In pursuing our programme of continuous research in the Architecture Section, the outstanding Photo Archive of the Société Jersiaise is one of our key sources of information.
A case in point is the series of absorbing images captured by photographer Ernest Baudoux in 1870-71. These show panoramic views across St Helier from the hillside above Old St John’s Road. One of these views includes a villa called The Mount, which is the first known building in Jersey to have been designed by architect Adolphus Curry. Until now, no early photographs of the villa were thought to exist.
The first image here shows the entire content of the photograph in question, where The Mount is only one property among scores of other houses and other buildings. (first image)We are very grateful to Max Le Feuvre in the Photo Archive, who has rescanned the original glass plate and has delivered this very impressive close-up view which captures the fine architectural detail of The Mount just after it was completed in 1870. (second image) This photograph reveals the wealth of decorative treatment carried out in the neo-Gothic style, including the carved timber door surround and bargeboards, the castellated bay windows, and the elaborate geometric layout of the window glazing. Much of this detail has unfortunately been lost during successive phases of modernisation over the last 150 years, as can be seen in this photograph taken 10 years ago.
Author – Stuart Fell – Architecture Chair
