The Library
The rural community in nineteenth century Jersey
Tools
Kelleher, John D. (1991) The rural community in nineteenth century Jersey. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.
|
PDF
WRAP_THESIS_Kelleher_1991.pdf - Requires a PDF viewer. Download (26Mb) |
Official URL: http://webcat.warwick.ac.uk/record=b1410448~S15
Abstract
After centuries of relative isolation as an outpost loyal to the English Crown
the small Island of Jersey was, in the wake of the Napoleonic Wars, opened to
the twin forces of large-scale immigration and economic expansion. Jersey was a
product of peculiar historical circumstance, which resulted in a cossetted
existence and a high degree of independence. Economic growth, founded on a
merchant-based economy and on agriculture, was both fuelled by and attracted
English and French immigrants. The presence of a large urban population, many
of who were non-local, and wealth, created friction in a society whose
institutions were designed for a dispersed rural population. An identifiable
urban bloc developed and demanded access to power proportional to its wealth
and size and the reform of certain structures along lines more conducive to
economic life. Alongside direct political challenge was a more subtle linguistic
and cultural challenge. This thesis examines these forces at work in Jersey
society and assesses their impact. Emphasis is placed on the rural community,
as the representative of traditional Jersey society and the guardians of local
power and independence. It is argued that the potential forces of change and
challenge were, by the end of the century, fairly comfortably assimilated or
contained. With the exception of a Nonconformist challenge in the countryside,
the challenges to Jersey society were inseparably linked to immigration and
economic expansion, yet never provided a coherent and concerted attack on all
fronts. The rural community was most successful at defending its institutions,
yet was unable to stem the flow of English language and culture. In the short
term Jersey succeeded in controlling the forces ranged against its society, but
in the long tern institutional strength belied a weakening at the foundations.
Item Type: | Thesis (PhD) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Subjects: | D History General and Old World > DA Great Britain | ||||
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Jersey (Channel Islands) -- History -- 19th century, Jersey (Channel Islands) -- Social conditions -- 19th century, Jersey (Channel Islands) -- Rural conditions -- 19th century | ||||
Official Date: | October 1991 | ||||
Dates: |
|
||||
Institution: | University of Warwick | ||||
Theses Department: | Department of History | ||||
Thesis Type: | PhD | ||||
Publication Status: | Unpublished | ||||
Supervisor(s)/Advisor: | Okey, Robin | ||||
Sponsors: | De Lancey and De La Hanty Foundation ; Tison Trust ; W. O. Street Charitable Trust ; A. P. Langlois and Sons | ||||
Extent: | xiii, 661 leaves | ||||
Language: | eng |
Request changes or add full text files to a record
Repository staff actions (login required)
View Item |
Downloads
Downloads per month over past year