Longis

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Longis is a settlement in the south-east of Alderney in the Channel Islands, United Kingdom. It has a beach, an island fort, a nature reserve, and remains of German, Roman and prehistoric occupation. [1] [2]

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Roman fort

In Longis, there is a small Roman fort, dating back to the 4th century AD. It is known locally as The Nunnery. Though it was originally suspected to be a Roman fort, this assertion was not proved until 2011 when an archaeological dig affirmed the presence of Roman architecture. [3] [1] After the Romans left Alderney, the nunnery had no evidence of use again until the Middle Ages through to the Tudor period. It later became home to the Governors of Alderney. [1] After the excavations, it became an Alderney visitors centre. [4] During the German occupation of the Channel Islands, the Nazis used The Nunnery as a barracks for German soldiers. [3]

Occupation

During the Nazi occupation, an anti-tank wall was constructed at Longis on the beach. [5] The site at Longis provides evidence of forced labour under German rule during World War II, with several slave labourers being buried in mass graves underneath Longis Common. [5] The graves were under threat following a plan to link the electric grids of the United Kingdom, France and Alderney that would pass through the gravesite. [5] The licences for the project were approved by the States of Guernsey, [6] however the States of Alderney refused planning permission on the grounds that it would disturb the graves. [7]

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This page list topics related to the Bailiwick of Guernsey, including Guernsey, Alderney, Sark and smaller islands.

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President of the States of Alderney

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The Judge of Alderney is the senior judicial officer in Alderney, ranking above the six Jurats. The holder was until 1949 entitled to a seat in the States of Alderney, and between 1825 and 1949 was Leader of Alderney.

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Fortifications of Alderney

Apart from a Roman Fort, there were very few fortifications in Alderney until the mid 19th century. These were then modified and updated in the mid 20th Century by Germans during the occupation period. Alderney at 8 km2 is now one of the most fortified places in the world.

Archaeology of the Channel Islands

Archaeology is promoted in Jersey by the Société Jersiaise and by Jersey Heritage. Promotion in the Bailiwick of Guernsey being undertaken by La Société Guernesiaise, Guernsey Museums, the Alderney Society with World War II work also undertaken by Festung Guernsey.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Alderney Roman fort future discussed". BBC News. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  2. ↑ "Alderney seagrass planted in Wales". ITV News. 2020-01-03. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  3. 1 2 "Alderney ruin found to be Roman fort". BBC News. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  4. ↑ "The Nunnery Heritage Site". Visitalderney.com. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  5. 1 2 3 Beaumont, Thomas (2017-10-16). "In Nazi-occupied Britain, graves at Alderney's 'Little Auschwitz' may be defiled". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  6. ↑ "FAB electricity link granted licenses to lay cables underneath the Channel". ITV News. 2018-07-04. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  7. ↑ "'Corruption' scandal laps Channel Island of Alderney amid threat to graves of Nazi victims". The Times. 2019-07-07. Retrieved 2020-03-06.(subscription required)


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