Sark marks 450 years of Royal Charter
- Published
Michael Beaumont, Seigneur of Sark, reaffirmed the island's loyalty to Queen Elizabeth II
Sark has been holding celebrations to mark 450 years of feudal connection to the English Crown.
The island was settled by Helier de Carteret, the Seigneur of St Ouen in Jersey, and his followers in 1565.
Before it was formally settled it had been the home to groups including monks, French armed forces and pirates.
Michael Beaumont, the current Seigneur of Sark, reaffirmed the island's loyalty to the monarchy at a special ceremony.
It was witnessed by the present Seigneur of St Ouen, Charles Malet de Carteret, and with the Lieutenant Governors and Bailiffs of both Guernsey and Jersey.
The move to settle the uninhabited island of Sark came following concern it was being used as a place of refuge by pirates and the French - who made a number of attempts to capture Jersey.
Settlement of Sark
There is evidence the island was settled in the Bronze Age, but later abandoned
The Fief of Sark was made to the Seigneur of St Ouen, Helier de Carteret, by Queen Elizabeth I on 6 August, 1565
He agreed to pay 50 shillings a year on condition he had at least 40 men armed with muskets to defend the island
He offered tenants low rent on the condition they each provided a man armed with a musket
Many of the tenants came from St Ouen, Jersey
Previous military attempts to inhabit the island had failed but de Carteret aimed to populate it with families to create a permanent community on Sark
In 1572 the fief was split from St Ouen, with Helier de Carteret made its first Seigneur
The Seigneur of St Ouen remained as Seigneur of Sark until 1720 when the fief was sold, however, the two retained links over the centuries
A henge has been set on cliffs looking out towards St Ouen in Jersey
All nine of the stones in the henge were previously gateposts around the island
The stones are directed towards landmarks and the course of the sun
Reg Guille, President of Chief Pleas, whose ancestors were among the early settlers, said the island was "geared up" behind the celebrations.
The anniversary events include a pageant by the island's schoolchildren representing the events of 1565 and the official opening of Sark's henge, external.
The nine pink granite standing stones of the henge, all former gateposts, have been placed on cliffs on the island's south east coast.
Seneschal Jeremy La Trobe Bateman said there were four aligned with the sun - on the summer solstice, the winter solstice, the morning sunrises and the spring/autumn equinox.
"The other five are [aligned with] landmarks, St Ouen, La Coupee, L'Etac, Sark Mill and Alderney."
To honour the 450th anniversary, the Ministry of Justice flew the Sark Flag from its London headquarters.
Lord Faulks said the UK government took its constitutional relationship with the Crown Dependencies very seriously
Justice Minister Lord Faulks said: "We are pleased to recognise the historic ties between the UK and Sark."
Conseiller Charles Maitland said: "This is a very welcome initiative and we are pleased it will become an annual event.
"Fief Day is a celebration of Sark Islanders distinct place in the Crown Dependencies family."
Other celebrations are due to take place over the weekend and next month in Sark and Jersey.