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A book tracing the history of one of the island's best-loved historic farmsteads has been released after more than 20 years' research.
Launched by Société Jersiaise at an event last week attended by the Lieutenant-Governor, 'Hamptonne: And the Archaeology of Vernacular Houses in Jersey' contains a new study of the site by a leading UK archeologist, as well as contributions from local historians.
Hamptonne was purchased by the National Trust for Jersey In 1988. In partnership with the Société Jersiaise and Jersey Heritage Trust, a scheme was drawn up to undertake a major restoration programme and open the site to the public as Jersey’s Country Life Museum. This was completed in 1995.
The Hamptonne site has a rich history.
The earliest structures date from the 15th century, and the first mention of the property dates back to 1445, when a royal license was granted to construct a dovecote.
However, the farm complex takes its name from Laurens Hamptonne - noted for his famous Proclamation in the Royal Square on 17 February 1649, declaring Charles II as King after news reached the Island of the execution of Charles I - who purchased the property in 1633.
Pictured: The new book, by Dr Warwick Rodwell OBE, is an in depth study on Hamptonne and the surrounding buildings.
Since coming under Jersey Heritage, Hamptonne has been subject to an archeological study of both the site and the buildings – the first ever carried out on a Jersey farm complex – led by Dr Warwick Rodwell OBE.
Dr Rodwell is an archaeologist historian and academic. He is a visiting professor of Archeology at the University of Reading and a Consultant Archaeologist to Westminster Abbey. In 1998 he was made a Membre d'Honneur of La Société Jersiaise in recognition of his services to the archaeology of Jersey, having spent a forty-year period leading numerous archaeological and restoration projects on the island's churches, castles and vernacular buildings.
Pictured: Hamptonne is the result of over 20 years of archaeological research.
The recently launched book details the results of Dr Rodwell's findings, as well as contributions from 12 local historians.
The book is divided into two parts, with the first half setting out the history of the house and its associated families, followed by a detailed analyses of the three houses, outbuildings, courtyard, and garden at Hamptonne Museum. The second half is a wide-ranging study of the vernacular houses in Jersey.
The book is available at the Société Jersiaise bookshop.
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