The Alderney Society Museum

The Alderney Society Museum mainly houses a collection of objects relating to a small community, which has survived from subsistence agriculture, fishing and trading for many centuries.

The exhibits on show depict, the prehistory of Alderney, Alderney in Roman & mediaeval times, the Elizabethan wreck, the Alderney breakwater, the quarrying industry, the German occupation from 1940-45, island life, geology and the iconic Alderney cow.

Alderney has been subject to many long uneventful periods, dotted with short bursts of frantic activity, such as: the 100 Years War, the Reformation, the Armada, the English Civil War, the Napoleonic Wars and the building of the Victorian harbour and forts and WWI and WWII.

Privateering and smuggling were rife in the 18th century and created a period of sudden and spectacular prosperity, streets were paved and new houses were built. Since 1945 the islands economy has completely changed, agriculture has nearly died out and more buildings have been built.