Jersey Museum

The Jersey Museum is a gateway to the island's history, culture and environment. The accent is on presenting collections and themes in ways which captivate and enchant so that the experience of visiting is one of discovery. It is laid out on three floors within a purpose built modern building.

The main entrance to the Jersey Museum is through a garden which has been designed in a classical style. The plants have been chosen to represent the island; some are commonly found here, some are named after Jersey people and others have been chosen simply because they grow well in the island's temperate climate.

Ground floor

Most of the ground floor is allocated to visitor services. The licensed cafe overlooking the garden is open all day, serving morning coffees, hot and cold lunches and afternoon teas. The shop specialises in books and gifts with a Jersey connection. The short film shown periodically throughout the day in the Audio-Visual Theatre is an ideal introduction to the island and to the museum.

There are two main display areas on the ground floor. The historic maps show how it took mapmakers several centuries to produce an accurate map of the island while a photograph taken from the space shuttle looking south towards the English Channel, Jersey and the French coast brings the story right up to date.

The largest display on this floor tells the story of the pre-historic site of La Cotte de St Brelade, Jersey's most important archaeological site. A quarter of a million years ago this was the cliff face over which Neanderthal people drove animals to their death. The remains of mammoth and Woolly rhinoceros have been found, together with the tools of the people who hunted them.

Next to the La Cotte display is the Temporary Exhibition Gallery, which is the venue for changing exhibitions presented throughout the year. Before heading for the first floor there is an opportunity to learn about the history of Jersey's penal system in a room which is dominated by the 1836 treadmill which was salvaged from the old prison in Newgate Street in St.Helier.

A beautiful travelling case and other personal possessions belonging to the actress Lillie Langtry is on display at the foot of the stairs.