Around the Avenue
Isle of Sark – day 4 – 3 : 05 PM – weather : a lot of sun – temperature : 11.3°C
Dear reader,
Today I decided to suspend the researches for a while, and to bring this day in the streets of Sark. “Pathes” is more appropriated for describe the few small tracks cross-ruling the scenery. Sark is not accessible to cars, but they are other ways to experience this island – by horse drawn carriage, bicycle or on foot, as I do.
Sark is a self-governing Crown Dependency, neither part of the United Kingdom nor European Union. The Head of its Government is the Seigneur, a hereditary position dating back to 1565 when Sark was granted to Helier de Carteret by Queen Elizabeth I. The actual, and twenty-second Seigneur of Sark is John Michael Beaumont. The Chief Pleas is the parliament of Sark, and consists of the 40 Tenants, representing the parcels of the 40 families who colonised Sark, plus 12 Deputies of the People, elected by universal suffrage.
The 600 inhabitants of the island are living in charming, old-fashioned homes, dispersed all around the roads. On the main street of Sark, called the “Avenue”, are several shops carrying a wide variety of provisions. An old church, framed by two ancient graveyards, a recent school complex, with dozens of bikes at the entrance, and the grounds of La Seigneurie, official home of the Seigneur and his wife are the most remarkable edifices of Sark, not to mention the jailhouse where Tulse was kept as a prisoner.
Best regards,
Daniel Capelletti
Head of Research of the Global Connected Researcher Union
February 13th, 2008 at 7:44 am
Dear Daniel
I love this island, it reminds me of a little island I visited in the Scottish highlands many years ago. That Island was called Ling or Luing or something like that. I find it interesting that things haven’t changed much on Sark, that means that things are probably much like they were when Tulse was there. The prison looks very uncomfortable.
Can’t wait to here more.
Laise
February 16th, 2008 at 12:44 am
Dear Laise,
I agree, Sark is an island where time is suspended, or at least running slower than on the rest of the world. But I had the same feeling in Moab, in another, even larger dimension. Nürenberg will maybe also bring that sensation, I’ll tell you in March.
The jail of Sark is indeed very small and harsch-looking.
Friendly,
Daniel C.
March 4th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
Reminds me of a very small town I stayed at outside of of Bath, England, population about a dozen. The photo of the graveyard was very similar to my own photos, but what’s missing in Sark is the pub! Might we see a photo of that? Many a good night was had, joining the entire town in “shut-ins” after closing time, drinking ales and telling stories deep into the night, until it all became a haze.
Cheers, Wink
March 4th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Dear Wink,
I’m sorry for your disappointment, but my researches are still running, and maybe the future will bring us the opportunity to have such ale-and-stories evenings, and to report them to this blog…
October 28th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
You write very well.