Channel Islands Land and Property

Europe Channel Islands

Land records
Research use: These records are used to show land ownership and population movement and to show relationships that exist on the transfer of land. They are most useful for the earlier time period when other records are less complete.

Record type: Deeds, and land contracts, Pour Lire and Pour le Datte.

Time period: 1567 - present.

Contents: Names of persons in transactions; date; residences; sometimes relationship; witnesses and description of property. For Guernsey, the land records also contain the realty wills until 1923.

Location: Greffe, Guernsey and Royal Court, Jersey, Channel Islands.

Reliability: Very good.

Manor Records
Research use: Lineage linking records, very useful in pre-parish register periods. Prove pedigree connections.

Record type: Court books and Court rolls.

Time period: 1400's -1900's.

Contents: Wills; court records; tenants; manorial officials; jurors; residences; relationship; transfer of land; property; and leases.

Location: Local custody, and Royal Courts on Jersey and Guernsey, Channel Islands.

Population coverage: 70%.