Saint Peter Port

St. Peter Port (French: Saint-Pierre Port) is a town and one of the ten parishes on the island of Guernsey in the Channel Islands. It is the capital of the Bailiwick of Guernsey as well as the main port. The population in 2021 was 19,295. St. Peter Port is a small town (commonly referred to by locals as just "town") consisting mostly of steep, narrow streets and steps on the overlooking slopes. It is known that a trading post/town existed here before Roman times with a pre-Christian name which has not survived. The parish covers an area of 6.5 km2. The postal code for addresses in the parish starts with GY1. People from St. Peter Port were nicknamed "les Villais" (the townspeople) or "cllichards" in Guernésiais. Geography St. Peter Port is on the east coast of Guernsey overlooking Herm and the tiny Jethou; a further channel separates Sark and surrounding islets such as Brecqhou; Normandy's long Cotentin Peninsula and, to the south-east, Jersey are visible in very clear conditions from some of the town's highest vantage points. The parish borders St. Sampson in the north, The Vale in the north-west, St. Andrew in the west and St. Martin in the south. The name of the nearest channel is the Little Russel, in which sits the Bréhon Tower; that separating Sark is the Big Russel. Both in width are less than half of Guernsey's greatest length and dotted with coastal rocks and stacks quite near those islands, some of which are narrowly submerged. Relief The land in the north and by the harbour is low-lying but not marshy. In the south, the land gets higher (but not as high as St Martin's or the Forest). Grassy, gently terraced cliffs behind sea walls (including projections) topped by trees characterise the southern part of the coast here (by an underground military museum and historic battery at semi-wooded Havelet). In the north is the more built-up Admiral Park development. To the south of the town lies Havelet Bay and the coastal path which leads to the very pretty Fermain Bay after a walk of about 20–25 minutes. Toponymy This is a medieval toponymic formation meaning "port of Saint-Pierre." Contrary to local belief, the form Saint-Pierre-Port, rather than *Port-Saint-Pierre, is not linked to a modern English influence but reflects the word order (determinative + appellative) characteristic of ancient place names in most of the Normandy region, which is of Germanic and Anglo-Scandinavian origin. This is why Saint-Pierre-Port has the same name as an old Saint Pierre Port (Normandy, Seine-Maritime, Sancti Petri Portus around 1240, Saint Pierre port in 1319, Saint Pierreport in 1412, Saint Pierre Port in 1431), altered in the late 15th century to Saint-Pierre-en-Port. This type of toponymic compound in -port is still found in Vatteport (Normandy, Eure, Vatteville, Vateport 1616) and Quenneport (Normandy, Seine-Maritime, Val-de-la-Haye, Quenzico porta 872-875, Cheineport 1203), etc. The English form Saint Peter Port is a translation of the initial form. History Climate St. Peter Port has an oceanic climate (Cfb) with mild summers and cool winters. Subdivisions Saint Peter Port is subdivided into four cantons: Canton 1 or North Canton Canton 2 or Canton of the North-West Canton 3 or Canton of the South-West Canton 4 or Canton of the South In addition, the islands of Herm and Jethou belong to the parish, but are not part of any canton. They belong to Electoral district Saint Peter Port South. Sport and leisure St. Peter Port has an English Isthmian League club, Guernsey F.C. who play at Victoria Park. The Guernsey Rugby Football Club also play at Footes Lane and compete in National League 3 London & SE. Media St. Peter Port is covered by the local television news programmes: BBC Channel Islands News and ITV News Channel TV. Guernsey's two main radio stations: BBC Radio Guernsey and Island FM are based in the town. The local newspaper is the Guernsey Press. Features Transport The following main roads (listed from north-south) provide important links between St Peter Port and the other parishes: Les Banques (leads up the coast to St Sampson's and the north of the island) Rohais (leads to the parish of Castel) Mount Row (leads to St Andrew's and the west of the island) Ruette Brayes (leads to St Martin's and the south of the island) Fort Road (leads to St Martin's) The following coastal roads (listed from north to south) are also very important as they provide access to the shops, carparks and the harbour: St George's Esplanade North Esplanade South Esplanade The principal bus station is located in the parish on South Esplanade. Town Terminus is the terminus for the island's public transport network, where all bus routes on the island terminate. The parish contains Saint Peter Port Harbour, the island's main port. All ferry services across the rest of the Bailiwick, Jersey, Poole and Portsmouth can be found here, as well as summer-seasonal cruise ships. Politics Saint Peter Port comprised two administrative division, St Peter Port South and St Peter Port North, until the 2018 referendum implemented a single constituency. In the 2016 Guernsey general election in: St Peter Port South, there was a 2,068 or 63% turnout to elect five Deputies. St Peter Port North, there was a 2,639 or 65% turnout to elect six Deputies. Notable people Margaret Ann Neve, supercentenarian and the oldest woman in the world until her death in 1903 Sir Isaac Brock, Major General, "Hero of Upper Canada", War of 1812 Matt Le Tissier, footballer Linda Martel, healer (1956-1961) Alison Merrien, World indoors bowls champion George Métivier, poet Heather Watson, tennis player, Team GB athlete and Wimbledon Champion Victor Hugo, French writer, in exile in St Peter Port from 1855 to 1870 Cameron Chalmers, athlete Numismatic history Guernsey bank notes feature a number of parish buildings: See also Maritime history of the Channel Islands References External links The St. Peter Port Parish Constables Website The Town Church Website