Category Archives: Events

10 May 2012: An Architectural History of St. Helier

The next meeting of the Jersey Society in London, on 10 May, is an illustrated talk by David Le Lay. Details of the venue and booking arrangements will be posted here closer to the date.

The planning and architecture of St. Helier reflects the English influence upon Jersey from about 1800. Throughout the nineteenth century it grew from its mediaeval core around the church to fill the whole of the natural amphitheatre that lies inland. It includes many fine examples of Regency architecture which are grossly under-valued, especially in Jersey itself.

David Le Lay was born in Jersey and was educated at St. John’s School and Hautlieu. He studied architecture at the Canterbury School and the Regent Street Polytechnic. In 1970 he established his own practice in Chelsea, which still flourishes, though David retired in 2005.

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09/02/2012: AGM and “Across the pond” documentary

Some 3700 miles of the Atlantic Ocean separate Jersey from Gaspé in Quebec, Canada. But in 1843 this didn’t deter 29 year old Thomas Le Page from leaving his island home of Jersey to head across the pond to Gaspé. His incentive was to avoid the embarrassment of bankruptcy.

In a quest for a new life, Thomas left his wife and children to claim 110 acres of land just inland at Malbaie, an area already saturated by fellow Jerseymen all keen to cash in on the new and exciting cod fishing industry that had grown from strength to strength over the previous ten years. He, as many others had before him, built a traditional four bedroom Jersey home which still stands today.

Two years later his wife and four children joined him to help with a life of farming and fishing. Tragically, Thomas drowned off the coast of Gaspé but in true Jersey tradition left the farm to his son, Thomas David, and so life went on.

Full details can be found here

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