Heritage Open Day with National Trust Jersey

Heritage Open Day celebrates Jersey’s built heritage by allowing visitors free access to interesting properties that are not usually open. The event is part of the national celebration of architecture, history, and culture in association with the National Trust in the UK. The event provides a wonderful opportunity to explore and enjoy these sometimes hidden, often curious and always interesting places.

This year the Trust is opening several of its properties including:

• The Elms main house, dower, and outbuildings
• Le Rat
• Les Cotils Farm
• Bellozanne Abbey
• Morel Farm
• WWII Occupation relics – Water Storage Bunker, Sands and Wakofest Personnel Bunker
• and Water Storage Tank
• La Ronde Porte
• The ‘Foot’ Buildings in Pitt Street and Lockes Café
• Furze Cottage (with kind support from Di Casa).
• The Transformer Station at Le Bourg.
• Pop-Up Exhibition at Grève de Lecq Barracks – now the headquarters of ArtHouse Jersey

Special events and activities will be taking place at some of the properties. At The Elms, visitors can meet an ‘expert’ as Antony Gibb, Historic Building Consultant, V&V Stonemasons and Wildlife Gardener, Judith Queree will be on hand to answer any questions. The Trust joiners will also be in situ and the joinery workshop will be open for demonstrations, volunteers will also be on hand in the walled garden and visitors can walk around the cider apple orchard.

An afternoon tea is taking place at La Vallette on Saturday afternoon from 2 to 5pm. Visitors can enjoy homemade cakes, scones, and a hot drink in a delightful tepee tent in the garden.

The Jersey Fortification Study Group will be opening the Water Storage bunker at ‘Sands’ known as the ‘RN high Tower’ and the Wakofest personnel bunker and the water storage tank at El Tico.

The Transformer Station at Le Bourg will be open for the first time. Known as OT substation, Le Bourg, is located near the car park below the Queen’s Valley Reservoir and was built in the German occupation by Organisation Todt. The Sub Station or “Schalthaus” was one of 3 located on the Island, but sadly it is the last remaining example, with the others being demolished in the late 70’s. Look out for the NT flag!

The Trust is also organising several guided walks and cycling trails over the weekend. Sue Gorin, Family History Guide will be leading 2 walks: The Lanes and Pathways of St Mary on the Saturday and Historic Farmsteads on the Sunday. Nicky Mansell, Blue Badge Guide will be leading a cycle tour around some of the Heritage Open Day Properties on the Saturday and there will a bike tour around the East with Andy Horsfall from Lakeys Bike Tours on Sunday morning. Local Historian Ian Ronayne will be leading two walks; Buried History; Almorah Cemetery Stories and the Lost Towers of St. Ouen’s Bay. There will also be a town trail with Architectural Historian, Stuart Fell on Sunday afternoon.

Home-Making, Hay-Making. An ArtHouse Jersey pop up exhibition at Grève de Lecq.

Barracks featuring the work of Oliver Le Gresley. On display will be a series of ink drawings exploring the physicality of agricultural labour, and how this leads to a sense of place and belonging.

The properties will be open from 10am until 4pm and will be signposted from the nearest main road. Our team of volunteers will be available at each of the properties acting as house stewards.

The trails will be advertised on the National trust for Jersey website and although free will be bookable on nationaltrust.je/events or by calling the office on +44 (0) 1534 483193.

Find the full programme HERE.