Walk and Talk Jèrriais to Celebrate Liberation 80

As part of this year’s Liberation 80 celebrations, Jersey Heritage is inviting Islanders to experience the Island’s native language like never before with a series of immersive guided walks through St Helier.

‘La fîn du temps f’tha tout vaie’ (Time Will Tell) will run from 5–10 May and explore the role that Jèrriais plays in Jersey’s cultural identity. The free walks, kindly sponsored by the Bailiff’s Chambers, follow the imagined journey of someone being forced to leave Jersey during the Occupation. Led by a local performance artist, the route takes walkers from Charing Cross to the Weighbridge, uncovering the hidden meanings behind street names and sharing the stories they hold.

After the walk, participants are invited to visit the ‘Language Room’ at Jersey Museum, home to a specially-commissioned Jèrriais soundscape and a thought-provoking exhibition exploring language, displacement and identity. Contributions from local schoolchildren—who shared what they would take with them if they had to leave home—add a touching and personal perspective.

Walks take place daily at 10.30am (except Liberation Day, when it’s at 2pm). Booking is essential via Eventbrite. The ‘Language Room’ exhibition runs from 5–17 May with free entry to the Museum.

Each participant will receive a beautifully illustrated map of the walk by local artist Edie Le Blancq, featuring key place names and Jèrriais phrases.