vingtaine

Vingtaine is an administrative subdivision used within the parishes of Jersey, a Crown dependency in the Channel Islands. The term derives from the French word vingtaine, meaning a group of twenty, reflecting medieval social organization. In modern usage, a vingtaine does not necessarily correspond to exactly twenty households, but it remains a traditional unit for local governance.

Each parish is divided into several vingtaines, which function as units for administration, road maintenance, local services, and ceremonial duties. The subdivisions also play a role in parish elections and the organization of parish officers. The head or representative of a vingtaine is typically the Vingtenier, an official who acts on behalf of the parish authorities within that vingtaine, under the broader jurisdiction of the Constable of the parish. The exact number of vingtaines per parish varies, with common configurations including two to four vingtaines per parish. Notable examples include the various named vingtaines in Saint Helier and other Jersey parishes, such as Vingtaine de la Ville and Vingtaine du Nord, among others.

Geographically, vingtaines are defined by parish boundaries and are primarily used for administrative and ceremonial purposes rather than as independent legal jurisdictions. They provide a framework for local participation and oversight within the parish structure, preserving historical methods of organization while adapting to contemporary governance needs.

Today, the vingtaine remains a recognizable, though largely traditional, element of Jersey’s parish system, continuing to support local administration and civic representation within the parishes.