16th April 1859
First Jersey Royals are exported to London
Jersey new potatoes only found fame on the mainland after the first shipment went on sale in Covent Garden on 16 April 1859. They were an immediate hit, and three further shipments were sent before the end of the season, plus a fourth to Swansea. That was just the start of their success. Less than 10 years later, Jersey was exporting more than 4000 tons of potatoes to the mainland, and demand has been strong ever since.
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Other events that occured in April
Great Western steamer sinks at Noir Montaise
- The steamer Ibex struck Noir Montaise rock, close to Jersey, at 20 knots and sank. The passengers were evacuated.
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A crane falls into St Helier Harbour
- A 25-year-old crane operator drowned when his crane fell from Victoria Pier into St Helier harbour.
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Children discover a body in the sand dunes
- Alan and Ann Heath found the body of 45-year-old John Perree, who had been killed when he was shot in the face.
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Law heralds creation of wartime currency
- When Jersey's local currency started to disappear during the Occupation, measures were put in place to design a new one.
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