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Jersey War Tunnels
MEDIA PACK
Contents
• INTRODUCTION – including information on the latest additions
• ATTRACTION IN DETAIL
• PHOTO DESCRIPTIONS
• MEDIA CONTACTS
jerseywartunnels.com
Introduction
Background:
Jersey War Tunnels is no ordinary attraction; it is a collection of thought provoking galleries
detailing the startling reminder of a dark time in Island history. The Tunnel complex tells the
compelling story of Islanders under German Occupation during World War II. Dug deep into
the hillside of St Peter’s Valley by forced and slave workers during the five years of Occupation.
The extraordinary tunnels run over 1km in length and are now filled with imagery and
interactive dioramas that examine the daily dilemmas faced by residents and authorities. It
is one of Jersey’s most visited tourist attractions as well as an important site of heritage and
conservation.
Latest Additions:
Exhibitions, dioramas and artifacts
There are a number of new experiences within the tunnels including:
Audio visual exhibition - Installed in the atmospheric unfinished tunnels the exhibition is a
dramatic display with light and sound sensors creating a powerful first hand experience of
what life was like for the forced and slave workers during the years of Occupation.
Dioramas - Featuring a fully functioning replica WWII German tank named ‘Hedwig’ and new
artifacts from the archive that have never been seen before.
Occupation House
An ‘Occupation House’ is the latest exhibition to be installed in Jersey War Tunnels.
The exhibition details daily life during the time of Jersey’s Occupation. Visitors can explore the
Occupation House kitchen, lounge, hallway and garden. Meet the Occupation Housewife who
explains the trials of cooking for a family under the constraints of rationing. Then hear from
Charlie, a little boy who tells the true story of a Jersey family who hid a joint of meat under a
baby in a pram so they could save their family from starvation.
Vintage Bus
An original Leyland bus that was in operation in Jersey in 1951, six years after the end of the
German Occupation, has been brought back to Jersey in partnership with Paul Talbot of CharA-Banc. This vintage open top bus now offers a new and enhanced experience to locals and
tourists. With seven trips a day from Liberation Station direct to the tunnel entrance, the trip
will invoke the feel of the era, complemented by a detailed on board Occupation commentary
by actor John Nettles.
Attraction in detail
The fascinating Jersey War Tunnels offer a thought-provoking insight
into the German Occupation of Jersey during the Second World War.
Jersey War Tunnels is a
permanent reminder of the five
dark years of German Occupation.
The insightful audio-visual and
interactive exhibitions detail a
true and accurate account of the
period through the experiences
of the people who were there.
What do you think?
The galleries inside the tunnel complex,
formerly known as Höhlgangsanlage 8 (Ho8),
do a lot more than just bombard you with
facts. Most importantly, they make you
think. What would you do if you had to choose
between leaving or staying, knowing that the
Third Reich was about to invade? How would
you have reacted as German bureaucracy
removed your daily freedom? Would you have
helped escaped slave workers? These are just
some of the questions that the Jersey War
Tunnels make you face as you walk through
the staggering underground complex.
Captive Island
The ‘Captive Island’ exhibition explores the
issues around the arrival of German troops,
looking at the choices faced by Islanders and
the conditions that the invading forces quickly
inflicted on daily life. Two experiences in
particular look at the Occupation under a new
light, paying attention to the plight of
individuals.
Co-operation and Resistance
‘Co-operation and Resistance’ is a hard-hitting
experience that focuses you on the countless
moral dilemmas faced. You are placed in the
shoes of Islanders and politicians as you are
asked to make up your own mind about
decisions, views and perceptions that could
carry devastating consequences.
Liberation
‘Liberation’ begins by immersing you in
the desperation and confusion of the last
months of Occupation, being followed by the
exhilaration and majesty of Liberation Day on
9 May 1945. Moving out of this gallery the
visitor is taken into a reflective space detailing
the time immediately after Liberation, as
Islanders began to piece together the lives
that they had left behind.
