Queen Victoria
That Was Jersey |
Local history for everyone |
CHANNEL ISLANDS |
As you look around the Island, you will find a wide variety of sculptures and memorials. They vary in size, in information given and in importance, but they each have a story to tell. There are many more than you will find here, and you can learn a lot about the Island's history from exploring and researching any other sculptures you notice.
Queen Victoria visited the Island twice during her reign. She was most appreciative of the beauty of the Island, and of the warm welcome she received here. In her jubilee year there were many statues raised in her honour across not only the British Isles, but also across the Empire.
A jubilee statue was erected by the Jersey public in the centre of the Weighbridge to celebrate the Golden Jubilee in 1887. The Weighbridge was then a formal garden, and the statue took pride of place in the centre. Over the years the Weighbridge was changed, and it was considered appropriate to move Her Majesty to the small area of park near the Grand Hotel, where she may be seen today.
A crown was carved to go at the entrance to Victoria Avenue to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee in 1897.
In the Royal Square stands the gilded statue of King George II. It was erected in 1751, in what had been for many years the Market Square. The Square was renamed Royal Square in honour of the King (and the statue) and in gratitude for his contribution towards building the harbour.
Thirty years later, the Royal Square was the scene of the Battle of Jersey in 1781. This story is told on the page for Invasions. In the famous painting of the event by Copley, the statue can be seen behind the dying Major Peirson.
General Don was Lieutenant-Governor of Jersey from 1806 to 1814, and he is remembered for many improvements to the Island's defence. In order to improve access from one part of the island to another, he built a network of roads that would enable the militia to move around easily to defend the coasts. These roads form the basis of many of the roads we use today.
The monument to the General is in Parade Gardens, and is of impressive size and design. It was built in 1885 by Robinet. General Don is at the top of the monument, and the other figures represent Ceres (the goddess of agriculture) and Mercury (the god of commerce). The Parade Gardens are named for the parade ground that was here for the militia of St Helier.
The Cenotaph can be found in the Parade, not far from the Town Hall. It records all those Jerseymen who died in the first and second world wars. Jersey lost 862 men between 1914 and 1918, and a further 458 were killed in the second world war. The monument is made of La Moye granite and was erected in 1923.
At Charing Cross you will find a monument built to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in 1977. The individual sculptures represent aspects of the town. There is St Helier (the town's saint), the town church, the hermitage, the old prison, the dolmen that used to be on the hill above town where Fort Regent now stands, and an ormer. The monument also includes the silver jubilee emblem.
One of the more recent memorials is at La Corbière. It recalls the accident on April 17th 1995 when the hi-speed ferry "Saint Malo" hit a submerged rock and was badly damaged. All the passengers and crew were rescued by emergency services and nearby boats. The sculptor was Derek Tristram and the work was unveiled on the anniversary of the dramatic rescue, in 1997.
Perhaps the most popular sculpture in the Island is the celebration of Liberation which is located in Liberation Square. It was designed by Philip Jackson and was erected to commemmorate the 50th anniversary of the Liberation in 1995.
The sculpture known as Les Jongleurs is at the eastern end of Queen Street near the junction with Snow Hill and Colomberie. There are three intertwined figures each with a musical instrument. They are like permanent street entertainers. This sculpture, like many other recent ones, owes its existence to the work of the Jersey Public Sculpture Trust.
Fountains can sometimes be sculptures, too. In the gardens by St Brelade's Bay is a fountain with several granite "millstones". Nearby benches provide somewhere to sit and enjoy watching it.
In the new departures hall at the airport, there is a fountain with flying geese. Inevitably the pool of water attracts people to throw in coins which go to charity. Outside of the departures hall is a pyramid; to see it at its best, go after dark and see it lit up.