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Tour of the National Trust Land and Properties |
» Tour Map [large] (PDF File: 216Kb)
The National Trust of Guernsey is a purely island organisation with its own constitution and funds. It is a registered charity, the aims of which are the preservation of notable buildings and objects connected with the Island's heritage. It is wholly independent and relies for its finances entirely on gifts, legacies, members' subscriptions and annual fund raising. Several large areas of land with beautiful walks are owned and maintained by the Trust with well-kept paths and seats at strategic viewing points, open for everyone's enjoyment at all times.
PLEASE RESPECT THE PROPERTIES, LEAVING THEM AS YOU WOULD WISH TO FIND THEM
If you are a Bailiwick of Guernsey resident you may become a member of the National Trust of Guernsey. Membership entitles you to FREE ENTRY to all National Trust properties in the United Kingdom; simply show your card. If you are not yet a member please apply to the » Membership Secretary, Maymyo, Les Amballes, St Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 IWY. Tel: 721915.
MOST OF THE PROPERTIES HAVE SEATS AT STRATEGIC POINTS. THE PROPERTY NUMBERS ARE TO BE FOUND ON THE MAP.
For the visitor and for many islanders embarking on a tour of National Trust of Guernsey properties, St Peter Port offers a convenient starting point. The Trust's headquarters are situated at » 26 Cornet Street on the south side of town (No.1 - E8). It is one of the earliest complete buildings of any age within the medieval boundaries of St Peter Port but a building has probably existed on the site since the seventeenth century. The upper parts are substantially from the period 1725-50. It is of especial interest in that the Victorian shop, with its many period fittings, on the ground floor has remained virtually intact to the present day and it still has its original reeded shutters.
In 1983 No. 26 was purchased by the National Trust of Guernsey in anticipation of its Silver Jubilee two years later. This house had been listed by the Ancient Monuments Committee (now the Heritage Committee) in 1973 and in the following year Charles Brett in his survey of the Town picked it out as of particular interest. After five years of restoration involving much time, effort, expertise and above all money, the Trust was happy to be able to show the public some of what had been done to bring this fine building back into use.
At street level a mini-museum has been made with a sweet shop and a parlour of around 1900. Space has also been provided for a small office and a central area selling Trust publications, with local crafts available in the basement. The public area is manned during the summer by volunteer Trust members. There is no charge for admission but all contributions (donations and purchases) are welcome. It has also become customary to open for almost two weeks of Christmas shopping in early December.
Another property within the parish of St Peter Port lies on the principal route to the west extending from Grange Road. » The Ivy Gates, Rohais, dating from the 1740s, has been in the care of the Trust since 1967 and was restored in the following year (No.2 - D7). An arch for coaches is matched by a smaller one for pedestrians, which appears to be very low but which has been considerably reduced in height as the road levels have been built up over the years. The avenue beyond originally gave access to Les Granges de Beauvoir Manor House and the coat of arms incised in the keystone is that of the de Beauvoir family, which acquired the property in 1603.
North now, to a small strip of coastal land to the north and south of the car parking area at La Miellette which was given anonymously.
The Trust originally owned a small piece of land behind the shingle bank to the west of Jaonneuse Bay but this was leased to the States to be included in the Crève Coeur landfill site. This is now no longer in use and the whole of the area will be handed back to the Trust once it has been properly covered and landscaped (No.4a - A8). A second piece of land is situated behind the beach to the north of Chouet Tearooms (No.4b - A8).
The Trust's » Folk Museum is housed in leased buildings in Saumarez Park which date from the late eighteenth century (No.5 - C6); a comprehensive guide book is on sale at the shop there and at 26 Cornet Street. Originally based on the late Advocate W.H. Langlois' collection of farm implements, the Museum has subsequently been steadily enlarged and improved as funds have allowed and the collection has greatly diversified. Consequently it now incorporates a cider barn and a rich collection of Victoriana, furniture, china, early photographs and household equipment set out in a series of furnished rooms, welcoming the visitor to a Guernsey country cottage of 100 years ago.
An unspoilt valley, Les Talbots Valley, leads from the border of St Andrew to the "village" of King's Mills and forms an obvious focus of attention for a conservation body. The Trust owns two separate plots beside the main road which traverse this beautiful wooded area. One incorporates an important wet meadow and freshwater pond providing a habitat which supports a fine spring show of orchids (No.6a - E6). Down the road and on the opposite side is the larger property in which is incorporated a walk dedicated to Mr. Ron Short, a man who during his lifetime played a major role in the fortunes of the Trust for some years. A tranquil spot in a particularly tranquil corner of Guernsey (No.6b - E6).
