Haut de la Garenne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jersey Accommodation and Activity Centre |
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Haut de la Garenne
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Haut de la Garenne (La Rue de la Pouclée et des Quatre Chemins frontage)
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| Former names | Haut de la Garenne, Industrial School, Jersey Home for Boys. |
| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Address | La Rue de la Pouclée et des Quatre Chemins |
| Town or city | Parish of St. Martin |
| Country | Jersey |
| Coordinates | 49°12′05″N 2°01′37″W / 49.201389°N 2.026944°W |
| Opened | 22 June 1867 |
| Owner | States of Jersey |
The Jersey Accommodation and Activity Centre is a building in St. Martin, Jersey. It is located just north of Gorey in the Channel Islands. This building has had many names over the years. It was once called the Industrial School, the Jersey Home for Boys, and Haut de la Garenne.
This building has been used for many different things. It was an industrial school and a children's home. It was also a military signal station during a war. Later, it became a filming location for a TV show. Today, it is a youth hostel and an activity centre.
History of the Building
Haut de la Garenne first opened in 1867. It started as an industrial school for young people who needed care and education. The school's construction cost £2,410. This money was provided by a group called the Assembly of Governor, Bailiff and Jurats. They wanted to house and educate boys who were living at the General Hospital in Saint Helier.
On June 22, 1867, 45 boys moved to the new school. They traveled by coach to their new home. Mr. Higginbottom was the master (or head) of the new school.
Changes Over the Years
By 1900, the school was known as the Jersey Home for Boys. It continued to be a home for children for many years. In 1921, the States of Jersey (Jersey's government) took over the building.
During World War II, from 1940 to 1945, the German military used the building. They used it as a signal station to send and receive messages. After the war ended in 1945, the building went back to being a children's home. The Education Committee then became responsible for it.
On March 17, 1960, the States of Jersey officially changed the building's name to Haut de la Garenne. In the 1960s and 1970s, both boys and girls lived at the home. A new part of the building was added in 1970 for staff to live in. The children's home closed in 1986. After that, the building was used as a police station in the TV show Bergerac.
After the home closed, the Public Works Committee took over the building. They considered different ideas for its use. For a while, it was used for temporary things. There was talk of it becoming a site for the Territorial Army. A nearby school, St. Michael's Preparatory School, even rented a part of it for a while.
In 1989, one part of the building was changed to offer temporary care for children with special educational needs. However, the Public Works Committee thought about selling the property. They wanted to use the money to buy land in Saint Helier for new homes. Another idea was to swap the land with a hotel. The hotel would turn Haut de la Garenne into a fancy hotel. This would free up the hotel's city location for housing.
Local people in Saint Martin did not like the idea of a luxury hotel. They held a meeting in August 1989. At this meeting, they voted against a hotel at Haut de la Garenne. But they said that homes for older people might be okay.
In 1991, the States of Jersey approved a plan. This plan was to keep the 1970 part of the building for special care. The main building would become homes for older people. New houses would be built on the eastern side. But this plan was later changed. In 1992, the Planning and Environment Committee took over. The building was then used for groups like musicians and sports teams who were visiting Jersey.
On December 8, 1998, the States of Jersey decided to create a trust. This trust would manage Haut de la Garenne as a place for people to stay. In 2002, a law was passed to make this trust official.
In 2003, the States spent £2.25 million to turn the building into a youth hostel. This hostel became part of the Youth Hostels Association (England & Wales) (YHA). The youth hostel opened on March 19, 2004. It was also used for occasional meetings and events.
Current Use
In April 2011, the building was given a new name: the Jersey Accommodation and Activity Centre.
Today, the Jersey Accommodation and Activity Centre offers bed and breakfast rooms. It is a great base for people who want to go on activity holidays in Jersey. The building also works as a learning centre. It offers classes in subjects like business, cooking, and environmental studies.
The centre has meeting rooms for charities, sports clubs, and other groups. It also hosts events for arts, crafts, and dance. Two companies, Jersey Adventures and Jersey Odyssey, work together to run the centre.
What the Name Means
The name Haut de la Garenne comes from the French language. It means top of the warren. The building is on a hill called Mont de la Garenne. This hill looks over Mont Orgueil. In the past, people used to hunt rabbits on this hill. This area was a special hunting ground for the King.
