Local History

The mammoth jaw in Guernsey Museum's collection comes from a Siberian mammoth and was presented to the local Mechanics Institute in the 1830s by a Mr Mainguy.

At that time the only way the ordinary people of Guernsey could have any knowledge of such things was from prohibitively expensive illustrated books.

It is likely that when it was first exhibited it would have drawn queues of curious folk to see it.

The Mechanics Institute was set up to help Guernsey's working people better themselves and was the spiritual ancestor of the modern Workers Educational Association.

Eddie Parks spoke to Natural History Officer Alan Howell who revealed that this object is one he has a passion for.