Our route now leads back to the coast and to the area surrounding the ancient monument of Le Trépied, which the visitor will no doubt wish to view, though it is owned by the States of Guernsey. In order to reach the Trust's property, one continues parallel with the main road towards a bunker. The small patch in the hollow beyond and between the path and the road belongs to the Trust, as does the land with the pine trees. The major asset at Le Catioroc, however, lies on the opposite side of the path and represents a 1965 gift by Col. H.A. Randall in memory of his sister, Miss M. Randall. The area stretches from the memorial stone to the Catioroc Road and as far as the small clump of trees (No.7 - D3).
On the road to Lihou Island is a small area of land donated to the Trust in 1993 by Miss Winifred Machon (No.8 - D2), There is a path to a seat giving a view over L'Erée aerodrome and this may be enjoyed from a vantage point sheltered from the prevailing west wind.
» Le Moulin de Quanteraine (No.9 - F3), dating from the sixteenth century, came into the possession of the National Trust of Guernsey through the generosity of the late Mrs. EIizabeth Silten. The main farmhouse has been expertly restored by the Trust's tenant; the two wings are also privately let. The land beyond is in the care of La Société Guernesiaise.
One desire expressed by Mrs Silten was that the water wheel be restored and this feat was achieved through the efforts of many individuals. In addition to grinding corn in the main building, the original wheel's power was harnessed to drive a threshing machine in the barn to the left. This will in due course be a subject for restoration by the Trust. Your donations towards this aim will be most welcome. Please respect our tenants' privacy: the best view of the wheel is from the road.
The final plots in the care of the National Trust of Guernsey all lie on the south coast and entail a journey from the extreme west to the eastern side of the Island, offering the walker some nine miles of undulating cliff path. All can, however, be approached individually from the main road. They all offer magnificent sea views and illustrate to good effect how a small island, relatively densely populated, can retain quite large tracts of undeveloped countryside.
The principal site in the south-west holds considerable significance for the Trust since it represents the first to come into its ownership shortly after formation. The pine-clad slope of Le Vaux de Monel was presented in June 1961 by Miss May Bonamy-Collings, a founder member (No.10a - F2). A car park and a seat mark the main entrance at Rue de la Mare. Two paths then traverse the naturalised garden, both leading down towards Rocquaine Bay to join at the lower road, beyond the distinctive block of Trinity House cottages. Le Vaux means little valley bounded by hedges; Monel was probably a former owner. La Varde Rock, an imposing outcrop to the left, also belongs to the Trust, as does the meadow on the other side of the road above the picturesque Portelet Beach and Harbour (No.10b - F2). The approach road to Le Vaux de Monel passes further important Trust property in the shape of strip fields having their origin in feudal times (No.lOc - F2).
Opposite the entrance to Le Vaux de Monel lies La Folie (given by Mrs D. Higgs) which offers a continuation of the walk and leads visitors towards the car park overlooking Les Hanois Lighthouse (No.11 - F2). The seaboard at this corner of the Island incorporates a number of treacherous reefs which have claimed many vessels over the years. The subject is covered extensively by the Maritime Museum of the States of Guernsey, housed in former Rocquaine Castle, now known as Fort Grey after a Board of Ordnance surveyor.
The Trust's cliff-land slopes of La Prévôté, its first purchase, lie to the right of the road which leads to the tower and comprises the eastern half of the Clifton Valley (No.12a - G4). A small field owned by the Trust at Le Coémy to the west of La Prévôté has recently been traversed by a path, enabling the walker to embark on a short circular tour from the tower (No.12b - G4). The Men of the Trees have carried out a great deal of planting for the Trust on this area of land.
The cliff-land at Les Camprôts is extensive and includes two plots given by Miss N. Sheppard; here several seats enable the sea-views and meadows to be enjoyed (No.13 - G5). The property may be reached by continuing south from Rue de la Villiaze along Chasse des Galliennes which leads to a footpath. The Men at the Trees have also been active here.
Above the restaurant at Le Gouffre is to be found a small furze break accessible just beyond the seat at the top of the steps (No.14 - 85).
Finally to Jerbourg and to a plot of land, given by Mrs B. Ashworth, bordering the bus stop immediately before the Doyle Monument (No.15 - F8). The grassy slopes lead down to the cliff path affording magnificent views of St Peter Port and the islands of Herm, Jethou and Sark.
Most of the properties have large granite markers bearing the name of the National Trust of Guernsey. Visitors are again asked to respect the properties, leaving them as they would wish to find them.