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In this episode, we're sewing together a remarkable story of art, history, and the women whose work has too often been left in the margins.  The Bayeux Tapestry is there is a lack of women. There are lots of men, there are lots of horses, there are lots of axes and spears and dogs, but there are only three women in the entire 70 meters of the tapestry.  The Jersey Bayeux Tapestry is an extraordinary modern retelling of the story of the Norman Conquest and the women who told the story, who were these women?  And why does their contribution matter?  To help us unpick this narrative, our hosts are joined by Vic Tanner-Davy, head of programs at Jersey Heritage. Vic has researched the social history behind the tapestry, uncovering the stories of women who made it and revealing how their work connects to a wider question. The tapestry is part of Jersey Heritage's 2027 campaign celebrating the Year of the Normans,  which is a thousand years since William the Conqueror's birth. The tapestry tells Jersey's story and how that fits with the 1066 historical narrative. The tapestry is being stitched by volunteers during 2026 and will be on display in 2027/8. Support our outreach work and leave a legacy to Jersey Heritage in your Will.  Find out how you can leave a gift to protect Our Island's Story.

Explore Jersey's Norman heritage as we look ahead to 2027 when we mark a thousand years since the birth of William the Conqueror. In this episode, we journey back to our Norman roots through the Island's Norman history, and how that history has shaped our Island.  Hosts, Mel and Perry are joined by historian Jean Treleven who guides us through the history of how our Norman heritage is what uniquely defined us then, but also defines us now.  Jean shares in depth insights and fascinating facts as we prepare for one of the most significant commemorations in our Island's story. Support our 2027 Norman projects by making a donation on our website.

In the latest episode of our ‘Small Island, Big Story Sessions’ podcast, hosts Mel and Perry are joined by Natasha Dettman, Karen Le Roy Harris, and Kerry Jane Warner, who are members of The Moving Arts Collective.   These passionate creatives reimagined our local tradition of vraicking (collecting seaweed) using film, sculpture, sound, textile, and our local language for ‘Vraiqu’sie’, an exhibition at Elizabeth Castle. Hear all about this powerful project and how the artists were inspired by Jersey’s heritage.  To find out more about vraicking visit our website. Did you know you can stay at the Elizabeth Castle Apartment?  It's part of our historic heritage holiday lets portfolio.  Find out how you can have the Castle to yourself here.

In the latest episode of our ‘Small Island, Big Story Sessions’ podcast, hosts Mel and Perry explore our Island’s farming heritage. From Jersey’s unique natural landscape to celebrating local farmers today, we speak to Taylor Smythe, from Farm Jersey, and Lucy Layton, Jersey Heritage’s Exhibitions Curator, as we dig into the research behind our new ‘Field to Fork’ exhibition at Hamptonne.   To find out more about the ‘Field to Fork’ exhibition, go to www.jerseyheritage.org/visit/whats-on/field-to-fork/   To support our work become a Member, visit our website to find out more.

This incredible digital archive tells the stories of Channel Islanders, who were deported and imprisoned during WW2. Join hosts, Mel and Perry, as they speak to Professor Gilly Carr about developing this special free resource. The Frank Falla archive is named after Guernseyman Frank Falla, former prisoner and survivor of Frankfurt am Main-Preungesheim and Naumburg (Saale) prisons. Frank, a journalist, was deported for his role in the underground newsletter GUNS (Guernsey Underground News Service). In the mid-1960s, and in the absence of any official help or interest, Frank took it upon himself to help his fellow former political prisoners in the Channel Islands get compensation for their suffering in Nazi prisons and camps. In 2010, Frank’s daughter gave Professor Gilly Carr her father’s extensive archives – the most important resistance archives to ever come out of the Channel Islands. And it was then that Gilly knew that this digital archive and its wider associated project must one day come about. Visit the Frank Falla Archive. Find out more about Jersey's Occupation and Liberation Archives here. Support the work of Jersey Heritage by making a donation. Professor Carr's book ' A Materiality of Internment' is available through Routledge Press. For more information visit: www.routledge.com/9781032259154 More than two thousand people from the British Channel Islands were deported to and interned in Germany during the Second World War, making up as many as 60% of all interned British citizens in occupied territory during this period. This book will be of great value for scholars and museum professionals, as well as postgraduate students in the field of Conflict Archaeology and scholars of the Second World War. Cumulatively, this materiality comprises one of the major surviving assemblages of internees to emerge from the war, comparable in size, quality and importance with that from other theatres of war.

