Les Minquiers

Les Minquiers

The Minquiers by Rybot

Les Minquiers, known to most islanders as the 'Minkies', are a group of islands and rocks situated nine miles south of Jersey forming part of the Bailiwick of Jersey. They are administratively part of the Parish of Grouville

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The islands have no permanent inhabitants, though fishermen, vraic collectors, yachtmen and even sometimes canoeists make summer landfall.

The main islands in the group are:

• Maîtresse Île / Maîtr' Île
• Les Maisons
• Le Niêsant
• Les Faucheurs
• La Haute Grune

Name

The etymology of the name is disputed. While some say that the name comes from the Breton language minihi meaning a sanctuary, others maintain it comes from minkier meaning a seller of fish.

History

The 1911 Britannica said that Maîtresse Île "affords a landing and shelter for fishermen".

In 1950 Britain and France went to the International Court of Justice for a decision as to which country the Minquiers and Ecréhous belonged. The French fished in the waters, but Jersey exercised various administrative rights. The court considered the historical evidence, and in its Judgment of 17 November 1953, awarded the islands to Jersey.

In 1998 there was a light hearted "invasion" of Les Minquiers by some French on behalf of the 'King of Patagonia' in 'retaliation' for the British occupation of the Falkland Islands. The Union Jack was restored the next day.

Les Minquiers in literature

Notably, Les Minquiers are mentioned at length by Victor Hugo in his novel Ninety-Three, about the French Revolution. He mentions how treacherous they are, and says that their combined area is bigger than Jersey itself. Hugo lived in both Guernsey and Jersey at various points in his life, and so was familiar with local lore.

The British/French dispute over Les Minquiers is a plot element in Nancy Mitford's novel Don't Tell Alfred, as an occasional cause for dispute between the 'two old ladies' - France and Britain.

The Minquiers feature in the seafaring adventure novel The Wreck of the Mary Deare, by Hammond Innes, and its 1959 film adaptation.

Gallery

La Rocque families on an outing to the Minquiers

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The Minquiers are not all rocks. This sand bar is exposed at low tides and was photographed from a drone by Chris Lakeman

Click on any image to see a full-size version

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  Les Minquiers Reef
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  Les Minquiers Helipad
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  Official visit in 1971 for the inauguration of the helicopter pad
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  An official visit to the Minquiers in 1895 by the Lieut-Governor, Bailiff and Members of the States. Before the International Court ruling in the mid-20th century that the Minquiers were British and not French territory, it was deemed important that regular official visits should take place to assert Jersey's claim to the islets
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  Fishermen at Les Minquiers in 1931
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  Shrimping
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  Fishermen
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  Maintenance work on the Minquiers Buoy
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  A working party in 1929
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  An official visit in the 1930s ...
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  ... and another in 1945. The Union Flag is raised to assert Jersey's ownership of the reef
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1997 aerial photographs

On low spring tides the area uncovered at the Minquiers is larger than that of Jersey

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Amateur photographs from 1996

These photographs taken in 1996 when repair work was being undertaken on the islet's slipway were posted to Facebook in 2023

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  The Union Flag is flown to reassert Jersey's ownership of the Minquiers
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  The public toilet - the most southerly building in the British Isles

Official visit of Bailiff, Lieut-Governor and other Jersey dignitaries in 1895. These visits were an annual occurrence to assert the island's claim to ownership of the Minquiers