| Lihou Island |
Lihou is a small tidal island (95 vergees; 38½ ac; 15.6 ha) that is part of the Channel Islands. It lies off the west coast of Guernsey and is the most westerly point in the Channel Islands. Coordinates: 49°27′38.16″N, 2°40′4.44″W.
The island was bought by the States of Guernsey in January 1995.
Lihou is not always an island, and is connected to Guernsey at low tide by an ancient stone causeway between the island and L'Eree headland.
The causeway to the island uncovers before and after low tide and so keep an eye on the rising tide. Access times are announced daily on local radio. Lihou is part of the Parish of St. Peter's.
The tenancy for the house on Lihou Island in Guernsey has been granted to the Lihou Charitable Trust.
Situated on the island are the remains of the 12th century Priory of St Mary's and a watch tower used in past centuries by the Guernsey Militia.
The island is now owned by Guernsey and is restricted only by the tides. The tenancy for the house on Lihou Island in Guernsey has been granted to the Lihou Charitable Trust. |
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| History |
Like many other Channel Islands, Lihou's name contains the Norman language suffix "-hou" of Old Norse origin. On the island are the ruins of the priory of Saint Mary which is believed to have been established by Benedictine monks in the 12th century.
The monks of the priory were by no means generally popular with the local people, who suspected them of devil worship.
This animosity may be due to the monks' insistence on rights of wreck. Until 1415 it was under the control of Mont Saint Michel and thereafter under Eton College until the Reformation when it was closed and fell into disrepair. The house on Lihou was used for target practice by heavy artillery during the German Occupation of the Channel Islands during World War II. It has now been rebuilt as accommodation for school groups, and is used as an educational resource.
Vraic (seaweed) was harvested and dried on frames set up on the beach. A 1927 factory building produced iodine from seaweed. All traces of the industry disappeared during the German Occupation. |
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| Lihou Charitable Trust |
| A trust set up by interested parties either representing other groups/organisations or as individuals, to try to safeguard the future use of the house on Lihou Island, primarily for educational purposes for the people of Guernsey. The Trust aims to provide youth hostel style facilities at Lihou House for educational, recreational, or leisure purposes; available to all, but primarily for educational groups. |
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