La Vallette

The importance of La Vallette lies in the fact that this property is neither exceptional or large, but is simply an example of the sort of farmhouse lived in by a Jersey family of the 18th century, well enough established to be proprietors, but never extremely wealthy. It is surrounded by its own land and is situated not far from the cliffs overlooking Bonne Nuit Bay.

Historical description

La Vallette was bequeathed to the National Trust for Jersey by Philip Le Masurier in 1965. His family had owned it since 1790, when it passed to the Le Masuriers through the female line from the Pinels, who had owned it since the mid-17th century.

La Vallette means a little valley and many houses were constructed in hollows for shelter. The house as it now appears is dated 1797, with a dower wing of a generation later. But this façade was superimposed on to a 17th century house, that of the Pinels.

The ground floor room, west, originally the kitchen, has a granite fireplace with lightly decorated corbels, retained as kitchen fire designs had not altered, and the crane (spit from which to suspend cooking pots) is still in position. This and the gable ends of the house, and the sturdy granite chimneys, are consistent with a mid-seventeenth century date.

On the north there is a typical Jersey round arch, and immediately under the great shoulder stone, the initials CP are incised. These probably represent Clement Pinel who died in 1696, but he could have put his initials on a feature which had existed for many years before that. This arch may be in its original position, or it may have been demoted from being the front door in the south façade during the 1797 restoration.

Some chamfered window lintels from the earlier house have been re-used at later dates. They would have been discarded as old-fashioned when larger sash windows were incorporated. The existing windows probably date from that time and they have an early type of latch.

The chimneys are of a sturdy design and incorporate Witches’ Stones. These stones were in reality drip stones which were inserted in the thatch at a period when all houses in the countryside were thatched. The thatch was tucked under these stones, which prevented the rain from running down the chimney under the thatch. The Witches’ Stones or Pierres de Corchieres, as they were usually referred to, were so-named in a belief that they were intended as a resting place for witches on their nocturnal flights.

The front door porch is simple and pleasing, having Tuscan pillars without bases, a vernacular effort at making a classical feature. The actual front door appears to be contemporary. The doors leading from the hall to the two principal rooms are interesting, with contemporary fielded panelling and a side 'contre huis' which could be opened on occasions when a wider door was required. Such a design is not unknown, but it is uncommon within the interior of a house.

The stairs are simple and undecorated; underneath them is a large granite trough in which pork used to be salted for winter use, and this is quite a usual place in which to find such a trough.

The dower wing bears the date 1826 and the initials of Charles Le Masurier and Elizabeth Sophie Rondel. This is a very early and rare example of two Christian names carved on a date stone. Here again the actual front door and the interior woodwork are good examples of their date showing the changes in fashion during a quarter of a century. This wing is single storied and was clearly meant to be a ground floor living room and bedroom for the dowager.

The mushroom-shaped stones (Pierre de Haugard) in the front garden were stack stones used for raising a haystack off the ground and to save it from damp and rodents. The outbuildings have a large number of pigeon holes, for the breeding and keeping of pigeons.

At the entrance to the property, is a wooden stile in the form of a cross fixed on a granite pillar. This allowed pedestrians to enter the property whilst the gates were kept shut to prevent the cattle and sheep escaping.

Site Access

The property is located in the Parish of St. John, 900 metres east from the Parish Hall, on the plateau above Bonne Nuit Bay. Access is from La Rue des Barraques down a track to the back of the farmhouse. The site can be reached via Bus routes 4 or 5 departing from St. Helier. La Vallette is currently tenanted, and is generally not open to the public. However, it is possible to visit the farm on the Heritage Open Day, usually held in September every year. We would also highly recommend the ramble on La Vallette Walk, just beneath the property, which will provide stunning views of Bonne Nuit Bay. It can be accessed from opposite the bus stop on Les Nouvelles Charrieres, the road leading to Bonne Nuit Bay.