Wanted: ideas to help celebrate the Vale's ancient Norman past
Fri 17 Apr 2026
Helen Glencross, head of heritage services / Guernsey Press image
The invitation comes from Helen Glencross, the States' head of heritage services, who says it is an excellent opportunity for the island to become involved in something truly Europe-wide.
The trigger is 2027's 1000th anniversary of the birth of William the Conqueror and the Vale is well placed to contribute to the celebrations given the annexation of the Channel Islands and the Vale to the Duchy of Normandy in 933 mean the parish was literally part of Norman France at that time.
The celebrations will span Normandy, the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, Flanders, Southern Italy, Norway and Denmark and all the parishes have been asked for ideas how to make the event more special and more local.
In particular, suggestions are welcomed in the following areas:
- Exhibitions & contemporary art
- Music & performance
- Student exchanges
- Festivals & trails
- Educational & sporting activities
See the downloads section for more on the celebrations.
Anyone or any groups or organisation with ideas are asked to contact Ms Glencross (see below) and it is hoped that there can be some direct reference to the Vale's very direct links to the past.
These include land in the Vale, Fief St Michel, being granted in 1032 by Robert II, Duke of Normandy after he took shelter in Guernsey and in around 968, monks from Mont Saint-Michel in France founded a priory in the parish so the Vale church (strictly, St Michel du Valle) was effectively a dependency of the famous Norman abbey.
To contact Helen Glencross, please
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: +44 (0)1481 226518
or by post at:
Guernsey Museums & Galleries
Candie Gardens
St Peter Port
Guernsey
GY1 1UG