The Royal Square was the site of Jersey's Market until 1802 and most famously the location of the Battle of Jersey in 1781, which was the last land battle to be fought on British soil. Invading French forces were defeated by the local militia under Major Peirson who also died in the course of the fighting. He was buried inside the Town Church, where you can see his name inscribed on his tomb.
 | | Royal Square |
Under the direction of Baron de Rullecourt, the French had slipped into the island unnoticed early in January 1781 and were found on patrol in town when the people awoke. After stretching the truth about the number of men who had landed with him, de Ruellecourt secured a surrender but Captain Mulcaster and Major Peirson refused to capitulate and launched their attack. Culminating in the Royal Square, both Peirson and de Ruellecourt were killed. The story of the Battle is perhaps best known from the painting by John Singleton Copley which hangs in the National Gallery. On the south side of the Royal Square stands the States Chamber, Royal Court of Jersey and the States Greffe. The statue of George II now stands above the platform from which Charles II was first proclaimed King in 1649 following his father's execution during the Civil War. To the side of this plinth you will also find the marker from which all distances in Jersey are measured. Inset in the square's granite paving, in front of the old Corn Exchange are the letters VEGA – created covertly during the Occupation in celebration of the Red Cross parcels brought by the red Cross' shop the Vega. Following D-Day in 1944, Jersey had been cut off from German supply routes in northern Europe, and in the run up to Liberation had been descending towards starvation. This small but symbolic gesture of defiance was never noticed by the German forces.
 | | Signs on the Old Corn Exchange |
It was from a balcony above the Royal Square that the then Bailiff announced Jersey's impending Liberation on May 8 1945. A plaque commemorating this most celebrated of moments can be seen outside the entrance to the Royal Court. Between the Royal Square and Town Church runs Church Street, originally 'La Rue Trousse Cotillion', so named because a stream once ran down the slope here. The name is a reminder that ladies had to hoist their petticoats to avoid the mud when heading that way through St. Helier.
 | | St. Helier's Parish Church |
The Old Corn Exchange forms the corner between the Royal Square and Church Street is now the Registar Office, but once had a famous visitor in the shape of John Wesley the founder Methodism who preached in the room above on a visit to Jersey in 1787. Across Church Street stands the 10th century Church, which like the town itself is named after the Belgian Monk St. Helier who had his Hermitage on an outcrop behind what is now Elizabeth Castle in St. Aubin’s Bay. St. Helier's Churchyard was once on the coast, as the beach originally ran this far 'inland' prior to a series of reclamation schemes as the harbours and town was developed. Moving on to Point 7
 | | Broad Street Obelisk |
Continue through the Church Yard and turn right into Bond Street – so named because of the Merchants’ practice of holding bonded goods in their cellars. Then turn left into Broad Street at the Obelisk. Head all the way along Broad Street until the road opens up at Charing Cross. Our Next Point is the open area where the 'Crapaud' sculpture was recently unveiled in front of the travel agents. | 
Introduction