A nice piece from "Motor Cycle Magazine", 1952, although unless the Island has shrunk, they've got the area too large!
At the time exchange control rules for foreign currencies were in place. A basic allowance for personal travel abroad was introduced in November 1945, of £100 per year for each adult and £50 for a child. This allowance was altered with the balance of payments situation (in 1952, for example, the allowance for an adult was only £25 as described below and, indeed, from October 1947 to May 1948 it was withdrawn entirely), until the restrictions on spending for personal travel were removed in 1959.
At the time exchange control rules for foreign currencies were in place. A basic allowance for personal travel abroad was introduced in November 1945, of £100 per year for each adult and £50 for a child. This allowance was altered with the balance of payments situation (in 1952, for example, the allowance for an adult was only £25 as described below and, indeed, from October 1947 to May 1948 it was withdrawn entirely), until the restrictions on spending for personal travel were removed in 1959.
Holidaying in Jersey
Charles Stuart describes some of the attractions of the Channel Islands
Limitation of the foreign travel allowance to the derisory figure of £25 must direct attention to the limited number of places within ‘easy reach where Continental amenities and atmosphere can still be enjoyed. The Channel Islands spring naturally to mind, and the largest of these, Jersey, is the one most likely to be favoured. Motorists who have once visited the “Pearl of the Channel” do not hesitate to make a return trip; this article is for the eye of those who may think Jersey’s 60 square miles hardly enough to merit serious consideration.
In spite of its diminutive size, Jersey has more miles of good motoring highways than any comparable place in the world, and offers scenery as rich and varied as the most exacting could desire. Scenery implies bills, but since the elevation is nowhere in excess of 450 feet, gradients are easy and lovely winding lanes offer an ever changing vista of hill and dale, tree and sky, cliff and sea. France is a bare dozen miles away; the other islands are within easy reach.
St. Helier, the capital, with its busy harbour, continental streets and wonderful shops displaying goods in a profusion, variety and style unknown in Britain since 1939, is well worth a visit. Cigarettes are 1s 6d for 20 and incidentals are cheap and plentiful.
Charles Stuart describes some of the attractions of the Channel Islands
Limitation of the foreign travel allowance to the derisory figure of £25 must direct attention to the limited number of places within ‘easy reach where Continental amenities and atmosphere can still be enjoyed. The Channel Islands spring naturally to mind, and the largest of these, Jersey, is the one most likely to be favoured. Motorists who have once visited the “Pearl of the Channel” do not hesitate to make a return trip; this article is for the eye of those who may think Jersey’s 60 square miles hardly enough to merit serious consideration.
In spite of its diminutive size, Jersey has more miles of good motoring highways than any comparable place in the world, and offers scenery as rich and varied as the most exacting could desire. Scenery implies bills, but since the elevation is nowhere in excess of 450 feet, gradients are easy and lovely winding lanes offer an ever changing vista of hill and dale, tree and sky, cliff and sea. France is a bare dozen miles away; the other islands are within easy reach.
St. Helier, the capital, with its busy harbour, continental streets and wonderful shops displaying goods in a profusion, variety and style unknown in Britain since 1939, is well worth a visit. Cigarettes are 1s 6d for 20 and incidentals are cheap and plentiful.
Norman French Answer
With the familiar rule of the road and numerous traffic officers in the busy, narrow streets, the motor cyclist is free to concentrate on finding his way. This is where the fun begins. The Jersiaise practically live in their cars—there is one to about every four people—using than for almost every purpose except going to bed; so they know every stick and stone in the island; hence signs and directions are not necessary. But the outlook of these amazingly kind, helpful folk is insular, and they fail to appreciate that strangers may lack local knowledge.
Roads obviously lead somewhere, but the almost entire absence of indications of either place or district is apt to be puzzling. In the remoter districts it is even—money betting that the wayfarer one hopefully accosts is as ignorant as oneself; or he may answer in a Norman French patois.
However, it all adds to the fun and a careful study of the map is a very necessary precaution. Not that this is a simple matter. The latest Ordnance Survey is nearly 20 years old, and though, of course, it is nice to know where the railways and other vanished objects once reposed, it hardly solves present day problems. Be wary, too, of the ‘tradesmen’s gift maps. In all probability the information has varied little since 1851, or 1066 for that matter; alteration of the date does not affect the hoary contents.
The map issued by the A.A. is the only one in which are shown such vital items as one-way streets and where the 15 m.p.h. speed limits are operative. Minor roads are protected by yellow lines at all intersections; to ignore them is to commit an “infraction du reglement”-— a much nicer phrase than breaking the law.
It is advisable to purchase the local evening paper, the only channel for the proclamation of official notices; it gives the lighting up time in “Greenwich mean,” but omits to mention the local variation of some 15 minutes!
Justice is swift, though dispensed with a minimum of inconvenience should one be unfortunate enough to strike trouble. Curiously, the paid police have no power to charge offenders; a voluntary official—a Centenier—has to be fetched for that purpose; he directs one to appear before the local Constable, i.e., the Mayor. A recent experience of the writer's may be apposite. It was a case of a minor collision. Said the Beak: “Hm! Not much to make a fuss about. You don’t fuss, they don't fuss. Why should I? Goodbye and God bless.”
