16 Charing Cross

Historic Jersey buildings 16 Charing Cross John Chevalier Bisson and his wife's fruitery was here in 1895 and 1900, before moving to 3 Charing Cross. Almanac listings suggest that there may have been a period when the business was trading from both locations, or the business moved before the family followed Index of all house profiles If you own this property, have ancestors who lived here, or can provide any further information and photographs, please contact us through editorial@jerripedia.org

Property name

16 Charing Cross

Other names

16½ Charing Cross

Location

Charing Cross, St Helier

Type of property

Five-bay Victorian town house with two shops on ground floor

Valuations

Sold for £580 in 2015

Families associated with the property

• Lawrence: Francis Henry Lawrence was at No 16 in 1940 when his will was drawn up

Census returns

• 1871 - John Mills (32) shoemaker, Mary Ann (30), three daughters
• 1881 – Esther du Heaume (36) milliner. Henry Lakin (45) master hairdresser; Henry Lakin (21) hairdresser
• 1891 – Joshua Bateman (42) dairyman, Emily (39), son, daughter
• 1901 - No 16, Charles Hamon (65) oil store keeper, Elizabeth (39), fishmonger; No 16½, Charles Vautier (41), labourer; Elizabeth (37) grocery shop keeper

Almanac listings

• 1874-1890 - No 16½, H Laikin, hairdresser
• 1880 - No 16, E du Heaume, milliner
• 1885 - No 16, H Turner, Tobacconist
• 1895-1900 - No 16, John Chevalier Bisson; No 16½, H Bateman
• 1905-1910 - Mrs Hamon, J W Orviss, C J Vautier
• 1915 - No 16, J W Orviss, L Godfray; No 16½, C J Vautier
• 1920 - No 16, W Lawrence; No 16½, J Q Quenault
• 1925-1935 - Nos 16 and 16½, F Lawrence
• 1940 - No 16, R H Lawrence, P E Lawrence; No 16a, Charing Cross Studio
• 1950 - P E Lawrence, R H Lawrence, A Elliott, Sound Services
• 1955-1980 - P E Lawrence, R H Lawrence, F H Lawrence
• 1990 - Poppers, R H Lawrence photographic

Historic Environment Record entry

Listed building

A substantial 18th century property with some notable 19th century exterior features, and 18th century interior features surviving.

THree-storey, five-bay mid terrace. Front elevation: Roof set behind rendered parapet. Stucco finish with decorative elements. Deep cornice supported by brackets below parapet. Relief panels and round flower pattern between the brackets.

A double height heart/leaf motif stucco surround to the windows and further stucco decoration between the windows.

Ground floor divided into two shop units with door in centre. Door is three-panel Edwardian style, the top glazed panel being divided into six panes. Single pane overlight. Originally symmetrical shop fronts are slightly altered. Cornice supported by brackets on either side with with lions' heads on them. Top level stained glass retained on one side.

Interior retains some 18th century features, including original 18th century roof timbers, and one wall of 18th century fielded panelling – a rare survival in St Helier. The roof space is divided by early, unusual panelling – much with early paintwork.

Notes and references

Frank Lawrence's poultry shop during the 1920s. We initially thought that this was 12 Charing Cross, where the Lawrence family were in business from 1940, but the style of clothing predates that and the distinctive window surrounds on the first floor clearly match those of No 16. The two properties are back-to-back, with spacious yards in between, and the Lawrence family traded simultaneously from both addresses through the second halfof the 19th century

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  German soldiers march past No 16 during their victory parade on 9 August 1940