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www.valeparish.com

The Official Website of the Vale Parish, Guernsey, Channel Isles

Reclaiming the Braye du Valle - 200th Anniversary

To all Vale Parishioners,

As Dean of the Douzaine I would like to express my sincere thanks to all the Parishioners who attended the "Vale Party" on Saturday 15th July 2006 in making the day the success it was in celebrating the 200 years of the reclaiming of the Braye du Valle.

I am sure that those attending the unveiling of the plaque commemorating this historic achievement and also those who reviewed the exhibition thereafter at the Douzaine room learned a little bit more of the Vale Parish's history.

The effort of the organising Committee was fully evident throughout the day and I am sure much appreciated by all.

Once again thank you for supporting your Douzaine and all the co-opted helpers and contributors that made the day the success it was.

Yours sincerely,

Noël Duquemin

Dean of the Douzaine

THE Bailiff, Geoffrey Rowland, unveiled a plaque commemorating the reclamation of the Braye du Valle 200th anniversary.

It is attached to a former sea wall which ran on the east side of the Braye. The event was part of the Vale parish’s celebrations for the reclamation, which was instigated by the then Lt.-Governor, Sir John Doyle.

‘This sea wall will be a story which is completely riveting,’ said Mr Rowland.

‘It was built as a defensive measure against the sea and yet in 1806 its purpose was taken away.’
Guernsey was a far different place in those days and under threat of invasion, he added.

‘Those who built the wall would never have guessed that their design would stand on their land and on reclaimed land rather than the rise and fall of the tide,’ he said.

‘When we think of this wall, we reflect on our military, economic and social history. For all those reasons, it’s appropriate to commemorate the commencement of the enormous work of reclamation which transformed a large area of Guernsey forever.’

The metal plaque was mounted onto a piece of granite free of charge by stonemason Lance Vaudin. He said it was set to help protect it from vandals and took about four hours to complete.

‘I like doing things for douzaines and for Guernsey; it’s about preserving it for posterity and heritage and it’s important to support events like this.’

The plaque says that work on the reclamation of the Braye du Valle commenced on 12 July 1806.

‘The Lt.-Governor of Guernsey feared the French might invade the Clos du Valle which was isolated from the main body of the island at high tide and use it as a base from which to attack his troops on the southern portion of Guernsey,’ it adds.

The project involved the reclamation of 300 acres.

‘Embankments were built at the two extremities of the Braye and the work was completed in 1808 using only man-and-horse power.’

(Reproduced courtesy Guernsey Press and Star 17th July 2006)