Tucked away on Jersey’s rugged north coast, Plemont Bay has long been a popular place to visit. Surrounded by spectacular coastal scenery and towering cliffs, the bay looks out across the open waters of the English Channel. Beneath the cliffs lies one of the island’s most dramatic and secluded beaches, reached by a steep path leading down from above. Those prepared to make the descent were rewarded with a beautiful stretch of sand surrounded by rocky outcrops, caves and sheer cliffs, with Atlantic waves breaking against the shore.
The Plemont Hotel opened here in 1874 and quickly became a popular seaside retreat. The hotel also had its share of mysterious events. In 1926, guests discovered a 26-year-old woman, drenched in seawater and disoriented, standing on the cliffs. She was later identified as a Londoner who had been holidaying in Yorkshire and had no idea how she ended up in Jersey.
In 1934, construction began on the Jubilee Holiday Camp, a 350-capacity site adjacent to the Plemont Hotel. In 1937, a major fire destroyed 40 chalets, forcing guests to seek refuge in the ballroom.
The outbreak of the Second World War brought tourism to an abrupt halt. Following the German occupation of Jersey in 1940, the holiday camp was taken over by German forces. Plemont’s commanding position overlooking the sea also made it strategically important, and the Germans constructed coastal defences, bunkers and other fortifications around the bay and surrounding cliffs.
Parkins Holiday Camp
The 11-acre camp suffered badly during the war and in 1946 the damaged remains were purchased by circus impresario Stanley Parkin, who rebuilt it and renamed it Parkins Holiday Camp. It could accommodate 460 guests and was advertised as “The holiday camp with the continental charm.” As with all holiday camps of the period, it was a full-board facility with all meals provided and taken in the communal dining hall. Chalets had sinks with hot and cold water, but no private bathrooms. Shortly afterwards the island parliament voted to ban construction of any new holiday camp on the island.
The Plemont Hotel remained in use but was tragically destroyed by fire in February 1948. The blaze claimed the life of 36-year-old naval officer Steve Radcliffe, although his body was never found.
Pontins takes over
In February 1961, the camp was acquired by Fred Pontin on a share-swap basis valued at £375,000. Parkin remained as a board member. Pontins also acquired additional land surrounding the camp. During 1967 and 1968 it underwent a major rebuild. The original chalets were demolished and replaced by two-storey accommodation blocks, with all chalets having private bathrooms. The existing swimming pool and entertainment building were retained and upgraded.The site remained as a full-board camp with all meals being included in the price and served communally in the large dining hall.
Despite lying just 14 miles from the coast of Normandy, Jersey was a British Crown Dependency. Although not part of the United Kingdom, the island owed allegiance to the British Crown and used pounds and pence, making it feel reassuringly familiar to British visitors. Travelling there was also remarkably straightforward, as British citizens could visit Jersey without needing a passport.
During the 1970s, more than a million British tourists were travelling to Jersey each year. Its beaches, mild climate and slightly exotic atmosphere were certainly part of the appeal, but there was another powerful draw: shopping. With no VAT and generous duty-free allowances, visitors could stock up on cheap alcohol, cigarettes, perfume and cameras before returning home.
But the boom years were not to last. By the 1990s, the camp was looking increasingly rundown, while visitor numbers were steadily declining. Matters were not helped by the fact that Plemont remained an old-fashioned full-board camp, with all meals taken at set times in the communal dining hall. Although this dated format remained popular with older guests, it held less appeal for a younger generation who wanted more freedom and independence
In 1998, plans were announced to redevelop the site with 117 houses, but the proposal was rejected. The camp closed at the end of 2000,.
The camp then appears to have followed what had become an all-too-familiar pattern at Pontins. First, the camp was allowed to become rundown. Planning permission would then be sought to redevelop the site for housing. If permission was refused, the camp would close, leaving the buildings abandoned and neglected. Inevitably, vandalism and decay followed, and the derelict site became an eyesore. Eventually, local residents and planners would grow tired of the blight, and agree to redevelopment. A remarkably similar sequence of events occurred at several former Pontins camps around the country. And that is exactly what happened at Plemont.
After 12 years of dereliction, and after numerous applications for different developments were submitted, planning consent was finally granted for 28 dwellings in November 2012. Despite this, the National Trust for Jersey successfully acquired the site in July 2014 for the sum of £7.15 million. The camp was demolished in 2015, and the land was restored to its natural state. This included extensive landscaping works, the creation of 2 ponds, a discovery zone for children, repair of medieval drystone walls and the planting of 2,000 trees and shrubs.
Video showing the camp after closure
