many more visitors throughout the year and to continuing to showcase the unique resources of the Lord Coutanche Library.
Highlights from the display included:
- Le Grand Coustumier du Pays et Duché de Normandie (Laurens Hostingue, Caen, 1510)
- Commentaires du droict civil, tant public que privé, observé au pays & Duché de Normandie by Guillaume Terrien (Paris, 1574)
- Prints, watercolours and pencil drawings by Philip John Ouless (1817–1885) depicting Bricquebec and other locations in Normandy
- Inventaire de l’histoire de Normandie by Jacques Eustache d’Anneville (Rouen, 1656)
- Vingt jours sur les côtes de Normandie et de Bretagne et à l’île de Jersey by Constant de Tours (1888)
- Bradshaw’s Handbook to Normandy and the Channel Islands by Herbert Fry (1895)
- A selection of 16th- and 17th-century maps
- Specimens of Mediaeval Architecture, chiefly from 12th- and 13th-century examples in France and Italy, drawn by W. Eden Nesfield (1862)
