 jersey museum
Jersey Museum is a great introduction to life in Jersey. Enjoy the perfectly restored Victorian merchant’s town house and explore the story of Jersey from the first inhabitants approximately 250,000 years ago, through the Bronze Age, the Roman period and right up to the modern day. On display are some of Jersey’s best treasures, including mammoth bones from 150,000 years ago and our most treasured possession, the St Helier gold torque. This priceless item is pure gold and was probably brought to the Island 3,000 years ago.
In the Victorian town house meet the housekeeper, Elizabeth Mourant, who between her chores will find time to show you round the house and the art gallery. She’ll share the latest 19th century gossip with you, she’ll also recount the scandalous escapades of one of Jersey’s most famous ladies, Victorian socialite, actress and mistress of Edward VII, Lillie Langtry.
Most of the ground floor is allocated to visitor services. The licensed cafe overlooking the garden is open all day, serving morning coffees, hot and cold lunches and afternoon teas. The shop specialises in books and gifts with a Jersey connection. The short film shown periodically throughout the day in the Audio-Visual Theatre is an ideal introduction to the island and to the museum.
There are two main display areas on the ground floor. The historic maps show how it took mapmakers several centuries to produce an accurate map of the island while a photograph taken from the space shuttle looking south towards the English Channel, Jersey and the French coast brings the story right up to date.
The largest display on this floor tells the story of the pre-historic site of La Cotte de St Brelade, Jersey's most important archaeological site. A quarter of a million years ago this was the cliff face over which Neanderthal people drove animals to their death. The remains of mammoth and Woolly rhinoceros have been found, together with the tools of the people who hunted them.
Next to the La Cotte display is the Temporary Exhibition Gallery, which is the venue for changing exhibitions presented throughout the year. Before heading for the first floor there is an opportunity to learn about the history of Jersey's penal system in a room which is dominated by the 1836 treadmill which was salvaged from the old prison in Newgate Street in St.Helier.
A beautiful travelling case and other personal possessions belonging to the actress Lillie Langtry is on display at the foot of the stairs.
To read about this site in Jersey Norman-French click here.
Information
Opening times
Daily 10am to 4pm
Buses, cycle routes and parking
Take any bus to Liberation Station
Follow any cycle route for St Helier
Parking in Pier Road car park
Access arrangements
Lift to all floors excluding top floor of Merchant's House
Ramps giving wheelchair access to all areas in the main museum
Baby-changing room
Disabled toilet
Hearing loop in audio-visual theatre
Dedicated disabled parking space
Contact details
Jersey Museum
The Weighbridge
St Helier
Jersey
JE2 3NF
Tel: 00 44 (0) 1534 633371
Facsimile: 00 44 (0) 1534 633301
Email: Jersey Heritage |
