DO you want to find out the origins of the iconic Jersey cow or the Island’s £1 note?
A free outdoor exhibition is marking half a millennia of States Assembly records which contain details about key elements of the Island’s identity.
Spanning the renaissance period to present day, 500 Years in Minutes is being held in the Royal Square to mark 500 years since the first minutes of the States were recorded on 3 October 1524.
A public record, the minutes are made by the States Greffier and show attendance, the questions asked and the decisions made. They are the formal written account of States meetings.
This exhibition aims to highlight key moments in the Island’s history as told through States sittings during some of the most transformational periods such as the Battle of Jersey and both world wars.
States Greffier Lisa Hart said: “Thanks to the safe storage of these historic records, Islanders are able to see how the decisions of the Assembly over the centuries have contributed to creating the Jersey we see today.
“Our exhibition showcases how iconic Jersey landmarks like Elizabeth Castle and Corbière Lighthouse owe their existence to centuries-old States decisions.
“It also highlights the origins of much-loved aspects of Island life, such as the pure-breed Jersey cow and the Jersey £1 note.”
The exhibition runs until Monday 14 October.
Older records can be found at the Jersey Archive and recent minutes are available on the States Assembly website.