Tune into our latest episode exploring story of the Titanic through a unique Jersey lens. Hosts, Perry and Mel will be uncovering the Island’s connections to the ill-fated voyage. We’re joined by Titanic expert David Hutchings from Southampton and Jersey Heritage exhibitions curator Lucy Layton, who share insights into passengers and crew with ties to Jersey.  Together, they reveal the local stories that were impacted by the disaster of April 1912. From lives lost, to remarkable survivals, this episode shares how one of history’s most famous tragedies is interwoven with Jersey’s own heritage and collective memory. A new Titanic display honouring the Islanders involved in the disaster opens in April 2026 at the Maritime Museum. To support our work telling the Island's stories please make a donation.

In today's episode, Mel is diving into the expressive world of Edmund Blampied, one of Jersey's most iconic artists.  Blampied's expressive etchings, whimsical illustrations and deeply human portraits capture a timeless sense of Island life.    Louise Downie, former art curator at Jersey Heritage explores the story of Blampied, from his life, his artistic process and his impact on jersey and the wider art world. Best known for his etching or dry points, his reputation as a print maker in the 1920s was sealing in a publication called 'Modern Artists of Etching'.  He is well-know for his images of scenes of vriac (seaweed) collecting, something he called it his 'signature tune'.  Blampied was also a book, magazine and newspaper illustrator with a significant illustrative work for the story of Peter Pan and Wendy.  He is also know for his character portraits, he was skilled in drawing people and lifestyles depicting Island life. Particularly significant and poignant to Jersey's story are the illustrations he did of the Occupation of Jersey during World War II To discover the work of Edmund Blampied, visit our Online Catalogue.   You can support Jersey Heritage by becoming a Member, visit our website for details.

Behind every Claude Cahun image was Marcel Moore, artist, visionary and radical of her own right.  Join the 'Small Island, Big Stories Sessions' to bring Marcel Moore into the frame. Louise Downie, Director of Curation and Experience at Jersey Heritage gives host Mel and Perry a history of Marcel Moore, her work, her life and her legacy. Suzanne Alberte Eugénie Malherbe was born on 19 July 1892 at 12 rue de Cassini in Nantes. Using the pseudonym ‘Marcel Moore’, she was the talented, but less well known, stepsister of Surrealist artist and writer Claude Cahun (born Lucie Schwob).  In 1909, Moore met Cahun in what Cahun described as a ‘thunderbolt encounter’ – one which was to determine the course of their lives. Theirs was a relationship of love and artistic creativity.  You can read more of the story here. Support our work bringing stories to life and make a donation here.

Henry Thomas Bosdet was born in Jersey on 7 January 1856, after spending his early years in the Island he moved to London around the 1860s. By age 17 he was a student at the Royal Academy.  Bosdet’s seven year training at the Royal Academy was broad and included life drawing, fine art, architecture and glasswork at a time when Pre-Raphaelite art had become the accepted style. John Everett Millais was a founding member of the movement. Bosdet later became the life drawing teacher at the Royal Academy.  In the late 1800s he started to delve into stained glass window design.  His stained glass windows can be found all over the world.  Jersey is very lucky to have a number of windows, designed by Bosdet, in Jersey churches. Discover the legacy of Henry Thomas Bosdet with former Art Curator, Louise Downie. Tune in to explore local light, art and legacy, all in one listen.  To support the work of Jersey Heritage you can make a donation here. The Glass Rainbow Trust is a charity, Celebrating the life and work of Henry Thomas Bosdet.

