A slice of Jersey history
There are a number of topics in the island that seem to come round again and again and then when you think you're done - there they are again.
The cost of milk is one, reform of the States of Jersey is another, but one that holds a special place in the hearts of islanders is Fort Regent, and more specifically what to do with it.
I know I have personally written about half a dozen articles in the past eight years on the subject, and still the debate rages on.
Another area is "Temps passé", as the Jersey Evening Post calls it, basically looking back at the way things were.
This week those two debates came together when YouTube user, 08eccleston, posted a video of the Fort Regent cable cars.
The cable cars were opened in 1970 to give people easier access to the Fort from Snow Hill but these were closed in 1991.
The video on YouTube shows the cable cars in use in 1984.
The video shows the queue for the cable cars and you can watch as they enter Fort Regent. At the end you see what the Waterfront looked like when it was actually next to the water.
The dome roof was added tot he building in 1974, Gloucester Hall opened in 1978 and the Queens Hall in 1988.
It isn't the only video showing a slice of Jersey as it once was on YouTube though.
Jersey Archive have posted a presentation on Havre des Pas that includes some interesting photos showing the old railway and more.
What are your memories of old Jersey? Are there long lost shops you miss or places you would love to go back to that have been built on or knocked down?
I'm Ryan Morrison from the 
Comment number 1.
At 15:07 5th Apr 2011, TonyTheProf wrote:What is really scary for me is that I remember going up and down to Fort Regent using the cable cars! It creaked and juddered a bit as it went up and down, a bit jerky at places. I think they used to have an attendant to open the door for you as it came in.
The Snow Hill area where it came down was not developed for many years afterwards, and I always remember being amused with the "Gentelmen" sign above the toilets - yes, it was spelt that way! Someone at Public Works (as it was then) slipped up.
The pub opposite used to have one of the longest pub names in the British Isles - something like - The Great Eastern Railway Terminus Public House - perhaps someone with a better memory can give the exact wording.
I also remember when the Swimming Pool at Fort Regent was pretty much all there was there; the main Fort area was still undeveloped, and you could walk around the top of it and look at the view (it had railings thank goodness)! There was also an outside children's play area inside the open Fort area below, with a large slide.
I don't remember the railway at Havre des Pas (not that old!!!), but before the Tunnel was built, it was quite safe to go all the way down Roseville Street (which was not chopped in half, and was two way) to Havre des Pas. The old Pool used to have a set of high diving platforms; they also did excellent Horlicks, just the comfort drink after a chilly swim!
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Comment number 2.
At 12:04 11th Apr 2011, JerztoAZ wrote:I grew up living on the Weighbridge when the park was in the middle and the buses were parked around it. We would watch for our bus to school through the window when it was raining and run out at the last minute. The tunnel was not built and Fort Regent was our play ground as kids, we ran all over it. A few skinned elbows on that giant slide too!
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