Jersey Heritage

Home
Jersey
St. Helier
Jersey Heritage

Directions Website Contact the organization

We bring to life Jersey's history & culture through story-telling, vibrant events & engaging exhibitions. Welcome to the Jersey Heritage page!

At Jersey Heritage we bring to life the history and culture of this beautiful Island through imaginative story-telling, vibrant events and engaging exhibitions. For more information, please visit our website www.jerseyheritage.org

27/10/2026

AUTUMN SUNSHINE

Although the days are getting shorter and colder, sometimes there is a period of warm weather in late October or early November. Martinmas (the feast of Saint Martin) is on 11 November and gives its name to the term “L'êté d'St. Martîn" (St Martin’s summer) for this last bit of seasonal relief before we’re in the depths of winter.

This image from Jersey Evening Post Photo Collection, held at Jersey Archive, captures a dog enjoying some late autumn weather in Jersey in 1983.

25/10/2026

DICK SHENTON

100 years ago, well-known Island politician Richard Joseph Shenton, better known as Dick Shenton, was born.

Having lived through the Occupation, he went on to serve in the RAF, moving to Canada for a number of years, before returning to his home island to run a stevedore firm at the Harbour.

Shenton stood for election to States Assembly - Jersey’s elected parliament for the first time in 1969, topping the poll to become a Senator.

He went on to top the poll four times – in 1975, 1981 and 1987 – a feat never achieved by anyone else and cementing his position as one of the most popular politicians of the 20th century.

Shenton served as the President of multiple States Committees, including the Island Development Committee, Agriculture and Fisheries and the Resources Recovery Board, as well as being President of a number of charities.

He was made an OBE for his public service and received a Knighthood of the Holy See for his work with the Catholic Church. Shenton died in January 2013 at the age of 86.

These images from Jersey Evening Post Photo Collection, held at Jersey Archive, and the Archive’s collection share some snapshots of his life.

Government of Jersey

24/10/2026

A SUNDAY ROAST

Our delicious roasts are back – served every Sunday at La Hougue Bie Tearoom.

Gather your family and friends and enjoy a traditional Sunday Roast in the beautiful surroundings of this historic site in Grouville. No booking required.

And there’s more to look forward to…our Christmas menu launches on 14 November! Enjoy two courses for £20 and get into the festive spirit with delicious seasonal favourites. Take a look at the menu on our page at www.jerseyheritage.org/christmas

La Hougue Bie Tearoom is open daily for great food and a warm welcome from our team. By visiting the café, you’ll also be supporting our charity.

Government of Jersey Association of Jersey Charities Government of Jersey

23/10/2026

SITES REOPEN TOMORROW

Phew! Storm Austen has been and gone and we got off lightly in the end, thank goodness. Apart from a gate down and a few damaged trees, our sites remain safe and accessible, and they will all reopen as usual to the public tomorrow (24th).

We will have to play it by ear with Elizabeth Castle and the ferries. Please phone 633300 ahead of your trip to check if they are able to run.

Reopening the sites means that our exciting new exhibition, ‘Playing with Light’, will open as planned tomorrow at Jersey Museum. We can’t wait for our visitors – young and old – to have a go with all the fun, interactive displays that share the science of light and the role ‘light’ has played in Jersey’s story.

Escape any remaining wind and rain and come and press some buttons and have a play!

Visit Jersey Government of Jersey Kids' Rock (Jersey) Vibrant Jersey

23/10/2026

NEW EXHIBITION

All being well following Storm Austen, the doors to our exciting new exhibition at Jersey Museum open tomorrow (24th) – just in time for some family fun during half term.

‘Playing With Light’ has lots of interactive exhibits and highlights include freezing your shadow in a flash photography booth, playing music on a laser harp, watching live images from a camera obscura, and viewing Victorian photographs in 3D with a stereoscope.

The interactive exhibits are suitable for children aged 6+ (and adults!) and there is a special Early Years play area for our younger visitors.

Usual entry fees apply. FREE to Jersey Heritage Members and children under six.

Please keep an eye on our socials for updates.

Visit Jersey Kids' Rock (Jersey) Vibrant Jersey
Children, Young People, Education and Skills
Kids in Museums

22/10/2026

SITES CLOSED TOMORROW

With Storm Austen on the horizon, we’ve taken the decision to close all our sites tomorrow (23rd) to ensure the safety of our staff, volunteers and visitors.

This includes Jersey Museum, Hamptonne, Mont Orgueil Castle, Elizabeth Castle, La Hougue Bie, the Maritime Museum and Jersey Archive.

Once the bad weather has passed, we’ll assess any damage and then decide when to reopen the sites. We’ll let you know as soon as we can!

Visit Jersey Government of Jersey

22/10/2026

DIRECT HIT ON CASTLE

375 years ago, Parliamentarian Commonwealth troops landed at St Ouen’s Bay during the Civil Wars (1642-1651) in an attempt to take Jersey from the Royalists, led in the Island by Sir George Carteret.

Carteret retreated to Elizabeth Castle. Commonwealth forces bombarded the fortress and a direct hit blew up am******on and gunpowder stored in the crypt of the medieval Priory church, killing 40 people and destroying the remaining buildings of the Priory. Carteret eventually surrendered and the Castle was taken by Commonwealth forces a couple of months later on 15 December 1651. Pictured are the articles of surrender.

Today, Eizabeth Castle is far more welcoming to visitors! The last day of opening before the Castle closes for winter is Sunday, 1 November.

21/10/2026

ON THE BUSES

If you’re catching the bus, your journey may start or end at this week’s ‘Word of the Week’.

Learn Jèrriais Société Jersiaise Government of Jersey

21/10/2026

HICKMAN PORTRAIT

in 1932, designer and inventor Ron Hickman was born in Greytown, South Africa. He began his career designing cars for Ford, then later Lotus, where he designed the original Lotus Elan and Lotus Europa.

However, the invention he is best remembered for is the Black & Decker Workmate; a multifunctional woodworking bench that had sold around 70 million units by the time of his death in 2011.

Hickman relocated to Jersey in 1977, where he designed and built his own villa overlooking St Brelade’s Bay. He had a design factory in Jersey and was also a member of the Jersey Old Motor Club. He retired in 1982 and was awarded an OBE in 1994 for services to industrial innovation.

This 2004 portrait of Hickman by local artist Kevin Pallot was generously donated to our art collection this year. Pallot visited Hickman at his home over a six-month period to gain a better understanding of his subject while creating the portrait.

20/10/2026

GHOSTLY FOLKLORE MAPPED

With the nights drawing in and Halloween fast approaching, it’s time to delve into local legends of ghostly apparitions and haunted locations, which we’ve mapped onto the Jersey Historic Environment to help trick-or-treaters avoid unexpected encounters.

One such locality is Ruette à la Vioge, a steep hill leading from Wheatlands to Sandybrook in St Peter, which is known as ‘Crack Ankle Lane’ or ‘Lane of the Monster’.

‘Vioge’ is an old French word for 'ghost' and something to frighten, which corresponds to the patois word ‘émânue’ meaning scarecrow. It is also suggested that ‘vioge’ is a corruption of ‘vierge’ – assumed to refer to a malicious spirit or demon.

The ghoul or monster is said to live in a cave near the lane where it would drag its victims and eat them, so don’t hang around after dark!

Search ‘Jersey Folklore Site’ on our online Historic Environment Record at https://her.jerseyheritage.org/ to discover more spine-tingling tales.

Address

The Weighbridge
St. Helier
JE23NG

Website

https://www.jerseyheritage.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Jersey Heritage posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.