English, and particularly London, riders should feel quite at home roaming from Cheapside to Charing Cross via the New Cut to Vauxhall, Victoria and Waterloo Streets, but would be unwise to look for Don Road in the vicinity of Don Street, or to imagine Elizabeth Castle, Street or Place are in any way adjacent.
They should be intrigued to find that the English names of some streets have a French equivalent, and puzzled why the French equivalent of Church Street is Rue Trouvée Carillon, until told that in olden days ladies used to make a liberal display of petticoats to step over an open drain. The alias of Castle Street, La Perquage, implies an old right of way. And. so on. Nobody recognizes Mont Cochon Road by its official label, “Route St. Jean 1839,” possibly because it has hardly had time to become acclimatized; and to look for a Pied at any lower level than half-way up a hill is a waste of time.
One can spend a pleasant morning searching for the Rue des Fosses a Mortier, which is off Rue de Franc Fief, which is off the Pont du Val, which is off the Ville des Quennevais; if you find any of them named, you’ll be lucky! But it's worth the effort, and a Jersey driving licence costs only half a crown.
The island is a paradise for motor cycles. The Bouley Bay hill-climb tests are famous; the gorgeous expanse of hard sands at St. Ouen’s offers unlimited scope for speed trials. The climate is as delightful as the people, and the general level of courtesy, especially in the shops, approaches a very high standard.
On a holiday spent out of England, one expects something different; in Jersey, there is little to criticize and a very great deal to praise. There are no troublesome passport or currency regulations. The language difficulty does not arise. Yes, it’s a very pleasant place for a holiday. Few there are who do not holiday there again.
With the familiar rule of the road and numerous traffic officers in the busy, narrow streets, the motor cyclist is free to concentrate on finding his way. This is where the fun begins. The Jersiaise practically live in their cars—there is one to about every four people—using than for almost every purpose except going to bed; so they know every stick and stone in the island; hence signs and directions are not necessary. But the outlook of these amazingly kind, helpful folk is insular, and they fail to appreciate that strangers may lack local knowledge.
Roads obviously lead somewhere, but the almost entire absence of indications of either place or district is apt to be puzzling. In the remoter districts it is even—money betting that the wayfarer one hopefully accosts is as ignorant as oneself; or he may answer in a Norman French patois.
However, it all adds to the fun and a careful study of the map is a very necessary precaution. Not that this is a simple matter. The latest Ordnance Survey is nearly 20 years old, and though, of course, it is nice to know where the railways and other vanished objects once reposed, it hardly solves present day problems. Be wary, too, of the ‘tradesmen’s gift maps. In all probability the information has varied little since 1851, or 1066 for that matter; alteration of the date does not affect the hoary contents.
The map issued by the A.A. is the only one in which are shown such vital items as one-way streets and where the 15 m.p.h. speed limits are operative. Minor roads are protected by yellow lines at all intersections; to ignore them is to commit an “infraction du reglement”-— a much nicer phrase than breaking the law.
It is advisable to purchase the local evening paper, the only channel for the proclamation of official notices; it gives the lighting up time in “Greenwich mean,” but omits to mention the local variation of some 15 minutes!
Justice is swift, though dispensed with a minimum of inconvenience should one be unfortunate enough to strike trouble. Curiously, the paid police have no power to charge offenders; a voluntary official—a Centenier—has to be fetched for that purpose; he directs one to appear before the local Constable, i.e., the Mayor. A recent experience of the writer's may be apposite. It was a case of a minor collision. Said the Beak: “Hm! Not much to make a fuss about. You don’t fuss, they don't fuss. Why should I? Goodbye and God bless.”
English, and particularly London, riders should feel quite at home roaming from Cheapside to Charing Cross via the New Cut to Vauxhall, Victoria and Waterloo Streets, but would be unwise to look for Don Road in the vicinity of Don Street, or to imagine Elizabeth Castle, Street or Place are in any way adjacent.
They should be intrigued to find that the English names of some streets have a French equivalent, and puzzled why the French equivalent of Church Street is Rue Trouvée Carillon, until told that in olden days ladies used to make a liberal display of petticoats to step over an open drain. The alias of Castle Street, La Perquage, implies an old right of way. And. so on. Nobody recognizes Mont Cochon Road by its official label, “Route St. Jean 1839,” possibly because it has hardly had time to become acclimatized; and to look for a Pied at any lower level than half-way up a hill is a waste of time.
One can spend a pleasant morning searching for the Rue des Fosses a Mortier, which is off Rue de Franc Fief, which is off the Pont du Val, which is off the Ville des Quennevais; if you find any of them named, you’ll be lucky! But it's worth the effort, and a Jersey driving licence costs only half a crown.
The island is a paradise for motor cycles. The Bouley Bay hill-climb tests are famous; the gorgeous expanse of hard sands at St. Ouen’s offers unlimited scope for speed trials. The climate is as delightful as the people, and the general level of courtesy, especially in the shops, approaches a very high standard.
On a holiday spent out of England, one expects something different; in Jersey, there is little to criticize and a very great deal to praise. There are no troublesome passport or currency regulations. The language difficulty does not arise. Yes, it’s a very pleasant place for a holiday. Few there are who do not holiday there again.
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