The Société Jersiaise was founded in 1873 for the study of Jersey archaeology, history, natural history, the ancient language and the conservation of the environment.
2023 marked the Société Jersiaise’s 150th anniversary and, in celebration of this milestone, various productions took place throughout this commemorative year.
The commemorative stamps feature portraits of past members of the Société, each of whom has left a lasting legacy in their specific field of work. The portraits have been painted by Jersey artist Kevin Pallot and incorporate elements relating to each person’s area of interest.
Freelance writer, Martha MacDonald has been working with Société Jersiaise throughout this anniversary year. In this series, Martha will delve into the archives and meet with the researchers, sample the Sections and celebrate all that the Société brings to our Island.
Join the Société Jersiaise today and gain free entry to Jersey’s heritage sites and a 10% discount on all purchases from the Société shop.
2025 © Société Jersiaise. All Rights Reserved.
Société Jersiaise is a Registered Charity with the Jersey Charity Commissioner, registered charity number: 114
‘Past, Present & Future 1873 – 2023’ was the focus of the Société’s recent conference. The event covered topics from local history to Jèrriais, and archaeology to biodiversity.
The conference took place all day on 9th June, with a jam-packed program featuring fascinating local and visiting experts – including Philip Bailhache, Ian Ronayne, Marie-Yvane Daire, Jonathan Renouf and many more – who gave talks and hosted panel discussions about their specialist areas.
Coinciding with the Société’s 150th anniversary year was another significant date for one of Jersey’s most notable architects and engineers, Adolphus Curry. The 29th of June 2023 would have been Curry’s 175th birthday, and all those years later, we are still trying to piece together more information about this “ingenious” man.
The celebration of Jersey’s native language during the 150th anniversary of the Société Jersiaise was a memorable event. There was something for everyone: music, food, poetry, dancing, films, talks, and more—all in the welcoming atmosphere of the Members’ Room.
Highlights included Jèrriais films and poetry, a captivating Q&A session with Professor Mari Jones and Deputy Montfort Tadier, and a delicious lunch featuring Bean Crock and Cabbage Loaf (with a veggie option available). The festivities continued with lively Jèrriais music and dance, presented in collaboration with L’Office du Jèrriais.
On Saturday, 17th June, a ‘Victorian Day’ took place at La Hougue Bie, offering a fun day out for families. Queen Victoria arrived in a horse-drawn carriage, setting the scene for activities such as Victorian swing boats, a coconut shy, and ring toss for children.
The entertainment program included storytelling, music, and dance, alongside demonstrations of activities from the past by Société Jersiaise Section members dressed in period attire. A printing press and a blacksmith added to the historical atmosphere.
Attendees enjoyed a menu of old-fashioned dishes prepared by BSK, complemented by Jersey cider. Dressing up in Victorian attire was encouraged, creating a nostalgic ambiance for all participants.
A little bit of drizzle certainly didn’t rain on the parade when we waved the banner for the Société Jersiaise at Jersey Battle of Flowers 2023, dressed in full Victorian garb, of course.
It was such a joy to celebrate the Société’s milestone 150th anniversary at this iconic local event.
Thank you to Ted Egré for lending us the lorry, and to Simon Langlois for these fantastic photographs.
The SJ Open Day on Saturday 4th November was a huge success, and it was a great opportunity for all the Sections to come together and share their work, presenting it to the public, and to each other.
The Lieutenant-Governor, Vice-Admiral Jerry Kyd was scheduled to spend an hour with us, and he ended up staying for more than 2 and a half hours, so enthusiastic was he about all the work carried out by the Société!
A mural of Jersey-inspired tiles designed to commemorate the Société Jersiaise’s 150th anniversary was unveiled by the Bailiff at a special, festive event at the Société’s Pier Road premises on Friday 15th December 2023.
The artwork, inspired by the Delft tradition was designed by local illustrator Lauren Radley.
This unveiling marked the culmination of the heritage organisation’s 2023 year-long anniversary celebrations.
Lauren’s mural, which consists of 150 individually illustrated tiles each bearing illustrations representing local history and referencing the Société’s work over the last century-and-a-half, was a design selected after an open call run by the Société in partnership with ArtHouse Jersey.
The tiles also feature text in Jèrriais to signify the linguistic heritage of the Island.
Kindly sponsored by the Government of Jersey Creative Island Partnership Fund, the mural will be open to view by the public from 15th December 2023.
