THE ALDERNEY MUSEUM

Awarded a prize in 1999, the museum displays records of Alderney's history, from prehistory to the period following the Second World War. It occupies the buildings of the Old School, founded in 1790, and transformed into a museum in 1972 by the Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey, Sir Charles Hill. Managed by volunteers, it is really well done, complete and rather pleasant to visit.

In the main hall, some old-fashioned showcases display the remains of the island, from the Neolithic period to the Liberation. You will see a number of objects gathered by theme: archaeology, numismatics, geology, ethnology, military history, life on the island during the German occupation (furniture, clothing, everyday objects, documents, etc.). The infamous blue and white uniform of the Todt prisoners is on display, as well as medals offered to some islanders by the Germans for their good and loyal services. A beautiful tribute is also paid to the Alderney cow, now extinct. A small natural history room is dedicated to the flora and fauna of the island. On the second floor, a room recounts the horror of the storms which, in their fury, threw the boats against the sharp cliffs. For example, the Stella, the " Titanic of the Channel Islands", smashed into the rocks in 1899 in strong winds. The passengers all lost their lives despite their rescue equipment. The last body was found almost nine months after the disaster, washed up on Telegraph Bay.