Holy Man and Holy Days / I name this Castle

Touching the King's Evil / Robbing the Poor / The Unlucky Sailor

Stories of the Castle

 

Holy man and Holy days

  • Just outside the castle stands the Hermitage Rock. This is where the hermit known as Helier lived although originally he came from the Low Countries in the country we now call Belgium. He arrived in Jersey about 540AD and he picked a windswept rock in St Aubin's Bay as his home. For fifteen years he lived here praying, fasting and caring for the fishermen and their families. From his rock Helier was able to warn the islanders if any strange ships were approaching.

    One day while Helier was meeting with the fishermen and their families, the birds on his rock started crying out in alarm and flying in wide circles in a very agitated state. He hurried back to his rock from where he could see sea rovers approaching. He managed to warn the islanders and they were able the hide so that when the pirates landed the only person to be seen was Helier at his prayers. As soon as they found him he was beheaded

    The date of Helier's death was on 16 July 555AD and this date is celebrated as St Helier's Day.

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    For the next thousand years monks lived on the island and a chapel was built over the spot where he lived.

     

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