PLANS have been submitted for a commemorative plaque honouring a Jersey cartographer on a listed building in the Royal Square.
Applicant Peter Hargreaves wants to see the work navigation teacher, surveyor and civil engineer Elias Le Gros – who drew the first detailed map of Jersey’s town in 1834 – marked.
Piquet House is a listed two-storey building on Royal Square which was one of two military guardhouses built in 1802 to protect Islanders from the threat of French invasion.
It is described in supporting documents as a “rare survival of a Georgian military picket house”.
The new plaque commemorating Mr Le Gros, who died in 1859, is proposed to be installed on the south side of the building, facing the Royal Court and States Chamber.
It is not the first plaque that has been proposed for Picquet House. Plans lodged by the government in 2025 outlined an apology in the same place, addressing Jersey victims of historic abuse while in care.
The proposed plaque would have read: “To the children abused while in the care of the States of Jersey: We failed you. We apologise for all you endured. We are truly sorry. From the Government of Jersey 2025.”
These plans were accepted last May before being called off due to extensive backlash from Islanders.
If approved, the plaque honouring Elias Le Gros would read: “La Vingtaine de la Ville, The Sundial. Above this plaque is from about 1825 and attributed to Elias (Elie) Le Gros 1781 – 1859 Cartographer, teacher of navigation, surveyor & civil engineer. He produced the first detailed map of St Helier dated 1834”.
