# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Start outside The Dolphin pub.

Although St Helier has always been Jersey's capital and the seat of its government, the centre of power for over four centuries was the main fortification, Mont Orgueil Castle. With the little Village of Gorey close by, the small port below the Castle was the closest link with the neighbouring coast of France.

Early in the 19th century, the Village of Gorey grew rapidly as hundreds of oyster fishermen moved to Jersey from the south-east coast of England. The population of the Village doubled in a short time and some 2,500 people were employed in the industry, either fishing, or cleaning and packing the catch. Rows of fishermen's cottages were built to house them. There were about 250 boats bringing back around 12,000 oysters on every trip, and before long the Gorey oyster beds became over-fished. By 1864 the fleet had dwindled to just over 20 boats.

Walk along the seafront promenade away from the pier.

On the right-hand side you will see a granite ship's keel, a reminder of the shipbuilding yards that once stood here.

The Dolphin

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Start outside The Dolphin pub. Although St Helier has always been Jersey's capital and the seat of its government, the centre of power for over four centuries was the main fortification, Mont Orgueil Castle. With the little Village of Gorey close by, the small port below the Castle was the closest link with the neighbouring coast of France.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Starting at the Driftwood Café

Set off from the Driftwood Café, head inland away from the beach. As you start your walk up the hill, you pass by Archirondel Cottage on your right. This was built around 1820 by Edward Noel but the cottage was bought by the British government in 1847 as part of a project to construct a harbour of refuge in the bay of St Catherine for the Royal Navy. The cottage was given back to the Island in 1878 and remained in public ownership for over 130 years. During the Occupation, the Germans built a series of defensive structures known as 'Resistance Nest Archirondel' in the gardens and land adjacent to the cottage.

At the top of the hill, turn right and pause by St Agatha, an early 19th century house that still retains many historic features. The name is associated with the 14th century chapel dedicated to St Agatha that was demolished in 1852 as part of the harbour building project.

Continue along the pavement towards the Millennium Cross

Archirondel Cottage

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Starting at the Driftwood Café Set off from the Driftwood Café, head inland away from the beach. As you start your walk up the hill, you pass by Archirondel Cottage on your right.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In 1862, Queen Victoria granted royal status to the 'Jersey Yacht and Rowing Club'. Lillie Langtry became its first female member in 1892. In the 1930s, the club commodore was TB Davis, owner of the yacht Westward, which he raced many times against Britannia, owned by his friend King George V.

On the beach behind the Yacht Club was the site of one of Jersey's major shipbuilding yards in the 19th century. The majority of the timber used to build the ships was imported, including French oak, Scandinavian pine and mahogany from the Americas, brought back by the cod-traders. The largest ship ever built in Jersey - the 1,187 ton 'Rescue' - was built in St Aubin.

Ivy House

Ivy House, on the right-hand side as you turn the corner, is a particularly attractive 17th century townhouse with a pair of curved granite steps leading to the front door under an open timber porch with trellis work.

Pause by the Somerville Hotel

Ivy House

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In 1862, Queen Victoria granted royal status to the 'Jersey Yacht and Rowing Club'. Lillie Langtry became its first female member in 1892. In the 1930s, the club commodore was TB Davis, owner of the yacht Westward, which he raced many times against Britannia, owned by his friend King George V.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Hilgrove Street, with its historic cobbles, is more commonly known a s French Lane as it was where the Breton farmworkers, who came over to Jersey to work the potato harvest in the late 19th century, would gather in Town.

Turn left onto Hilgrove Street.

As you pass the rear of the Boots store, notice the Art Deco style of the building.

Continue to the very end of Hilgrove Street, ignoring the intersections with Bath Street and Hilary Street.

At the very end of the road it turns to the left and becomes Wesley Street, named after the impressive Wesley Chapel at the end of the
road. This was built in 1875 by the same architects as the Town Hall and the Royal Court, to replace the original Wesley Chapel of 1827 that had become unsafe. Following a fire in 2008, the façade was retained as part of this modern residential development.

Turn left onto Peter Street

Wesley Chapel

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Hilgrove Street, with its historic cobbles, is more commonly known a s French Lane as it was where the Breton farmworkers, who came over to Jersey to work the potato harvest in the late 19th century, would gather in Town. Turn left onto Hilgrove Street.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
From here, you have a good view of the seawall that protects St Ouen's Bay. This dates back to the early 19 th century and was built to prevent the loss of farmland to the sea. The slipways were not constructed until the threat of French invasion had passed, for fear they might provide ideal landing points for troops. Most slipways date from the mid-19 th century and were built to allow access to the shore to gather vraic or to launch a small boat. The cobbles, or setts, were traditionally laid at a raked angle to provide a firmer footing and to prevent cartwheels and horses hooves
from slipping.

Many slipways were blocked off or dissected by anti-tank walls constructed by the German occupying forces in the 1940s. After the war, the slipways were re-opened.

Continue along the path towards the headland.

On the corner, you will find Resistance Nest Oeillère, part of an integrated network of German fortifications constructed in Jersey during the Second World War that formed part of Hitler's Atlantic Wall. The gun turret was removed in the last year of the war and relocated - probably to La Rocque - when an Allied invasion from the east was expected.

Follow the footpath round to the small bay of Petit Port, taking care on the uneven steps along the top of the slipway.

Resistance Nest Oeillère

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
From here, you have a good view of the seawall that protects St Ouen's Bay. This dates back to the early 19 th century and was built to prevent the loss of farmland to the sea. The slipways were not constructed until the threat of French invasion had passed, for fear they might provide ideal landing points for troops.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Enjoy the stroll down this picturesque lane that was the winner of Jersey's first 'Scenic Lane' competition in 1997. On the righthand side, you will pass the rear of Trinity School. This is one of the Island's V ictorian parish schools and it was unusual in having two separate schoolrooms. The southern schoolroom was built in 1854 out of Mont Mado granite, with a small bell tower to call children to their classes. The second schoolroom was built in a similar style in 1897.

A little further on you will pass the picturesque entrance to Mont Pellier with its double arch

Mont Pellier double arches

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Enjoy the stroll down this picturesque lane that was the winner of Jersey's first 'Scenic Lane' competition in 1997. On the righthand side, you will pass the rear of Trinity School.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
On the right is the Town Church which is dedicated to Saint Helier who was beheaded by raiding pirates in 555 AD while living on a rocky outcrop in St Aubin's Bay, now the site of the Hermitage at Elizabeth Castle.

At the end of Bond Street, turn right and pause by the Obelisk monument.

This was built in honour of Pierre Le Sueur, a former Constable of St Helier, who worked tirelessly to improve the living conditions of the poor in the parish, especially by building a town sewerage system to combat the threat of cholera.

Turn right by the Blue Note pub and then left into King Street.

Walk as far as La Croix de la Reine, the granite cross erected for the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977.

Turn right into Pitt Street.

At the end of the road, stop to admire the hand-painted HMV sign on the gable wall of Locke's coffee shop. It was originally painted to advertise Francis Foot's shop, one of the first gramophone and record dealers in the Island. This cluster of historic buildings has been carefully restored by the National Trust for Jersey in recent years.

HMV Sign

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
On the right is the Town Church which is dedicated to Saint Helier who was beheaded by raiding pirates in 555 AD while living on a rocky outcrop in St Aubin's Bay, now the site of the Hermitage at Elizabeth Castle. At the end of Bond Street, turn right and pause by the Obelisk monument.