What's your home's story? To the Manor born

Monday 12 June 2023

At the heart of the Boulivot area of Grouville lies Radier Manor, a property with a history that can be traced back as far as the 18th century.

The team at Jersey Archive researched the Manor for a free talk this weekend as part of a new series called ‘Your Home, Your Story’, which looks at properties nominated by Islanders wanting to know more about their home and the area they live in.

The current Radier Manor was originally a farmhouse. It appears on the Richmond map of 1795 and the 1849 Godfray map showing the farm and outbuildings with a pond and stream. The property is now owned by the Child-Villiers family, who were granted the title of ‘Lord Jersey’ by King James in 1693.

Looking back into the property’s history, records show that George Francis Child-Villiers, 9^th Earl of Jersey, acquired what was then known as ‘Radier House’ from Radier Ltd in 1951. It was remodelled and given the title ‘Radier Manor’ at this time. The property had previously been sold to Radier Limited by Norman Adamson in 1947 and it was the Adamson Family who owned it during the Occupation.

Pictured: The date stone at Radier Manor.

Norman William Adamson’s son, also Norman, and his wife left the Island in June 1939.  Norman senior’s wife, Edith, left the Island in June 1940. On her application to return to Jersey, completed in November 1943, she notes that she ‘left Jersey on 21^st June 1940 “At 2 hrs notice” thus leaving the house full of all their possessions. Including all her father’s possessions’. 

In July 1941, Radier was requisitioned by the German Forces. The house remained in the hands of the German authorities until the end of the Occupation and in 1946, Edith applied to the Channel Islands Rehabilitation Scheme for assistance with repairs to the property.

Earlier in the 20^th century, Arthur Simonet had inherited Radier from his brother, Kenneth William Lee Simonet, in 1916. It was the Simonet Family who owned Radier for the majority of the 19^th century.

Arthur and Kenneth were two of the four children of William Simonet and on William’s death in 1912, Arthur had inherited his father’s property and business in St Helier, with Kenneth’s share being the property at Radier.  

Kenneth died in the First World War and his service is recorded in the Victoria College Book of Remembrance. Kenneth obtained a commission in the Jersey Militia when leaving school in 1899 and the following year he joined The Prince of Wales Own Yorkshire Regiment becoming a Captain in 1909 and Major in 1916.

Pictured: Kenneth Simonet. 

Most of his career was spent in India but in December 1915, he was attached to the Black Watch and sent to Mesopotamia. He was badly wounded in an attack on the Turkish lines in January 1916. He went on to lead his men in a further attack when he was mortally wounded. 

Kenneth and Arthur’s father, William Simonet, lived at Radier with his family until his death in 1912. William was a tobacco manufacturer, who ran his business from his shop on Broad Street. Hospital Committee Minutes show that William supplied tobacco to the hospital in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries – not very healthy by today’s standards!

In 1897, William was elected unopposed as the Deputy of Grouville. His term of office must have been successful as in 1901 the Jersey Weekly Press and Independent reported: ‘An influential deputation…last Monday waited upon the Deputy, Mr William Simonet at Radier. The Constable, acting as spokesman, in a brief speech explained the deputation’s mission and asked Mr Simonet to allow himself to be re-nominated to the post of Deputy in the forthcoming election. Mr Simonet, in reply, said that in the face of such an influential deputation he could only accede to the wishes of his constituents.’ The party then seem to have made speeches, drunk toasts and had a pleasant evening.

William had inherited Radier from his father, François Jean Simonet, who was listed on the 1881 census as a farmer of 40 acres employing five men and one boy. François had originally worked as a banker, inheriting Radier from his father, Pierre, in 1853. He married Jane Frances Gorle from Worcestershire at the British Church at Caen in 1839 in the presence of the British Vice-Consul.

Pictured: Edith Adamson's application to return to Jersey.

Pierre was born in St Helier and married Ann Le Geyt in 1805 at the Town Church. It was Pierre who was the first Simonet owner of Radier having purchased the property from Susanne Filleul in 1804. Pierre’s connection to Radier can still be seen on the property today with the datestone ‘PS 1812’, which is located on the archway to the courtyard.

In 1814, Pierre appeared in Court after he was reported to the Constable by George Aubin, Vingtenier of Grouville. Aubin’s report shows that he arrived at Pierre’s property in Grouville to levy the rates and was grossly insulted by Pierre, who told him he could go to the devil. Pierre eventually apologised for his conduct, saying that he meant no offence.

In September 1823, Pierre decided to try and align himself with the Parish authorities by running for the office of Constable of Grouville. Pierre was running against Charles Bertram and there appears to have been a bit of electioneering taking place. The Chronique newspaper reported that, amongst others, Jean Le Vesconte was allegedly offered 200 francs to vote for Pierre.

The paper appeared to be on the side of Pierre’s rival, Charles Bertram, and it reported his victory by seven votes as a ‘triumph of the people against chicanery!’.

Pierre was successful in a second bid to become Constable in 1826 and he served in the post until 1839. Pierre lived at Radier until his death in 1853.

LEARN MORE...

This article only touches on some of the research into the Boulivot area for the ‘Your Home, Your Story’ series, sponsored by Antony Gibb Historic Buildings Consultants.

If you would like to hear more stories, Jersey Archive is hosting a free talk this Saturday (June 17) at 10am.

To book a place on the talk, call 833300 or email archives@jerseyheritage.org.

Pictured top: Radier Manor in 1979.