Nearly 150 years of school history go on display

Monday 10 April 2023

Islanders are being invited to explore nearly 150 years of school history through a new exhibition of artefacts and personal stories from the Jersey Ladies College, now Jersey College for Girls.

Ties, badges, textbooks, photos and trophies all feature in the exhibition, which is taking place at the Link Gallery next to Jersey Museum.

The 'Building Belong' exhibition aims to showcase some of the early history of Jersey Ladies' College, which was founded in 1880.

Alongside the various artefacts are some of the personal stories of some of the school's notable alumni - ranging from the story of Agatha Harrison, founder member of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, to Marguerite Stocker MBE, the Prison Governor of HMP Hillhall and Askham Grange Women's prison.

Pictured: An Astronomy Textbook from the Jersey Ladies College.

 JCG's Librarian and Archivist, Tracy Peters, and the Head of Creativity and Performance, Jacque Rutter, worked with students to curate the exhibition.

Mrs Peter said: “Thanks to the diligence of former staff members, Margaret Stone and Sue Taylor, who ensured items were preserved for the Archive, I have had the pleasure of cataloguing JCG's history for the past three years now.

“The early period, from 1880, is particularly captivating, as the world seems so unlike ours, but writings about friendships forged and a place to belong still feel familiar.

"The College community has been through two World Wars and more than one pandemic and throughout this time 'Belong' remained as a cornerstone of the Jersey Ladies' College/Jersey College for Girls ethos."

Pictured: Memorabilia from Marguerite Stocker MBE, who was in the Auxiliary Territorial Service from 1941-1945.

She added that Mrs Rutter intends to reinstall the works at the College at a later date, meaning "students can enjoy it for years to come",