Les Augrès Manor

Les Augrès Manor is a 16th century manor house in the parish of Trinity in Jersey, on the road La Profonde Rue.

The grounds of the manor has been home to the Jersey Zoo (now Durrell Wildlife) since 1958, and the manor house itself home to the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust (initially Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust) since 1963. It was also the personal residence of naturalist Gerald Durrell during this time until his death in 1995, and remains so for his widow Lee Durrell. It has been prominently featured in several of Gerald Durrell's works, including "Menagerie Manor", which takes its title from the house. The manor house was bought outright by the Trust from its previous owner in 1971.

The old manor is in the fief of Augrès, but stands on the fief of Diélament. The granite walls and arches date back to the 16th century, but the house was rebuilt in 1771. It is a typical manor house of the period, with Jersey granite arches and huge grounds.

Datestones in the manor

The manor contains numerous datestones, the oldest identifiable ones of which state
*"EDM. FSDC 1682.", located above a fireplace, placed when a son Elie was born to the couple Elie Dumaresq and Francoise de Carteret (married 1680) occupying the manor in 1682.
*"EDM.EDC.1732." One of the two stones placed by the couple Elie Dumaresq fils Elie and Elizabeth de Carteret fille Jean, who married in 1703 or 1704.
*"EDM. EDC.1741." The second of the two stones placed by the couple.

Previous occupants

Both Elie Dumaresq and Elie Dumaresq fils Elie were part of the legal system of Jersey. Elie Dumaresq was a Jurat of Jersey, starting office in 1692, while Elie Dumaresq fils Elie was an advocat starting office in 1703.

References

*A short history of Augrès Manor, Joan Stevens, published by Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust
* [http://www.societe-jersiaise.org/alexgle/stonejsy1151-1200.html A website on Jersey datestones]