An old town-centre centrepiece shop which had sagged into old age was given a once-in-a-century full refurbishment with significant structural works to restore it to youth.

No 37 King Street – Jerripedia (theislandwiki.org)

Hamons, a drapers and haberdashery established in 1845 was one of Jersey’s oldest continuously run family businesses.

Hamons decided to let out the original shop building to Stationers “Collins & Caxton’s”

The building was listed and the historic department took a keen interest in preserving as much as possible.

There’s even a scale model of Hamon’s in the Jersey society museum!

The scope of the initial proposals was to just make some changes including adding a safe handrail to the gallery, making a new staircase, etc – just a minor scope of works.

Unfortunately, it was found that the building had leaned significantly over the decades.

The frontage was supported on very slender cast iron posts, which were hardly raised and separated from the pavement – consequently: the bases of these posts were corroding badly.

It was assessed and agreed that this change of tenancy was the time to act to give this badly deteriorating and weak old building the attention it urgently needed and deserved.

All of the posts were removed and replaced with new steel posts – these were part of a rigid frame with beams in the ceiling and floor which give back the ground floor some much needed stability to prevent it leaning in the future. The frame was designed to be installed a small piece at a time, keeping the original glazing in place during the works – an incredibly delicate, but heavy and strong operation. Temporary propping phasing and permanent frame design were intertwined to achieve this.

Great care and ingenuity went into keeping the timber floor beams and reconnecting them where the movement had started to separate them at the joints. Several bespoke and complicated brackets were designed to tie it back together – now hidden by plasterwork.

A new glass barrier was inset behind the old, listed feature handrail of the gallery, which was too low and too weak for modern requirements. The best of the historic interest preserved and showcased, with modern strength and stability provided in full, but taking the back seat.

The 170 year old building has a new lease on life, with the best old features lovingly retained and restored.

A time-capsule restored for the enjoyment of future centuries too.