Torteval, Guernsey Explained

Torteval
Native Name:Tortévas
Settlement Type:Parish
Mapsize:150px
Subdivision Type:Crown Dependency
Subdivision Name:Guernsey, Channel Islands
Leader Title:Electoral district
Leader Name:West
Unit Pref:Metric
Area Total Km2:3.1
Population Total:1017
Population As Of:2019
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone1:GMT
Timezone1 Dst:UTC+01

Torteval (Guernésiais: Tortévas) is the smallest of the ten parishes of Guernsey, one of the western parishes.[1] Its name comes from the Guernésiais words for "twisting valley". The parish is split in two by the parish of St. Pierre du Bois, with the part in the east known as Torteval. The detached peninsula to the west is named Pleinmont-Torteval. It includes the westernmost point in Guernsey, and a nature reserve. The reserve, designed for birds in the 1970s, was to be redeveloped for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in 2012.[2]

In Guernésiais, people from Torteval were nicknamed "ânes à pid dé ch'fa", or "donkeys with horse's hooves".

In the centre of the parish is a church designed by John Wilson and built in 1818, with the oldest bell in the Channel Islands, dating from 1432. The church is built on the site of an earlier church, consecrated on 4 November 1140, that had fallen into disrepair.[3] The current church has the tallest steeple in Guernsey, which is intended to be used as a sea mark. It was proposed in 1849 to install a light on the steeple, but after inspection by Trinity House it was found unsuitable.[4]

The postal code for street addresses in this parish begins with GY8.

The parish produces a regular magazine called Les Tortévalais.[5]

Features

The features of the parish include:

The parish of Torteval hosts:

Politics

Torteval comprises part of the West administrative division with Forest, St. Saviour's and St. Pierre-du-Bois

In the 2016 Guernsey general election there was a 3,188 or 74% turnout to elect five Deputies. Those elected (in order of votes received) being Al Brouard, Andrea Dudley-Owen, Emilie Yerby, David De Lisle and Shane Langlois.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Torteval-Parish-Guernsey. Guernsey Information. 11 November 2018.
  2. Web site: Torteval nature reserve to be renewed for jubilee . BBC Guernsey . 2011 . BBC News . Bbc.co.uk . 19 June 2012 .
  3. Book: Berry, William . The history of Guernsey from the remotest period of antiquity to the year 1814.
  4. Book: Dafter, Ray . Guernsey Sentinel . Matfield Books . 2003 . 0-9540595-1-4.
  5. Web site: Behance. www.behance.net. 11 November 2018.
  6. Web site: The Pleinmont Fairy Ring . BBC.
  7. Web site: Torteval Parish Memorial, Guernsey . Great War CI.
  8. Web site: Fort Pezeries . Visit Guernsey.
  9. Web site: Pleinmont Observation Tower . Visit Guernsey.
  10. Web site: NAVAL RANGE-FINDING TOWER (MP3) . Festung Guernsey.
  11. Web site: Batterie Dollman . Festung Guernsey.
  12. Web site: PROTECTED BUILDINGS . Environment - Guernsey government.
  13. Web site: Channel Islands Marine Conservation Society Recommended beaches . thebeachguide.co.uk . 24 May 2017.
  14. Web site: Guernsey Abreuvoirs . La Société Guernesiaise.
  15. Web site: In pictures: Scarecrows take over Torteval . BBC.
  16. Book: Dillon, Paddy . Channel Island Walks . 9781852842888 . Cicerone Press Limited, 1999 . registration .