St Anne, Alderney

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St Anne is clearly marked on Alderney in the North East.

St Anne is the main town on the Channel Island of Alderney and sometimes described as the capital. It takes up a large part of the island. Traditionally the centre was in the middle of the island, but it has expanded towards Braye Harbour.

St Anne is also the name of the one and only parish on the island (Church of England)

The ancient parish church dedicated to the Virgin Mary was sited at the lower end of the High Street but fell into ruins and was replaced in the late 1580s by a chapel of St. Anne. In 1851 the old chapel was demolished, but the clock tower was retained.

The parish church of St. Anne was built in 1850 (architect: Sir Gilbert Scott), a gift of the Revd John Le Mesurier, son of the last hereditary Governor, in accordance with the wishes of his father.

[edit] Swinburne

A.C Swinburne's poem, Les Casquets is based on the Houguez family who actually lived on those for 18 years. The Houguez were originally from Alderney, and the poem describes their life on Les Casquets. The daughter falls in love with a carpenter from Alderney, but moving to his island, finds life there too busy. She finds the "small bright streets of serene St Anne" and "the sight of the works of men" too much, and returns to Les Casquets.