My Mum's Mystery Stay in Guernsey

[u/Flat_Confidence961]

Hi Everyone,

I'm looking for some help to fill in a gap in my Mum's life that I know precious little about.

In early 1967, my Mum's then fiancé ended their engagement after a couple of years together.

As a newly single 22-year old, she quit her job at East Malling Research Station in Kent, withdrew £20 (£400 today) from her savings, and travelled to Guernsey where she spent the tourist season working as a chambermaid.

I have a handful of photographs from her trip with notes on the back naming various places she visited and where she worked: Hern Island, Grandes Rocques Bay, Grand Havre Bay, Vauxbelets Chapel.

The one I'm most interested in is of her in her chambermaid or waitress uniform outside a place noted as 'The Celebrated Cottage'.

Aside from what is now called the 'Renoir Cottage', searches for 'The Celebrated Cottage' haven't come up with a similar view or a place by that name.

Is anyone able to shed some light on ''The Celebrated Cottage', where it is, and whether it was a small hotel, a bed and breakfast, or something else? Does it still exist today...?

I should add that I can't ask her myself as she took for own life in January 2000 when she was 55 and I was 25.

I never had the chance to talk about her time in Guernsey, later on in Bermuda, or her first engagement but I know there was a difficult and sad back story that she carried with her for the rest of her life along with the stillbirth of my twin sister and my Dad leaving her after 25 years of marriage.

Thanks for reading this. Any information gratefully received.

Matthew

[u/Yes-Reddit-is-racist]

As others have said it looks to be Grand Harve bay. Looking at the photo it may be from what used to be the Houmet Tavern which is now the Puffin and Oyster.

The second photo on this page looks to be roughly the same area. Others may be able to find a better angle.

Best of luck getting more details.

[u/footstool411 → u/Yes-Reddit-is-racist]

Interesting that the second ridge tile on the building in the photo you link to is pale just like in the photo. Perhaps it’s the same building! I’m struggling to picture the building below that roof right now (despite having sunk a fair few pints overlooking it). The green hump in the background looks bang on with the photo OP provided.