Morel Farm

A look through the double-arched gateway into the yard at Morel Farm provides a glimpse of the past. Despite an appearance of timelessness, the farm has undergone many changes over the centuries, as the various dates on the different buildings indicate: 1666, 1716, 1837 and 1858.

Morel Farm is still a “working” farm, and although not fully open to the public, some parts of the farm, such as the outbuildings, are well worth a visit.

Historical description

Morel Farm as it stands today has been built over several centuries and is an amalgamation of different architectural styles. The fact that the house within the courtyard is of a later date than the encircling wall, well reflects this amalgamation.

The double roadside arch at Morel Farm is one of the most perfectly proportioned in the island. The arch on the left is for wheeled traffic and the arch on the right is for those on foot. The main arch bears the date 1666 and the initials RLG, and the smaller arch has on its keystone the fleur de lys emblem (French monarchy) with MLG in monogram. These probably represent Raulin Langlois, who died in 1675 and his son Matthew.

To the right of the pedestrian arch is a mounting block, and the courtyard within is cobbled, which is rare for Jersey. The pebbles used in its construction may have been collected from beaches when the vraic was being gathered. It is also possible that the pebbles were used as interior flooring in the property at some point. The paving of the original forecourt is of local stone. The cobbled courtyard is surrounded by the old buildings, including a cart-shed, and would once have been used for housing livestock. It is now a colourful and clean garden.

On the central stack is the date 1716 with the initials PLG, perhaps Philip Langlois, son of Matthew, born in 1686. He may have altered the house, for this date is in good agreement with many of its features. It is not unlikely that he added a bay to the west, which would account for the departure from the custom of five windows above four in local houses, for here we have six windows on the first floor. Also, the easternmost ground floor room is lined with 18th century panelling.

The front door is straight topped, and the windows, six above five, are not chamfered. There are three fireplaces, with unchamfered side stones, and wood lintels, which is further indication of an 18th century date. From the kitchen, opening to the room to the north, there is a very fine door of nine panels, which must be original and is a rare example.

There is also a doorway 15 feet above ground level. A wooden walkway had once led from the attic of the house and across the narrowest part of the yard to the barn. The rounded stones on the corners of the barn walls were an important practical consideration when farm carts were being manoeuvred around the yard, as they prevented the walls from being damaged.

The pressoir which forms the eastern wing to the enclosed courtyard contains a 150 years old circular granite cider press and crusher. An archway leads to it, but it appears that only the three arch stones are original. These three arch stones may well have been part of the front door of a 17th century house before alteration. Indeed it has been suggested that the boulangerie is (or is on the site of) an older house. It also contains a rough open hearth; the chimney on its south is brick and is a dummy, serving no hearth, and having pigeon nests in its south face. Pigsties are incorporated most ingeniously, the pig’s actual shelter being within the building, the enclosed run, where the pigs are fed, and in which they could sun themselves, being additions beyond the gable wall. This is the only known instance of sties thus contrived, and they are still in use by the current tenants of the property, Mr & Mrs Poingdestre, for housing their herd of Golden Guernsey Goats.

A much later building dated 1858 and commonly known as the chapel is in front of the house, but inside the courtyard, and is now in use for storing seed potatoes. At its gable end is a small belfry whith a ship’s bell inscribed ‘John Morel 1837’.

The name Morel appears in Jersey from very early times, but it is believed that the present members of the family are descended from Nicolas Morel, who escaped from France in 1572 following the Massacre of St. Bartholomew. He came to Jersey as a Huguenot refugee, and married a girl from St. Lawrence, Marguerite Langlois, daughter or Raulin Langlois. Although the occurrence of the Langlois initials of 1666 (on the arch) and 1716 (on a chimney) do not confirm a Morel ownership of the farm since the mariage of Nicholas, there seems to be little doubt, from the documents in the Morel family, that this property has belonged to them in undisrupted succession since 1560.

Morel Farm was donated to the Trust by Mr A.J. Morel in 1939.

Site Access

The property is located in the Parish of St. Lawrence, west of the Church, in La Rue de La Fontaine, 200 metres past Le Rât cottage. The site can be reached via Bus route 7 (7b) departing from St Helier. The cottage is currently occupied by a tenant and, apart from the outbuildings (e.g. the Pressoir), it is not open to the general public. However, It is possible to visit the farm on the Heritage Open Day, usually held in September every year.