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For more than 500 years, the Royal Square has been the home to the States Assembly. It’s where Jersey’s elected officials come together to create the Island’s laws, agree budgets, debate significant policies, and hold each other to account. These days, those meetings are usually held in the States Chamber but that hasn’t always been the case.
Before the States Chamber
Today, the States Building and Royal Court complex dominates the south side of the Square, but did you know that’s only been the case for the past 200 or so years? Before then, that area was full of houses and hotels with only a single Court building, dating back to the medieval period, highlighting the important nature of this part of St. Helier.
It’s not exactly known when the Royal Court first established a home in what is now known as the Royal Square. We do know, however, that the Court itself dates back to the early 13th century, and that it was established when the Island was granted the freedom to create and maintain its own laws. At first, that job was done by the Bailiff and 12 Jurats but as time went on, they began to consult the Parish Connétables and Rectors on any new laws that were being considered. It’s from this collaboration that the States of Jersey was born.
As the two bodies shared members and function to begin with, it made sense that they should also share facilities and meeting rooms and that is how the Royal Square became the home of the States Assembly as well.
By the 1790’s the original medieval building had been replaced with a new one, which had a room set aside within it that the Assembly could use. But by the 1830’s it was becoming clear that the building was no longer able to cope with the growing demand on its facilities. The creation of the Police and Petty Debts Court in 1854 and the introduction of Deputies to the Assembly in 1857 only increased the pressure and it was agreed that something needed to be done.
Creating the States Chamber
By the 1870’s, plans had been made to purchase properties to the west of the existing Court building. Property on the east side was already being used as a base for the Petty Debts clerks and the Superintendent Registrar. The new properties would act as offices for the States Assembly and Royal Court teams and would provide space for strong rooms where records could be stored. There had also been calls for a new public library, which had been included in the plans, and hidden amongst them was a space earmarked for the Assembly.
The Public Archives Committee was tasked with developing the strong rooms and States Chamber and it began to do so in 1877. The first set of plans for this work looked to create a ‘New States Room’ on the first floor of the existing building, with the strong rooms below. Work progressed, and by 1879 the strong rooms had been completed, but the first-floor area – where the Assembly’s new room had been planned - remained unused.
The following year, a new plan was presented for a Chamber in the same location. In 1882, both plans were presented to the States Assembly and in the debate that followed, members took the opportunity to discuss where exactly any new space for it should go. Eventually it was agreed that it should be built in the location suggested, but work did not start.
By July 1883, a third set of plans had been prepared, this time by local architects Ancell and Orange. The previous plans had been produced by the States Architect and the States Engineer respectively. The Ancell and Orange proposals were taken to the Assembly in 1885. Members once again raised concerns, and a proposition was even put forward suggesting that a competition be held so other local architects could submit plans for a Chamber. That proposal was adopted, and a £20 prize agreed, although there doesn’t appear to be any record of one being held.
First meeting in the States Chamber
The Ancell and Orange plans were progressed and by the middle of June 1887 the Chamber was ready to be used.
By then, thoughts had turned to planning the celebrations for Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee. It was agreed that the Chamber’s opening should form part of those celebrations and on the 21 June 1887 – the day of the Jubilee – the Assembly gathered there for the first time.
The main item of business for the that meeting related to the Jubilee and involved Members agreeing the wording of a telegram and loyal address which would be sent to Her Majesty to mark the occasion.
One of the hot topics discussed in the Chamber during its early days concerned the land at the foot of Mont Orgueil, known as The Queen’s Warren. Notices had been put up to say the Crown-owned land was for sale. Unhappy with the plans, the Assembly petitioned the Queen in protest, highlighting the historical importance of the site.
Changes to the States Chamber
Not much has changed in the decades since the Chamber opened – it’s still very much the same design it was back then, with the horseshoe shaped seating, carved and panelled ceiling, and ornate decorations.
However, a few changes have been made over the years – mainly to improve the way in which Members carry out their work, repair aging infrastructure or reflect more modern times. The first modification was made in 1927 when electric lights were introduced to the Chamber for the first time. Then in 1960’s the Members seats were reupholstered. A sound-proof booth was added in the 1980’s so the local BBC radio service could broadcast the Assembly’s meetings to listeners. In 2004, an electronic voting system was introduced and in 2016 cameras were installed so Meetings could be streamed live online, giving people all over Jersey – and further afield – the chance to follow the debates and discussions being held in the Assembly’s historic home.