La Folie Inn
By Philip Ahier
This inn is one of the six "Free Houses" in the town of St. Helier. It is owned by the States of Jersey and is administered by the Harbours and Airport Committee: it is also probably one of the oldest inns in the Town, and certainly, it has kept its original name throughout the two and a half centuries of its existence. It was termed `La Folie' as it was considered a piece of foolishness to build a house, hence a folly to do so, no matter of what type, so close to the sea, as there was every possibility that it might be overwhelmed by the waves, particularly when there was a strong south-westerly gale blowing.
The inn does not appear on a map of St. Helier compiled in 1700, but in Peter Meade's Map, prepared "pursuant to an Order of the Board of Ordnance, dated May 30th, 1737" (E. T. Nicolle, "The Town of St. Helier", p.30), there are three black rectangle's near the Town Pier not finished and very unsafe. The Town Pier was commenced in 1700.
It can: be assumed that one of these rectangles depicted the La Folie Inn, and thus it can be assumed that it was built at some date between 1700 and 1737.
There was at one time a leaden well pump which had the date 1823 embossed upon it. A tradition has been handed down that a hundred years before this date, La Folie Inn had been built, that is in 1733, which fits in well with the idea put forward: in the previous paragraph. De La Croix in his “Ville de St. Helier" says:
"In the space between Le Havre aux Anglais and the South Pier (Le Havre aux Francais) stood La Folie Inn built at the foot of a rock and which remains to this day (1850) although it has been completely rebuilt and faces the entrance of the harbour"-a photograph of a painting of the Inn, made in 1820, and kindly presented to the writer by "Mine Host and Hostess" certainly shows it in that position.
A sepia drawing of the South Hill and the Old Harbour of St. Helier, dated 1770, depicts the harbour very clearly, but it is difficult to decide among the buildings so delineated, which is the La Folie Inn. This drawing can be seen at the Museum in Pier Road.
It is pretty apparent why the hostelry was built at that spot. The workers employed on the new Harbour in 1700, needed refreshment, to sustain them in their strenuous labours, while those sailors returning from long sea voyages across the Seven Seas would be glad to have a drop of home brew!
There is a tradition prevailing that if a bona fide: sailor arrives in the non-prescribed hour of opening, the licensee must open the premises!
The hostelry has been nicknamed the Jolly Inn on account of the jollity sometimes associated with it!
The interior of the Inn is interesting; the ceiling of the lounge is adorned with a ship's wheel parallel to itself. During the War Years, the Inn was occupied by the Army of the Occupation Forces.
At the end of the hostilities the premises were then occupied by Mr. W. H. Machon, who stayed at La Folie as licensee till 1965, when he passed away, and was succeeded by his nephew. Mrs. B. Collingny then took over the license, which she held until 1972, when Mr. E. A. Langford became the licensee. At this time the Inn was completely refurnished, but without affecting its original seafaring atmosphere, which is a constant reminder that this is one of the oldest Inns in Jersey.
Among the distinguished persons who have patronised the Inn are the following film stars: - Rock Hudson, Yvonne de Carlo, and Michela Denis, the wife of Armand Denis.
By Philip Ahier
This inn is one of the six "Free Houses" in the town of St. Helier. It is owned by the States of Jersey and is administered by the Harbours and Airport Committee: it is also probably one of the oldest inns in the Town, and certainly, it has kept its original name throughout the two and a half centuries of its existence. It was termed `La Folie' as it was considered a piece of foolishness to build a house, hence a folly to do so, no matter of what type, so close to the sea, as there was every possibility that it might be overwhelmed by the waves, particularly when there was a strong south-westerly gale blowing.
The inn does not appear on a map of St. Helier compiled in 1700, but in Peter Meade's Map, prepared "pursuant to an Order of the Board of Ordnance, dated May 30th, 1737" (E. T. Nicolle, "The Town of St. Helier", p.30), there are three black rectangle's near the Town Pier not finished and very unsafe. The Town Pier was commenced in 1700.
It can: be assumed that one of these rectangles depicted the La Folie Inn, and thus it can be assumed that it was built at some date between 1700 and 1737.
There was at one time a leaden well pump which had the date 1823 embossed upon it. A tradition has been handed down that a hundred years before this date, La Folie Inn had been built, that is in 1733, which fits in well with the idea put forward: in the previous paragraph. De La Croix in his “Ville de St. Helier" says:
"In the space between Le Havre aux Anglais and the South Pier (Le Havre aux Francais) stood La Folie Inn built at the foot of a rock and which remains to this day (1850) although it has been completely rebuilt and faces the entrance of the harbour"-a photograph of a painting of the Inn, made in 1820, and kindly presented to the writer by "Mine Host and Hostess" certainly shows it in that position.
A sepia drawing of the South Hill and the Old Harbour of St. Helier, dated 1770, depicts the harbour very clearly, but it is difficult to decide among the buildings so delineated, which is the La Folie Inn. This drawing can be seen at the Museum in Pier Road.
It is pretty apparent why the hostelry was built at that spot. The workers employed on the new Harbour in 1700, needed refreshment, to sustain them in their strenuous labours, while those sailors returning from long sea voyages across the Seven Seas would be glad to have a drop of home brew!
There is a tradition prevailing that if a bona fide: sailor arrives in the non-prescribed hour of opening, the licensee must open the premises!
The hostelry has been nicknamed the Jolly Inn on account of the jollity sometimes associated with it!
The interior of the Inn is interesting; the ceiling of the lounge is adorned with a ship's wheel parallel to itself. During the War Years, the Inn was occupied by the Army of the Occupation Forces.
At the end of the hostilities the premises were then occupied by Mr. W. H. Machon, who stayed at La Folie as licensee till 1965, when he passed away, and was succeeded by his nephew. Mrs. B. Collingny then took over the license, which she held until 1972, when Mr. E. A. Langford became the licensee. At this time the Inn was completely refurnished, but without affecting its original seafaring atmosphere, which is a constant reminder that this is one of the oldest Inns in Jersey.
Among the distinguished persons who have patronised the Inn are the following film stars: - Rock Hudson, Yvonne de Carlo, and Michela Denis, the wife of Armand Denis.
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