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| Fauvic Farm, a traditional Jersey
farmhouse. |
La Rue de Fauvic, which forms part of the inner road
through St. Clement and Grouville, boasts some substantial farm houses
from the early part of the 19th Century such as Fauvic Farm which dates
from 1824. In this area of the island you will see a great number of such
properties dating from this period which is indicative of the rise in
wealth and status of Jersey's farming families.
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| Marriage stone at Fauvic Farm. |
Traditional Jersey architecture is usually in the form
of two storey granite properties with the front door at the centre with
a marriage or date stone above. Marriage stones usually depict the initials
of a couple and the year of their marriage with entwined hearts at the
centre. Some give the date of the property's construction. This gives
the casual historian an idea of the date of properties with just a quick
glance!
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| La Rue du Parcq. |
Continue along La Rue de Fauvic, and then take the first
turning on the left just after a property named Les Chenes Farm, into
La Rue du Parcq. As you follow the lane through a narrow bend, take a
moment to examine the wall to your left which is mostly covered in thick
green moss and small ferns which thrive in the moist shady conditions.
Many birds and small mammals such as hedgehogs use moss
for nesting material, so this wall may just be providing bespoke bed linen
for the animal kingdom!
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| 1930 Water pump, restored in 2000. |
Follow the lane around until it opens up to reveal a
magnificent lavoir and water pump. You will be turning right here into
La Rue de la Marais a La Cocque. The pump, which is set off the ground
probably to allow those with carts and other vehicles to fill containers,
dates from 1930. The lavoir was restored by the parish of Grouville in
2000 as a Millennium project.
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| Pump and trough at the lavoir. |
Lavoirs are public washing places which replaced the
use of local streams for such purposes. Local people would have be bound
by specific agreements covering their use of the lavoir as of course water
sources were carefully guarded as whole areas might rely on the same stream
or spring for all their needs.
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| Jersey cows out to pasture. |
Further down the lane you will see a lush meadow, usually
used to pasture cattle.( Jersey cows are a pure breed and are the only
breed in the island since imports of other cattle were banned in 1763.)
This land has a stream running through it which was also the water source
for the lavoir at the head of the road.
 |
| Original route of the Jersey Eastern
Railway. |
The rest of the lane is bordered by private houses and
agricultural land. Part of the former Jersey Eastern Railway route can
be seen, as it has been preserved as a footpath. Having progressed from
La Rocque Station it made its way to Fauvic just south of this lane and
then on to Grouville and Gorey.
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| La Grande Route des Sablons. |
You now need to continue to the end of this roads where
it makes a T junction with the main coast road, La Grande Route des Sablons.
You will pass a costume hire and fancy dress shop just before the junction.
Just beyond this, should you require one, is a public telephone box. |
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