Living Legend
Half a cross-country mile east of the village centre. at La Rue du Pent Aleval, the Living Legend opened in 1992 with the claim to be Jersey’s most exciting visitor attraction. To whet the appetite further. this £8,000,000 investment has a sign warning: if you are half-hearted or of a nervous disposition, do not venture beyond the entrance.
As you are bound to be more intrigued than nervous, you find yourself taking an active part in tracing the island's history. as well as some of its legends. by walking the deck of a Victorian paddle steamer. seeing Lord Hambye slay his dragon, reliving the Battle of Jersey -. there’s so much to do. and quite a range of buildings in which to do it. all of them opening from a large T-shaped courtyard.
The Norman Conquest. Charles II’s exile on the island, the German Occupation. Lillie Langtry. and smuggling and privateering are among the subjects brought to life, your experience among the living
legend culminating in a 20-minute show.
legend culminating in a 20-minute show.
The financing company Diamond Jersey called in the creators of the Jorvik Centre in York, the Last Labyrinth at Land‘s End. and designers of sets for the Bond films to create the desired effect, and has also built a typical Jersey manor house on this 9-acre (4 hectare) site in the open countryside.
Open daily 0930-1530. with provisions for, children and wheelchair visitors. Fee around £3.50.
I saw the Living Legend experience when it first came out, and later a revamped version. It was very clever and the way the projectors worked on the sculpted historical figures made it appear as if they really were talking.
The cafe wasn't bad, and there was a Punch and Judy in the summer months, as well as one of the best crazy golf courses (actually two courses cleverly intertwined!) in Jersey, and later on electric go-karts which my children enjoyed. Sometime there would be special events on as well.
The trouble with the Living Legend experience was that once you had seen that part of the venue, you probably wouldn't go back again. They did revamp it, and I saw that as well, but by then it was in decline. The Jersey museum in contrast has a ground floor small exhibition, a film relating to Jersey, and a large exhibition space - all of which change from year to year, so there is something new to see.
In the gardens of The Living Legend were some small models of old Jersey buildings, like Jersey coastal round towers, and these were a legacy of its predecessor, The Strawberry Farm. From humble beginnings that expanded to include a cafe (where you could have strawberries and cream as well as other food), glass blowers from Venice, leather workers from Spain, and a gift shop. Unfortunately it ran foul of the Island planning laws, was not permitted retrospective planning permission, so the owner decided to sell up.
Fantastic Tropical Gardens
The Fantastic Gardens snuggle into a shallow depression in the vingtaine of Augurez, at the head of St Peter’s Valley, and you get your passport at the entrance.
Passport? Certainly. for the gardens are divided into six countries. beginning with Spain and going on to include Japan. China. Morocco. India. Thailand, Mexico and Zaire — that's more than six, but the destinations change. The theme is horticulture. but the plot really is sheer fantasy. with side excursions to see Thai dancers. the Parrot Show featuring Birdjerac and Lillie Langtry. the singing caballero in Mexico, the African Queen that’s nearly as good as the original in the Florida Keys. a seven-foot Buddha. and the Stanley Falls in Zaire. And then there’s the Boot Hill Ghoul! Club.
For something that’s certainly different. come and sample a taste of fantasy. daily Apr-Oct from 0900 until the fun ceases sometime in the evening. Ample parking.
I never went there which I do regret. My friends who went tell me it was great fun.
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