Guernsey Museum counts the crowds

Thursday 22 November 2018

The curators at Guernsey Museum at Candie must be doing something right, as during 2018 the attraction has welcomed the most visitors it's seen in 26 years, with another month to go before the end of the year.

The museum's previous 'best year' was in 1991, but with tens of thousands of visitors already walking through the doors by November, it looks like 2018 could beat that.

Dr Jason Monaghan, Guernsey's Head of Heritage Services, said it's been a busy time for everyone involved.

"We’ve already welcomed 25,000 people to Candie this year, which exceeds every year back to 1992. With our exciting family activities planned for December we could even come close to numbers we saw in 1991by the end of this year."

Those December events include the current exhibition, ‘Terre A L’Amende’, by photographer Mark Power which covers "aspects of Guernsey that never appear in tourist snaps" and 'Candie Christmas' which is going to be on every Sunday during December, until Christmas.

There'll be a Santas Grotto, crafts and festive films showing.

Pictured: A Candie Christmas awaits at Guernsey Museum.

Aside from Guernsey Museum at Candie, other heritage sites have had a good year.

Dr Monaghan said Castle Cornet and Fort Grey have both seen similar overall footfall this year, compared to 2017, but there has been an increase in ticket sales at the Castle which he said indicates it had attracted more tourists so far this year.

Interest in the German Naval Signals HQ has also increased for the second year in a row, since it came under the Guernsey Museums umbrella. The site, in St Jacques had around 800 more visitors than it did in 2017.

Pictured: Deputy Matt Fallaize.

Deputy Matt Fallaize, the President of the Committee for Education, Sport and Culture said the busy season for Guernsey's museums sites is good news all round.

"It is pleasing to see our museums doing so well, playing a part both in the life of islanders and in the tourist economy. The permanent staff of the Museum, its seasonal staff and its volunteer team have all worked hard to achieve this."

Pictured: Castle Cornet.

Castle Cornet, Fort Grey and the Signals HQ are now closed for the winter but Guernsey Museum at Candie remains open daily until the end of the year.

Pictured top: Guernsey Museum at Candie Gardens.