Sunday, October 1, 2023

Geoffrey's Leap

 


  On the North-East coast of the island is Anne Port Bay where there is a large rock known as Geoffrey's Leap overlooking the ocean. 
  According to folklore a man named Geoffrey was sentenced to death. His crime is unclear but some sources say it was against a woman. whether this was a sexual  assault or something different is unclear though it was not murder. His sentence would suggest rape. The method of execution was to throw him from the outcrop into the sea below.
  A large crowd, including the offended woman turned up to watch. Geoffrey was led to the outcrop and hurled over the edge by the executioner. Geoffrey was unharmed and swam to shore. The crowd were divided, half wished Geoffrey to be excused and freed, possibly seeing his survival as an act of God, while others simply wanted him to face consequences and be executed. To show how easy his survival was and possibly placate the crowd, Geoffrey offered to jump off the rock again.
  Whilst he made a lucky escape the first time, this time when Geoffrey fell, he hit his head on a rock and died. Since then, the outcrop has been known as le saut de Geoffrey.
  It is said that Geoffrey now haunts the scene of his death, perhaps regretting his choice to tempt fate.