His Master's Voice unveiled today

Saturday 28 April 2018

Numbers 4, 5 and 6 Pitt Street, known as the Foot Buildings, will be open to the public from 10:00 today and the restored ‘Nipper’ advertising sign unveiled following a £1.5m refurbishment of the area.

Built around the 1830s the buildings have been completely restored and His Master’s Voice logo, featuring Nipper the dog, repainted.

The National Trust embarked on the project in 2016. It undertook to repair and refurbish the three culturally important town houses which were almost completely derelict. After a 10-year campaign, the Trust was given the opportunity by the CI Co-op to buy the buildings for £1. It then had the task of sourcing over £1.5m to secure their long term future within a very tight deadline.

An analysis of the architectural significance and historic importance of the buildings stated: “The group as a whole provides perhaps the best surviving example of early-mid 18th century townscape in St Helier. Appropriately repaired and brought back into use, they have the potential to make a major contribution to the character, appearance and amenity of St Helier."

The Trust says that the external appearance of the buildings and His Master’s Voice logo, featuring Nipper the dog, have always resonated with the general public. 

In the near future, three local families will once again be 'living above the shop,' with Locke’s café and an art shop run by Ian and Ruth Rolls below. 

Colin Macleod, Chief Executive Officer of the Channel Island Co-Operative Society stated: “We are delighted to have been able to gift these buildings to The National Trust in order that they be restored and brought back into use. Together with new retail space, a significant cultural installation along Pitt Street, and a new Hotel, the redevelopment of the entire Charing Cross block has injected new life into this important part of our town.”

Pictured: 'The River of Light,' can be seen Pitt Street.

Near the Foot buildings, islanders will be able to see Pitt Street art installation, ‘The River of Light, funded by the Co-op. The project was undertaken by Chris Clifford, Public Art Consultant and Director of CCASM Modern & Contemporary, and Axis Mason Architects with the help of an enthusiastic team of children from Rouge Bouillon Primary School. 

Chris Clifford said: "The River of Light is a major public art installation at the heart of St Helier’s retail core and is designed in such a way as to suggest the movement of water, which at one time would have flowed through Charing Cross as a stream known as Le Grand Douet. The text inscriptions carved into the surface paving tell the story of St. Helier’s development over the last 1000 years and the embedded lighting is programmed to suggest moving water. The design also carries a message of hope about the town’s future provided by students at Rouge Bouillon School, so I like to think of this artwork as a time machine that travels back into the past and out into the future.

"I am delighted that through the generosity of the Society and the hard work of the project team, including Axis Mason Architects, we have completely transformed Pitt Street into a sophisticated piece of contemporary urban design."