In today's 'Small Island, Big Stories' episode, hosts Mel and Perry pay tribute to the Occupation tapestry of Jersey. This incredible crafted legacy was left to Jersey Heritage  by a talented group of people who dedicated hours of their time to put together a momentous piece of art. The tapestry tells Jersey's unique story of the Island struggle during the Second World War.  Three very special guest speakers join Mel and Perry; Wayne Audrain the person who created the designs. Clarissa Maine, the coordinator of the panel of St. Peter and Anne-Marie Willing, who stitched and documented the project of her home parish.  You can see the Occupation Tapestry at the Jersey Maritime Museum.  There are stories about the Occupation and Liberation of Jersey available on the Jersey Heritage website. If you would like to support our work please consider making a donation here.

In today's episode, hosts, Mel and Perry are talking all things Jèrriais, exploring place names, practical uses of our native language, and how Jèrriais helps us discover our Island's history. From La Corbière to Rouge Bouillon, what do these Jèrriais place names tell us about the language and its use? Tracy Peters, Jèrriais Language Officer, will share some interesting facts about our 'gem of the sea' and what more we can do to continue its legacy.  Why did Jèrriais stop being spoken and where did the language go during the 18th century?  What is being done now to encourage new speakers? To support our work you can make a donation at www.jerseyheritage.org/support

In this episode, our hosts are joined by Director of Archives and Collections, Linda Romeril, who talks to us about Jersey's Royal Charters. Taking us back to 1341 and and the first Charter issued to the people of Jersey by Edward II.  Linda will explain what a Charter represents, and how they were used by the monarchy with the people of Jersey throughout our Island's history. Further Charters from Richard II and Charles II are explored along with the story around them, what was happening at the time and why the Island's people were issued the various Charters. You can visit an exhibition about the Royal Charters at Mont Orgueil Castle | Jersey Heritage.  Or support Jersey Archive to conserve important documents my making a donation Fundraising | Jersey Heritage.

In today's episode, hosts Mel and Perry are joined by Rouen Ollivier, the museum registrar.  Rouen shares some insight into our weird and wonderful collection and some of the stories that accompany the items.  From the day to day elements of caring for over 750,000 items to the events which bring forward memories of times gone by. Rouen talks about 'modern' items in the collection from Super Mario to Pokemon cards, to the 90 samplers in our textiles collection. She also tells the story of one of the strangest items in the Jersey Heritage Collection,  framed fragment of Philip Carteret's hair. Taken from his coffin in St. Ouen's Chruch in 1869.  They also discuss more strange items dating from the 17th century called 'witches balls'. Support our work caring for Jersey's collections by making a donation at Support | Jersey Heritage

Join hosts Mel and Perry for a 'Small Island's Big Stories Session' on all things conservation and restoration.  Jersey Heritage Conservator, Harry Richards, talks about how the Conservation Team get involved in everything Jersey Heritage does, from working in the conservation lab, to preparing objects for exhibitions. With a wide variety of work, Harry talks about some of his recent work, including restoration on a 150-year-old stuffed fox, a new object in the Jersey Heritage collection to objects owned by surrealist artist Claude Cahun. Some of Harry's favourite moments include; carefully putting back together a 2,000 year-old amber bead which was in 40 pieces and rediscovering a glass jar full of dehydrated sea creatures. His work has also included working on a vandalised  ancient standing stone, putting it back together piece by piece so it can be returned to the landscape. Support our conservation work by making a donation on our website Fundraising | Jersey Heritage

In the latest 'Small Island Big Stories' episode, hosts  Mel and Perry are digging into the story about Le Câtillon II - the world’s largest Celtic coin hoard.   Discovered in 2012 y by two local metal detectorists. This hoard surprised us all with its sheer size in contents. Neil Mahrer,  Jersey Heritage's Conservator, shares his experiences of working with the hoard and the artifacts found within.  If you've been inspired to find out more, then visit the  exhibition, ‘Searching for Jersey’s Celts’ is a story about the  Le Câtillon II – the world’s largest Celtic coin hoard.  You’ll learn what might have led people to bury a hoard of 70,000 coins and jewellery in Jersey 2,000 years ago.  Or read more about this amazing story on our website. The Coin Hoard Comes Home | Jersey Heritage.