Saint Clement, Jersey
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| Island | Jersey, Channel Islands |
| Area | 4.2 km² |
| Population | 8196 |
| - density | 1951.4/km² |
Saint Clement (Jèrriais: St Cliément) is one of the twelve parishes of Jersey in the Channel Islands. It is in the south east of the Island, and contains some of the suburbs of Saint Helier. It is the smallest parish by surface area, but the most densely populated. St. Clement stretches west to east from Le Dicq to within a quarter mile of La Rocque harbour (at the end of Rue de la Lourderie). Its surface area is around 1,044 acres.
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[edit] History
Much of the parish lies below equinoctial high-tide level and was frequently flooded before Le Dicq was built to try and hold back the sea somewhat. There are remains of a submerged forest underneath the sand at Grève d'Azette that shows how the parish has reduced in size as the sea has advanced. Large floods in 1688, 1796 and 1812 led to the coast road at Le Hocq being swept away by the sea and necessitated the coast road being rebuilt further inland.
In pre-Norman times, the area now known as St. Clement was known as Petravilla or Pierreville. In 1172 it was recorded that a chapel existed in the parish, and there was a priory on the site of the old Priory Inn (now houses).
In the 16th and 17th centuries the parish was the centre of a witch movement, with the rock at Rocque Berg (known as Witches' Rock) apparently used in all kinds of witchcraft.
After the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685, many French Protestants settled in the parish - as recorded on the church register.
In the mid 19th century, the town of St. Helier began to spread into the west of the parish, and even today there is relatively little open green space (with the exception of the golf and football fields) west of Samarès Lane into St. Helier.
The famous French writer Victor Hugo lived in Marina Terrace, St. Clement for some time, and it was here that he wrote his collection of poems entitled Les Châtiments. It was the Connétable of St. Clement at the time who escorted Hugo onto a steamer bound for Guernsey when he had insulted the British Royal Family in some of his letters.
(Balleine, 1970)
[edit] Vingtaines
The parish is divided into vingtaines for administrative purposes as follows:
The parish forms one electoral district and elects two Deputies.
[edit] Demographics
| 1991 | 1996 | 2001 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7393 | 7986 | 8196 | |||
| Statistics beginning 1991 | |||||
[edit] Politics
Aside from the two deputies who sit in the States of Jersey and represent the parish, St. Clement also has its own local administration. This, like each of the other eleven parishes, is made up of a Connétable (often referred to as the 'father' of the parish), who is elected for a three year term and has a seat in the States Chamber, and on the Comité des Connétables; two Procureurs du Bien Public, who are also elected and oversee the finances of the parish; a Recteur (or Rector), responsible for the parish church; members of the parish Honorary Police (made up of Centeniers, Vingteniers and Constable's Officers); and other officers such as churchwardens, roads inspectors, rates assessors and a registrar. The current Connétable of St. Clement is Mr. Derek Gray.
The seat of the parish administration is the Salle Paroissiale, or Parish Hall, which is pictured above and located at Le Hocq. This is the newest parish hall in the island; the previous parish hall in St. Clement was located at Caldwell Hall, on the St. Clement's Inner Road (Grande Route de St Clément).
St. Clement is unique in being the only parish in Jersey not to be twinned with a town in Normandy, France.
[edit] Education
St. Clement has two primary schools and one secondary school within its borders. The parish school of St. Clement is located in Rue de la Chapelle, and dates back to 1901. It has been replaced in 2006 with a brand new building on the opposite side of the road.
Samares School (formerly Le Squez School) is another primary school located further east in School Road, Le Squez.
Le Rocquier secondary school is located next to St. Clement's parish school, and has also been refurbished in 2006.
[edit] Churches
The (Anglican) parish church of St. Clement is a beautiful and ancient place of worship located on the St. Clement's Inner Road (Grande Route de St Clément). The church has a website, linked below. St. Nicholas is a smaller, sister church, located on the coast road (Grande Route de la Côte). It was opened in 1927 after being planned, financed and largely built by the Reverend L.B. Lee.
The St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church is located on the same road but further west.
The Samarès Methodist Church is located on the St. Clement's Coast Road (Grande Route de la Côte). The church has a website, linked below.
Religious services are also carried out at Communicare, Le Squez.
[edit] Significant Sites
The dolmen at Mont Ubé (off La Blinerie) is believed to have been left there by a pre-Celtic race called the Iberians, in around 3,000 B.C. Remains of a cemetery on La Motte (Green Island) are believed to be from later settlers. (Balleine, 1970)
Le Hocq Tower was built in 1778 as a coastal defense against the French when they sided with the American colonies against the British.
The rocky coastline that stretches from St. Clement around to Grouville is a UN RAMSAR site of special significance.
[edit] External links
- St Cliément in Jerriais
- St. Clement's Church
- Samares Methodist Church
- St. Clement's School
- Samares School
- Le Rocquier School
[edit] References
- Balleine, G.R., 1970. The Bailiwick of Jersey (Revised by Joan Stevens). ISBN 0340002670
| Parishes of Jersey |
|---|
| St Brélade | St Clement | Grouville | St Helier | St John | St Lawrence | St Martin | St Mary | St Ouen | St Peter | St Saviour | Trinity |
