Farms

The National Trust for Jersey owns several farms, which are The Elms, Morel Farm, La Vallette and Hamptonne. These properties range from the 17th to the 19th centuries, and provide a good insight into Jersey’s farming heritage through the centuries.



The Typical 17th century Jersey Farmhouse

The 17th century farmhouse was a very basic stone structure comprising of two ground floor rooms, with two bedrooms on the first floor, and a small bedroom above the entrance known as the ‘cabinet’. Room partitions were constructed of timber whilst the stairs were often circular and made of stone. Known as a “tourelle” the staircase was normally located on the north wall.

Floors on the ground floor were clay as can be seen in the pressoirs at The Elms and Morel Farm, with timber floors generally being found upstairs. The fireplaces were also constructed of granite, with large lintels being supported on corbels, which were often decorated with devices including human faces. Turning to the exterior of the property, casement windows had chamfered surrounds with simply decorated lintels above. The most prominent feature was the main door. Situated on the south elevation the entrance comprised of a round arch made up of nine stones; a keystone which was often dated, two shoulder stones and three supporters on each side.

Roofs were generally thatched until slate and tile became more prevalent from the 18th century onwards and today the only remaining outward sign is the so called witches’ stone. Often seen projecting from the chimney these stones act as drippers preventing rain water from seeping under the thatch, as well as providing a place where a witch could rest during her flight!

However, no description of an early Jersey farmhouse would be complete without reference to the large farmyard arch. Constructed in a similar fashion to the arched doorways but substantially larger, there were usually two side by side, one high and wide arch for vehicles and one short and narrow arch for pedestrians. Dating from the 17th century, the exact reasoning behind their design is still subject to conjecture. However, by enclosing the courtyard in such a fashion the farmstead undoubtedly benefited from increased shelter, security and privacy. Fine examples of such arches can be seen at Hamptonne, The Elms, and Morel Farm.

Unfortunately very few unaltered 17th century farmhouses survive, although the Langlois House at Hamptonne together with the façade of La Ronce give valuable insights into the architecture of the time.

The Typical 18th century Jersey Farmhouse

From the 18th century onwards the design of Jersey farmhouses was influenced by English architectural styles and particularly the symmetry and proportions that we associate with the Georgian period. The curves, embellishment and individuality that we associate with the previous century were usurped by a new desire for conformity and plain clean lines. The front elevation was often constructed of ashlar, with sash windows which were equidistant and larger than their casement counterparts. Rounded doorways were replaced with straight topped unchamfered doorways and the increasing use of slate and tile dispensed with the need for witches stones.

Wood was now the prevalent material for the interior. Softwood was used to create panelling as well as to provide timber floor boards, shutters and fireplace surrounds. In addition rooms were larger and often houses were double-piled in order to provide a four room plan. A typical example of this type of domestic architecture is The Elms (1740’s), and also we can clearly see how the new architectural style had a distinct influence on the modification and construction of such properties as Morel Farm (1719) and La Vallette (1790’s).

However, the island’s domestic architecture did retain some idiosyncrasies such as the so called marriage stone. Normally located on the southern façade the marriage stone comprises of a lintel or large stone bearing the initials of a husband and wife, with interlocking hearts and a date. The dates can sometimes be misleading as they do not necessarily refer to the date of the marriage but can also indicate an important event in the couple’s life or major alterations to the building. For example, there are three date stones at The Elms relating to different events and people.

Farm outbuildings

All large farms in Jersey would have not been complete without a boulangerie (bakehouse), pressoir (cider house) and a number of pigsties. All were essential for providing the farmer with his daily provisions and this is reflected in the high quality and careful way in which they were constructed. Sties were often constructed of granite with an inner room for sleeping, roofed over with pantiles or slate, and an open enclosed space for the pig to exercise and bask in the sunshine. There was also an opening adjacent to the wooden doorway, through which swill could be tipped into granite troughs below. Fine examples of such pigsties can be seen at Hamptonne and Morel Farm, with the latter now housing a herd of Golden Guernsey Goats.