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Intangible cultural heritage is a unique blend of collective experience that makes us Jersey
What is intangible cultural heritage (ICH)?
ICH is not an object you can hold in your hand. It is held in the things we do, the way we do them, the things we say, the local references we make, the knowledge we hold, the memories we share, the traditions we value and the unique blend of collective experience that makes us Jersey.
Jersey is just starting its journey to create a list of intangible cultural heritage that has significance for Islanders today and that, therefore, as an Island, we agree should be safeguarded for transmission to future generations.
Here are just three of the things that contribute to Jersey’s ICH. It’s not British, it’s not French, it’s not Guernsey, it’s uniquely Jersey – crafted over centuries by islanders.
Example
Jersey cattle breeding
The ‘Jersey’ breed of dairy cow originates from the Island and is a product of the Island, its soil, its climate, its people and their history.
The practice of organised Jersey cattle breeding accelerated with the foundation of the Royal Jersey Agricultural & Horticultural Society (RJA&HS) in 1833 and the subsequent establishment of the Jersey Herd Book in 1866. The Herd Book is a register in which is recorded information relating to the bovine population, including the owner, a description of the animal, its ancestry, date of birth and many other facts.
Cattle breeding in Jersey today is practised by twelve dairy herds ranging in size from some 20 cows to 420 cows. Each herd will have their own established breeding lines or ‘cow families’, often having been bred by the same farming families for generations
Example
Maritime navigation around Jersey using transit marks
The use of landmarks for navigation and location is not unique to Jersey, but the Island’s large tidal range (up to 13 metres) in combination with hundreds of reefs, rocks and sandbanks necessitated the use of marks and transit lines to permit safe passage to, from and around the Island.
Since 1900 all local pilots must take an examination in the knowledge and practical use of Jersey’s principal transit marks, and large commercial vessels visiting the island must have a licenced pilot on board. This ensures that key passages into and out of the main port and some outlying harbours remain well-used and documented.
However, most local boaters gain their knowledge of transit marks from an oral tradition passed down by via parents, relatives or fellow yachters. These transit marks identify passages through treacherous inshore coastal waters and shallow offshore reefs or can be used to find subtidal rocks, sandbanks and shipwrecks. This oral tradition is centuries old and is often adjusted as old landmarks, such as chimneys, hedges and houses, disappear and are replaced by new ones. There is little written record of these marks with the knowledge existing in the heads of those that need to use them.
Example
Jersey surfing scene
The origins of surfing in Jersey stretch back to the first half of the 20th Century, with the establishment of the Island Surf School of Jersey in St Ouen’s Bay in 1923. Members practised surfing in a prone position, and it was only in the 1930s, when islander Archie Mayne pioneered the construction of larger, all-timber boards permitting access to the larger waves breaking further out to sea, that the Island’s surfers were able to ride the waves standing up.
The design and crafting of surfboards has been present for as long as surfing has taken place in Jersey. Starting with homemade wooden longboards, a seminal moment came with the establishment of Freedom boards. The fresh innovations in materials and designs brought by Steve Harewood and Barry Jenkins, ensured the style and quality of Freedom boards became a standout as being some of the most sought-after items in the water.
In addition to the skills required to conduct surfing, due to the nature of Jersey waters and the historic legacy of accidents/drownings, life-guarding and safety in the water are key elements that bring the community together.
We’re asking practitioners, community groups or ICH champions to share their traditions, language, knowledge, habits, beliefs and customs to create a list of the Island’s intangible cultural heritage.
It is vital that any list of ICH is alive, doesn’t look to the past and is not created by academics, museums or ‘experts’. It has to be real and vibrant for groups in Jersey today. This is why we are asking you to start a conversation with your community around what intangible cultural heritage you think is important to preserve.
In simple terms, what would you want to pass to the next generation?
If you have a suggestion, here’s what to do:
Check your suggestion is:
- intangible – for example, a float created for the Battle of Flowers would not be included because it is tangible, but the tradition of holding the annual festival and the knowledge of float building are intangible;
- shared in our community – it cannot be something only you or your family do or know, but something that brings groups of Islanders together in a shared, often unspoken, understanding of what is happening;
- uniquely Jersey – for example, going to the beach is not unique to Jersey, but choosing the right beach depending on the wind, tide and activity planned requires local knowledge.
Then email ich@jerseyheritage.org with a short paragraph explaining what it is and why you think we should include it, or email us to discuss your idea or arrange a meeting with your community group.
Suggestions will be added to our ICH list. This list will be published for public consultation and the top entries put forward for UNESCO World Intangible Heritage status.