 | | Old cannon used for mooring |
On the small pier between the English and French harbours stands the former La Folie Inn which closed in 2004. In its heyday La Folie was the 'local' for fishermen and harbour workers but it is now hoped that the Inn may yet reopen to provide one of the few leisure facilities in this part of town. Running behind La Folie from Commercial Buildings is an impressive 1000 yard wall which runs towards La Collette. The wall was completed in 1820 by William Hinchcliffe following the construction of Quai des Marchands (Commercial Buildings) in the 1810s. At the rear of La Folie you can see some unusual moorings protruding from the quay - these iron shapes were once the rear ends of cannon!
 | | The 1000 yard wall stretches south. |
The wall was designed with nearly 30 openings or 'runs à calfaîtage' which were used by shipyards in the vicinity for storing tools and materials. Although many of the openings have now been filled, some can still be seen today. Jersey’s Shipbuilding industry thrived at La Folie with several shipyards in operation during the nineteenth century. The most prolific Jersey yards were those located on the beach between West Park and St. Aubin where there was more space, although some shipbuilders had yards in more than one location. George Deslandes built 79 ships at First Tower and 27 at La Folie, whilst F.C. Clarke built 62 ships at West Park, 10 at Havre des Pas and a further two at La Folie. A scale model of Clarke's West Park yard can be seen at the Jersey Maritime Museum. During the Occupation, the mouth of the English harbour (to the north of La Folie) was spanned by the German railway which ran across its mouth, past the French Harbour, around the rear of Mount Bingham where the power station now stands and then on to Havre des Pas. The tunnels which were carved into the rock face opposite Victoria Harbour can still be seen today. Access around Mont de la Ville has always been a problem but one which was partly solved by the completion of the road tunnel beneath Fort Regent in 1970.
 | | Commercial Bldgs & Quai des Marchands |
Surprisingly St. Aubin developed its harbour before St. Helier, something which contributed to the development of this small thriving town. St. Helier had many embarrassing moments – in one Prince William, Duke of Gloucester who was George III's son-in-law had to scramble ashore over rocks as the tide happened to be out as he arrived on a visit to the island in 1817. The procrastination and stalling of the States of Jersey prompted the merchants and shipping magnates to put up the money to build Quai des Marchands, linking the English Harbour with town. The new quay provided access to their warehouses with accommodation above. Moving on to Point 3 From La Folie continue along Commercial Buildings until you reach the small recess where the Normandy Memorial is located. From here the road double-backs towards town and then makes a second U-turn to the rear of Mount Bingham. Follow the road, taking care where there are no footpaths and head towards the summit. Shortly afterwards, turn right into the yard in front of the Territorial Army Centre and then proceed down the footpath which runs between here and the rear of La Collette Power Station. You will emerge on the seafront beneath La Collette Gardens - keep heading along the promenade until you reach the site of Allix's Shipyard beyond the former Hotel de la Plage. | 
Introduction