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
Occupation prisoner Paul Desire Gourdan is born
- Paul Gourdan was one of the many islanders who was transported to mainland Europe to serve a prison sentence during the Occupation.
- Read more…
The States starts dismantling Jersey Railway
- After a fire, and facing stiff competition from road transport, Jersey Railway was sold to the States, which began demolishing the track.
- Read more…
Man tried on priest porn charges
- When pornographic pictures of a Jersey priest started circulating, a man with whom he'd had a long running feud was the natural suspect.
- Read more…
Ship sinks after crew gets drunk
- When a captain attempted to bring in his ship single handed it was almost inevitable that it would end up sinking.
- Read more…
