A Short History of the Priory and Devil's Hole, St. Mary, Jersey, Channel Islands

I have two booklets on the Devil's Hole. This is the older and shorter one. I will post the longer one another time. A later poem telling the more legendary story is given at the end.

A Short History of the Priory and Devil's Hole, St. Mary, Jersey, Channel Islands

Devil's Hole

The awe-inspiring example of the power of the sea can be witnessed after stormy weather at the curious coastal formation now known as The Devil's Hole at St. Mary.

It is a deep, sheer-sided hole near the edge of the cliff, connected to the sea by a long tunnel through which the sea surges on the flooding tide. Such is the force of the sea that huge boulders are hurled back and forth as though they were pebbles!

It is not surprising, therefore, that legend connects this phenomena with the Devil! The true account of the wreck of the French sailing cutter "La Josephine", bound from Cherbourg to St. Maio with a cargo of oil on October 20th, 1851, is of historic interest.

Her Master, hoping to pass west of Jersey, misjudged the strong tides which sweep along the north coast of the island. In what was described as "thick" weather, "La Josephine" drove ashore beneath the cliffs at what was then called Creux de Vis — the Spiral Abyss.

The crew remained aboard, but as the weather deteriorated during the night, one man attempted to swim ashore to summon help. He was swept away and never seen again.

At day-break, as the tide dropped, the remaining four scrambled on to a rock, from which they were rescued by the owner of the Priory, Nicolas Arthur, onetime Connétable of St. Mary.

He was assisted by a neighbour, J. Richardson. Both men were commended for their action by the French Minister of Marine, and awarded Silver Medals and Certificates of Thanks.

As the wreck of "La Josephine" broke up, it was discovered that the figurehead had been washed through the tunnel into the hole. Nicolas Arthur paid a sculptor (John Gifford of St. Peter) to add arms, a trident, horns and a tail. And so the Devil was created, and the new name 'Devil's Hole' given to Creux de Vis.

The Devil remained on show for one hundred years less three months, when in July 1951, practical jokers removed the effigy and placed it outside the main offices of the 'Evening Post' — the local newspaper — in St. Helier.

In 1957, the effigy was removed again, but this time burned to ashes by hooligans claiming to be the Ku-Klux-Klan. The burning was photographed, and the picture sent anonymously to the 'Evening Post'. A replica was made, and the Devil was again "in residence" at the Hole, where he remains to this day.

The Priory

The Priory, a fine example of a Jersey granite building, has been tastefully converted into a country inn with lounge bars and restaurant which retains its charming old-world atmosphere. The building contains a good example of a "tourelle" circular stone staircase, and several ancient stone fireplaces.

What is now the Public Bar was built soon after 1851, when part of the main mast of the ill-fated "La Josephine" was used as a rafter, where it can still be seen today.

In the Cooper's Bar, on the first floor, is an interesting collection of antique cooper's tools, together with illustrations of the various stages of cask-making. There is also an exquisitely carved effigy of the Devil.

"The Old Priory Shop" is a building of great antiquity, with a fine example of a Norman arched door.

The fleur-de-lis at the base of the pillars denote its great age.

In the courtyard is one of the oldest fresh-water wells in the area, which, so legend has it, brings fortune to those who make a secret wish as they throw a coin into its depths.

The magnificent coastal panorama from the pathway to the Devil's Hole takes in Plemont Point, the Pater Noster Reef and the other Channel Islands of Sark, Herm, Jethou and Guernsey. On clear days, the shape of Alderney, 28 miles to the north, is visible, and there are sweeping views of the Normandy Coast towards Cap de la Hague.

Published by The Priory, St, Mary, Jersey, C.I. and printed by Litho Print (Jersey) Limited, Rue des Pres, Jersey, C.I.

The Crooked Man, or the Story of the Devil's Hole

There was a crooked man, twisted and mean

And he came to Jersey, and settled unseen

In the North of the Land, and laid there his gold

Such ill gotten treasure, such a heart so cold.

 

With only one friend, a tattered old cat,

All scrawny and black, and a friend to the rat,

The man set his cloven mark on the land

To claim it his own, for his dark claw'd hand

 

But then came the Church, with all manner of prayer

They did not give up, they did not despair

And into the cave in the rock, he did leap

The devil, his hole, now lost in the deep.