Slave Labour
The tunnel complex of Ho8, which took
almost three years to build, was designed as
an armaments workshop and bombproof
barracks. It was excavated by forced and slave
labourers from all over Europe, some of whom
died from the terrible hardship they were
made to endure. Towards the end of 1943,
amid fears of an Allied invasion of Europe, Ho8
was converted into a casualty receiving
station or underground hospital;
its rooms were transformed into wards to
accommodate up to 500 casualties and
included a fully equipped operating theatre.
The invasion never occurred, so the tunnel
complex was never used for this purpose.
Time for reflection
Latest Additions!
The galleries of Jersey War Tunnels are
constantly evolving to offer new elements to
further enhance the story of the German
Occupation. Visitors will experience two new
installations, the first is a stunningly realistic
wartime diorama, incorporating a host of
wartime vehicles and armaments from the
period. The second is a dramatic audio-visual
experience housed within the atmospheric
unfinished tunnel, depicting the hardship and
dangers faced by the forced and slave
workers during the tunnel construction.
An ‘Occupation House’ is the latest exhibition
to be installed. The exhibition details daily life
during the Occupation and visitors can
explore the kitchen, lounge, hallway and
garden. Meet the Occupation Housewife who
explains the trials of cooking for a family under
the constraints of rationing. Then hear from
Charlie, a little boy who tells the true story of a
Jersey family who hid a joint of meat under a
baby in a pram so they could save their family
from starvation. Visitors will enjoy the new
features; you can sit in the lounge and listen to
the wireless or even hunt for the hidden
crystal radio set. The house culminates with a
replica air raid shelter, which was introduced
to the Tunnels in 2013.
Jersey War Tunnels is a unique experience
that helps you get to the heart of the Island’s
wartime past and learn about the true story of
the German Occupation. Jersey War Tunnels is more than a chronicle of
life under Occupation. Above the tunnels, the
evocative landscape of the Garden of
Reflection is a permanent reminder of the
Jersey men and women who died as a direct
consequence of the Occupation; each person
is commemorated by a steel plaque set into
the lawns and flowerbeds. For more information, special events and
exhibition news visit
www.jerseywartunnels.com.
Adjacent to Ho8 is the War Trail, a series of
pathways through an anti-aircraft battery,
which was strategically located to protect the
eastern approach to the airport. You can walk
amongst the crawl trenches, troop shelters
and gun positions that formed the perimeter
defences of this unique site, which was
recently featured in an episode of Channel 4’s
Time Team. The Garden of Reflection and War
Trail are free to visit along with the Visitor
Centre.
Telephone: +44 (0) 1534 860808
Facsimile: +44 (0) 1534 860886
Email: [email protected]
Jersey War Tunnels offers audio guide tours,
the first of their kind in Jersey. The key feature
of the handheld audio devices,
which are available in English, French and
German, are the interactive buttons which put
the visitor in the shoes of the Islanders,
by asking individuals to respond to a number
of dilemmas as they walk around.
Jersey War Tunnels
Les Charrières Malorey, St Lawrence
1st March – 31st October 2016 10.00am - 6.00pm daily
(Last admission to main exhibition at
4.30pm)
1st November – 27th November 2016 10.00am - 4.00pm daily
(Last admission to main exhibition at
2.30pm)
Adults: Seniors: Students: Children: £12.00
£11.00
£9.00
£8.00 *
* These prices and dates are subject
to change.
Photo descriptions
Image 1 - Logo
Image 2 - Unfinished tunnels
Image 3 - Entrance at night
Image 4 - OT gallery
Image 5 - John Nettles
Image 6 - The Pantry
Image 7 - The Pantry and terrace
Image 8 - JWT Vintage Bus
Image 9 - Hedwig
Media Contacts
For all media enquiries please contact the PR team at The Refinery. They can supply further
information, pictures and DVD footage and arrange interviews if required.
Natasha Egré
The Refinery
11 Peter Street
St Helier
Jersey CI
JE2 4SP
Tel: 01534 720200
Email: [email protected]