Hamons, which opened at 37-39 King Street in around 1845, has had its premises on the rental market for several years. But signs in the window of the drapery store say it is now under offer.
A planning application has been lodged to alter the interior of the grade-two listed building by installing a new staircase and passenger lift to provide access to the upper floors.
Named in documents within the application are Stephen Moore, the applicant, and Rodney Challinor, both from the Sigma Group – an office supplies, digital services and business services provider. Mr Moore was yesterday approached for comment but had not responded at the time of publication.
Antony Gibb, a historic building consultant who carried out an assessment of the store, said the original 19th-century shopfront had been replaced in the 1960s
but that the unit’s historic interior remained.
‘The building is listed “grade two” as the only example in Jersey of a Victorian galleried shop interior. It is still owned by the Hamon family, who originally bought 37 King Street – the more easterly of the two buildings – in 1845,’ he said.
‘This was joined with the back half of 39 King Street – formerly a bakery – some time after 1847 to form one premises.
‘Finally, number 39 was bought by Charles Hamon in 1854 and connected to the buildings already in his possession. The galleried interior was created and the facade was rerendered.
‘Although the interior of the ground and first floors is quite plain, with the exception of the gallery, the upper floors of number 37 retain fine mouldings and, unusually, some original paint finishes dating from the first half of the 19th century, when people still lived over the shop.’
A spokesperson for the store said that Hamons continued to trade.
