Saint Helier is one of twelve parishes of Jersey and the capital of the island of Jersey. The the Government House, however, is located in Saint Saviour. Jersey is the largest island in the Channel Islands, and more than a third of the population of Jersey resides there. Originally a fishing village adjacent to the parish church, the town is on Saint Aubin’s Bay, across from L’Islet, a tidal island. “L’Islet is accessible via a causeway during low tide.
The parish town was settled sometime between 13 BC and 486 AD. The town is named in honor of Saint Helier, the martyr who brought Christianity to Jersey, as well as to Brittany and Normandy. It is said that he was martyred in what is now the town.
In 1155, the Abbey of St. Helier was founded on L’Islet. The abbey was closed during the Reformation when the Crown captured all of the monastic buildings.
In the 13th century, markets there flourished to the point that the king’s courts met there to take advantage of the goods.
Construction of the Elizabeth Castle, conceived in order to defend Jersey, was begun in 1551 and finished in 1590. From 1646 to 1649, it was where Lord Clarendon holed up to begin writing his book, “History of the Rebellion.” The Governor of Jersey from 1600 to 1603, Sir Walter Raleigh, named the castle in honor of Queen Elizabeth I.
During the English Civil War, in 1651, the Parliamentarians bombarded the castle, and the battle lasted seven weeks. The Parliamentarians held Jersey for nine years, and left only after the monarchy was restored,
In 1852 Victoria College came into being.
The Germans occupied all of the Channel Islands during World War II, due to Hitler’s dream of fortifying the Channel Islands to the point of being absolutely impenetrable. They used prisoners of war as slave Labour and upgraded the castle with bunkers,
battlements, and guns.
The harbour was modernized in the mid-17th century, and today, the old marketplace is the location of the States House, Fort Regent, and the public library.
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Work began on the castle in the 1590s, and it was to become home to Sir Walter Raleigh while he was Governor of Jersey, as well as to the future King Charles II, who sought refuge there during the English Civil War. Located on a rocky islet in St. Aubin's Bay, the castle is accessible at low tide by foot, or by ferry at other times. Its hours of operation are given, and an audio tour may be downloaded from the site.
https://www.jerseyheritage.org/places-to-visit/elizabeth-castle/
Situated on Gloucester Street in St. Helier, Jersey, the opera house stands on the site of Cornwall’s Royal Ampitheatre and Circus, which was destroyed by fire in 1898. The current Jersey Opera House was constructed in 1900. Its history, heritage, and patrons are identified, the facilities are described in detail, and online ticket sales are available.
https://www.jerseyoperahouse.co.uk
Overlooking the port of St. Helier, the club is one of the largest yacht clubs in British waters. Membership information is offered, along with a description of the clubhouse, its racing and other boating events, training courses, a notice board, and contact data.
http://www.shyc.je/
Your Parish Online: St. Helier
The official parish web site identifies the elected members and offers an overview of the parish government, including information about town programmes, services and events. Online services include the ability to pay parking fines, request a residential homes brochure, apply for a day nursery space, browse job vacancies, and make various reports.
https://www.sthelier.je
