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Les Écréhous huts remain in families for generations

Huts on Les Écréhous, a remote group of islands and reefs off Jersey, are typically passed down through families rather than being sold.

  • Les Écréhous is located six miles off Jersey and eight miles from France.
  • The reef is administered by St Martin's parish in Jersey, with hut-owners paying parish rates.
  • Archaeological discoveries on Maîtr'Île, the largest islet, include a medieval chapel and a believed Viking burial site.

Huts on Les Écréhous, a remote group of islands and reefs situated six miles off Jersey, are predominantly passed down through families, according to Richard Miles, who has been visiting the area for nearly 60 years. Mr Miles's grandmother acquired a hut for £500 in 1956, shortly after it was built, and it has remained in the family since.

Les Écréhous, which lies eight miles from France, has no roads, shops, or permanent residents. The area features a cluster of small fishermen's huts within one of Europe's largest intertidal zones, where tides can rise and fall by approximately 40ft (12m) twice daily.

The International Court of Justice confirmed Jersey's sovereignty over Les Écréhous in 1953, following a challenge from France in 1950. The reef is protected under the Ramsar Convention as a wetland of international importance for wildlife.

Connétable Karen Shenton-Stone of St Martin's parish, which administers Les Écréhous, stated that parish officials visit annually to meet hut-owners, who are seen as important custodians and are vigilant in reporting unusual activity.

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