Jersey Archive

Recognised by UNESCO, the Jersey Archive is the Island’s national repository holding records on all aspects of Jersey’s history. Researchers can use archive resources to trace their family history, the story of their house or street, and to find out more about the German Occupation of Jersey during the Second World War.

 

Find out more on the website »

The archive catalogue can be found online (www.jerseyheritage.org/research-centre) and Information leaflets are available on a variety of subjects.

Staff at Jersey Archive can assist with family history, legal and property research enquiries, offer advice about preservation, and give talks, tours and educations services.

Jersey Archive also holds the collections of the Channel Islands Family History Society.

Open: All year, Tuesday - Thursday, 9am-5pm (Reading Rooms closed 1-2). Late night Thursday on the last Thursday of the month until 7pm. Open on the third Saturday of the month from 9am-1pm.
Closed: 4th - 6th December, 21st December - 1st January (re-opening 2nd January)

Address
Jersey Archive, Clarence Road, St Helier, JE2 4JY

Admission – FREE
Please bring photographic ID on your first visit to register as a reader.
Members – 20% off research fees

GPS
Latitude 49.1829902630301
Longitude -2.097814679145813

 

Jersey Archive’s Special Events, Exhibitions and Activities in 2012

Les Quennevais Identity Project at Jersey Archive

Each year Jersey Archive works with Year 8 at Les Quennevais School on a project called Identity. The project aims to encourage the students to think about their place in the world and leads into goal-setting for their future lives. The first part of the project is for the students to learn about where they came from through the research and creation of a family tree or memory book. A number of the students’ family trees and memory books are on display at Jersey Archive. The exhibition runs on a year to year basis with new trees and books being displayed each year. This exhibition is free to access during Jersey Archive opening hours.

 

What's Your Street’s Story?

Come to Jersey Archive for a series of free talks about Jersey’s streets. Discover the history of Jersey's streets and find out about the people who lived, loved and worked there in a series of free talks at Jersey Archive. . Free entry. Proudly sponsored by Appleby. To avoid disappointment book your place by calling 833300 or email archives@jerseyheritage.org

 

Date Talk
15th March Talk on Georgetown
19th April Talk on Mont Millais
17th May Talk on St John's Village
21st June Talk on Beaumont and Sandybrook
19th July Talk on La Route de la Houge Bie
16th August Talk on COrbiere and Petot Port
20th September Talk on Bouley Bay
18th October Talk on Plemeont and Portinfer
15th November Broad Street, Charing Cross and Sand Street
20th December Talk on Researching Your House History

What's Your Street's Story?

Find out more on the website »

Featured Treasure

At Jersey Archive we’re constantly uncovering Jersey’s historical treasures in the depths of our showrooms. So keep visiting this page, as our Archive staff will reveal more treasures.

 

L/C/55/B/9

L/C/55/B/9

On 19 June 1940 the Lieutenant Governor of Jersey, Major-General James Murray Robert Harrison, received a phone call from Major General Percival, Assistant Chief of the Imperial General Staff at the War Office.  In it Percival explained that the War Cabinet had decided to recall the British troops from Jersey and demilitarise the Island.

Harrison hastily wrote the message on the back of this envelope before announcing the news to the States of Jersey Assembly that morning.  By 1 July the troops had been removed, local residents evacuated, an air raid had taken place and the German forces had occupied the Island, a situation that was to remain for the next five years.

D/AP/Z/1

D/AP/Z/1

It is appropriate to start with this document as it is the oldest held at the Jersey Archive.  Dated 1378 it is 644 years old this year.  It is a royal confirmation from Richard II of a charter from Edward III from 1341 granting privileges to the Island.

As the oldest consitutional document held by the Jersey Archive cementing our rights from the Crown it is an undoubted treasure.

Ask the Archivist

Archives are, in essence, the Island's written memory, an irreplaceable source of information about the past extending over many centuries.

The Jersey Heritage Research Centre has information on collections, publications, historic environment and details of documents at Jersey Archive for family & house history research. Visit www.jerseyheritage.org/research-centre to find tips on how to research your family history and house history in Jersey.

Jersey Archive offers a detailed research service for an hourly fee. Please email us at archives@jerseyheritage.org if you would like us to carryout research on your behalf. If you have a quick query about Jersey Archive please post it here:

 

Sign up to be a Jersey Archive reader for FREE. As a Jersey Heritage member, you will also receive 20% discount on additional research fees and photocopying

Click here for more membership information »