29th September 1852
Jersey’s Victoria College opens for the first time
Named in honour of Queen Victoria to commemorate her 1846 visit to Jersey, work began with the laying of Victoria College’s foundation stone, and was completed with its opening on 29 September 1852. Both events were marked with a certain amount of pomp and ceremony. Much of St Helier was closed for the foundation stone’s laying, as 12,000 locals watched the Bailiff place a time capsule containing two medallions depicting Victoria’s arrival, an inscribed plate, coins and the Acts of the States authorising the college’s construction. The day of its opening was marked with a parade, speeches and the unveiling of portraits of both Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, which had been gifted to the school by the queen herself.
FREE Jersey history newsletter
Don't miss our weekly update on Jersey's fascinating history. We promise never to sell your data to anyone else, and there's a super-easy unsubscribe link on the bottom of each email so you can leave whenever you want.
Other events that occured in September
Inquest launched into another Jersey railway death
- Philip Pinel was crushed by a train’s axle box, which was still smeared with his blood when police arrived at the scene.
- Read more…
Jersey is struck by a hurricane
- Jersey and its neighbouring islands were struck by violent storms, causing widespread damage, wrecking ships and resulting in some deaths.
- Read more…
Lee Wilson, Gerald Durrell’s wife and co-author, is born
- Lee McGeorge Wilson was born in Memphis, Tennessee, but moved to Jersey after marrying the naturalist, Gerald Durrell.
- Read more…
Construction of Gorey Railway begins
- The honour of cutting the first sod in the construction of Jersey’s new Eastern Railway line went to one of the directors’ wives.
- Read more…
