Sark celebrating 450 years of history

People in Sark are celebrating 450 years since a royal charter was granted to allow people to settle on the island.

On 6th August 1565 Helier de Carteret, The Seigneur of St Ouen, was granted permission from Queen Elizabeth 1st so that he and 40 followers could live there.

Today, celebrations in Sark will start at 2.00 pm at a ceremony in the grounds of Le Manoir. The current Seigneur of St Ouen, Charles Malet de Carteret, and the Lieutenant Governors and Bailiffs of both Jersey and Guernsey will be there.

The ceremony will include the presentation of a plaque to the Island by members of the de Carteret family from all over the world and confirmation of Sark's loyalty to The Crown from the current Seigneur of Sark, John Michael Beaumont, O.B.E.

Sark School children will then act out a pageant depicting the events of 1565 and there will be a historical exhibition in the newly converted cider barn, a courtyard market and a strolling minstrel in authentic costume.

At 6.00 pm, the island's newly erected Henge will be officially opened with a 'bring your own' picnic.

These are nine granite standing stones on the south east coast.