Lihou facts for kids
Lihou is a tiny tidal island that is part of Guernsey in the Channel Islands. It's located off the west coast of Guernsey. Lihou is actually the most westerly point in the Channel Islands!
This small island is about 15.6 hectares in size. In January 1995, the government of Guernsey bought Lihou. When the tide is low, you can walk to Lihou from Guernsey. An old stone causeway connects the island to L'Eree headland. Lihou is also home to many birds and sea creatures. This makes it a very important place for nature conservation.
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History of Lihou
Like many other Channel Islands, Lihou's name has a special ending: "-hou". This part of the name comes from an old language called Old Norse.
The Old Priory
Lihou has the ruins of an old priory called St. Mary. A priory is a type of monastery where monks live. It's thought that Benedictine monks built this priory in the 12th century. The monks living there were not very popular with the local people. This was partly because the monks claimed rights to anything that washed ashore from shipwrecks.
Until 1415, the priory was controlled by Mont Saint-Michel. Later, Eton College took control. During the English Reformation, the priory was closed. After that, it slowly fell apart and became the ruins we see today.
World War II and Beyond
During World War II, the German army occupied the Channel Islands. They used the house on Lihou for target practice with heavy guns. The house was badly damaged.
Today, the house has been rebuilt. It is now used as a place for school groups to stay. It helps teach children about nature and history.
Seaweed Industry
In the past, people on Lihou used to collect Vraic, which is a type of seaweed. They would dry it on special frames on the beach. In 1927, a factory was built on the island. This factory made iodine from the seaweed. However, all signs of this industry disappeared during the German Occupation.
The Lihou Family
The Lihou family name has been found in old records from the early 15th century. Many groups today study the history of the Lihou family. There's even a group on social media that connects people with the Lihou name from all over the world!
Images for kids
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The Lihou causeway at low tide, connecting the island to Guernsey.
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A drawing from the 19th century showing the priory ruins.
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The remaining walls of St Mary's Priory on Lihou Island.
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Another view of the old walls on Lihou.
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The rebuilt farmhouse on Lihou Island.
See also
In Spanish: Lihou para niños
