Where are they?
If you ask the average Jerseyman where Les Minquiers, the Paternosters and Les Ecréhous are, he will probably be able to tell you with a fair degree of accuracy; but if you ask him the whereabouts of the Dérouilles, he will most likely say: 'I haven't a clue, what are they anyway?'
Generally speaking those people who observe the Ecrehous from Jersey believe that the Dérouilles are part of the former reef, and it is only from La Coupe that the mile-wide gap between the two groups of rocks is clearly seen.
In area the Dérouilles are only about half that of the Ecrehous.
The stretch of water between the two reefs is known as Le Tré meaning 'the traces' of a horse and cart harness. It is so-called because of the very strong tide in the passage, a tide which, unlike most surrounding Jersey, never slackens completely and swings round from north to south on the ebb without any real slack water. On the high water tide a very short, but complete slack water period does occur on neaps.
On the highest annual tides there are five large rocks which remain uncovered in the Dérouilles but if there is a swell running, or the sea is rough, these rocks are more under water than out of it for about one hour on each side of high water.
Descriptive names
The names of the rocks are nearly all descriptive, and most of them aptly so. For instance La Platte , meaning the 'flat one' has many flat surfaces on it and the top is almost level. Another is Le Marmouset, which exactly resembles that small monkey when viewed from the right angle.
Although most names remain in use today in Jersey-French, there are some such as Les Brayettes for which I cannot find any meaning.
Among the most accurately descriptive names are Le Juge, a piece of granite about three feet high on Frouquie. The formation of this granite is quite unlike that of the rest of the rock and, when seen from the right angle, is very like a bewigged judge.
La Frouchese, meaning the 'horned one' is possessed of two appendages on the top of an animal-like head and very much resemble the young horns of a bull.
Les Eponges ('the sponges') are in texture very like what they are named after and have many pits and holes in the granite of various sizes.
One of this group, known as L'Eponge a la Balance, has a legend attached to it similar to several rocks in the Channel Island reefs. In this instance the story tells of a party of emigrants from France in a boat bound for Canada or America which struck the rock referred to, and although badly holed, did not capsize or sink, but remained fast on the rock.
Soon the tide started to rise and before long the passengers and crew climbed the masts and rigging. It was then that they were seen from Rozel, whence rescue boats set forth, under sail only, of course.
Unfortunately to reach the Dérouilles from Rozel under sail on a flood tide necessitates going as far west as Bouley Bay pier, since there is a very strong tide running in an easterly direction.
The time taken in this operation was such that by the time the boats reached the stricken vessel, there was no sign of her, she having lifted off the rock and sunk, or drifted away, and all aboard were drowned.
The name Balance applied to the rock was the name of the vessel concerned. The story was told to me by Frank Amy and Charles le Cocq and was well-known in the 1930s among all the fishermen of that time.
Les Dérouilles are usually referred to in Rozel as Les Roches or 'the rocks' and seldom by their correct name. I believe there are now only six of us who know even 75% of the names of the rocks at Les Dérouilles and perhaps no one who knows all the named rocks at Les Ecrehous.
Les Dirouilles are a range of rocks to the North-East of Jersey.
The St Ouenais call them Les Dithouïl'yes, and the St Martinais call them Les Pierres or Les Disouïl'yes. Other pronunciations are Les Dithouoilles and Les Dirouoilles.
As for the individual rocks and their names, here are lists culled from various sources - a more authoritative list will, it is hoped, be produced in time.
A short list of some of the toponyms in Jèrriais:
- Les Buthons
- L'Êtotchet
- La Froutchie
- La Forêt
- Lé Gros Rotchi
- La Greune ès Dards
- La Greune du Sond
- Lé Haut Rotchi
- Les Jeunmelles
- La Néthe Rocque
- La Pliatte, La Pliatte Rocque
- Lé Trav'sain
- La Hau
Angus Faed, a fisherman, decided to make a map from memory of the rocks and their names while evacuated to England during the Occupation, as he feared that otherwise this knowledge might be lost. This invaluable resource shows the following names:
- La Crane
- Joli
- Les Boues
- Les Fréthaux
- La Fret
- La Freté
- La Frouquie
- Fauvels (W)
- Fauvels (E.)
- L'Étochet
- Le Gr(os) Rocher
- La Vaudène
- Mangre és Dards
- Burons
- Buronières
- Picottes
- La Campagne
- L'Écuriasa
- Badière
- Le Marmouset
- L'Ieu
- Secs Tchelines
- Tchelines du Ouest
- Tchelines du Nord-Est
- Tcheline au Tas
- Les Jumèles
Les Éponges
- L'Éponge à La Balance
- L'Éponge Monsieur
- L'Éponge du Mitant
- L'Éponge de l'Est
- Grande Piquère
- Petite Piquère
- Pierre és Paissons
- Grosse Grise
- Faras
- La Nère
- Le Tas
- La Manène
- La Grise
- Gobard
- G aux Dards
- La Frouchèse
- La Sablonière
- Les Trotaines
- Pointu
- G du Sond
- Les Bragettes
- La Staye
- La Jacrère
Les Nichettes
- Grande Nichette
- Petite Nichette
- Longe Nichette
- Ronde Nichette
- La Platte
- Les Becquets
- Le Gris
- Tête de la Fosse
- Le Trapsin
Channel Pilot 1927
- Les Burons
- Le Joli
- La Hau
- La Platte Rock
- La Grese
- Noire Roque
- Clump Rock
- The Kosen
- Le But
- Les Grunes
Royal Cruising Club Pilotage Foundation
- Les Burons
- La Grese
- Le Forêt
- La Hau
- a Jole
- Les Gruns
- Clump Rock
- Frouquie
Island of Jersey Sea Chart 1867 J Richards RN
(Two different rocks are called Frouquie on this chart)
- La Platte
- Grune de SW
- La Hau
- Joli
- Le Bût
- Le Forêt
- Frouquie
- Frouquie
- Les Burons
- La Grese
- Noire Roque
- La Joie
- Clump Rock
- Les Grunes
