16 New Street | National Trust for Jersey

16 New Street - The Georgian House

Step back in time at this period property in St. Helier

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A rich history

As a result of the bankruptcy of Phillipe Journeaux in 1850, the property was acquired by the firm of A. de Gruchy & Co.

It then became a letting house before being taken on by the Liberty Gentlemen’s Club. The Club removed partitions on the first floor of the house in order to install their billiard tables.

When the Liberty Gentlemen’s Club departed in 1909, the Jersey Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) moved in, removing further partition walls for their snooker and table tennis tables.

When the YMCA left in 1964, de Gruchy’s established their curtain and blind manufacturing workshop on the ground and first floors, using the top floor for storage. The workshop operated until the late 1970s when the building became a surplus storage area. For the next twenty years the house was neglected and gradually decayed until the parapet gutters gave way.

Saved and sensitively restored

Threatened with demolition, Save Jersey’s Heritage, The National Trust for Jersey and the Department of Environment joined forces to find a long term sustainable future for the building.

Eventually, in December 2003, the Trust accepted the gift of 16 New Street with funds barely adequate for merely making the property wind and watertight.

All was to change in 2004, when it became the recipient of a £1 million bequest from Mrs. Mollie Houston – funds enough to facilitate the complete repair of the house.

The house first opened its doors to the public in November 2011. Following a painstaking restoration by the Trust, 16 New Street has been described as "A lost jewel in the crown of the architectural heritage of Jersey".

Gifted to the Trust in 2003, having been neglected for a period of 20 years, 16 New Street has been meticulously repaired by the Trust in order to reinstate its elegant Georgian features.

Without the bequest from Mrs. Houston, 16 New Street would not be the beautiful historical building it is today. To find out more about leaving gifts in your will to the National Trust for Jersey, please click the button below.

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