July

Two notable events in Jersey culture took place in the same location, during the same month, many years apart. On 31 July 1865, the Theatre Royal burned down. Its replacement, initially called the Royal Amphitheatre suffered a similar fate in 1899 and, on 9 July 1900, the Jersey Opera House opened for business. In popular culture, it was also the month in which Channel Television switched from black and white to colour, and ITV broadcast the first episode of Island at War.

King George V and Queen Elizabeth II both visited Jersey during the month of July, albeit many years apart, and so did Prince Charles and Camilla. King George III approved the construction of a series of defensive towers, including Seymour Tower, to protect the island from France, and more recently, the Queen gave Jersey ownership of both Elizabeth Castle and Mont Orgueil. The island also accepted the gift of St Catherine’s breakwater when it was no longer of any defensive use.

A Jersey cow found fame for managing to produce more butter than it weighed itself over the course of a year, and Jersey got its first ever banknotes, which were eased into circulation by being given out as change to shoppers who had paid for goods using mainland notes.