The Plemont Hotel, perched on a remote headland in northwest Jersey, opened in 1874. Renowned for its dramatic cliffside views and rugged surroundings, it 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 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 had ended up in the sea 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. During World War II, the camp was occupied by Nazi forces as they took control of the island.
The remains of the 11 acre camp were purchased by circus impresario Stanley Parkin in 1946 who rebuilt and renamed it Parkins Holiday Camp. 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 1948. The blaze claimed the life of 36-year-old staff member Steve Radcliffe, although his body was never found.
The camp is sold to Pontins
In 1961 the camp was sold to Fred Pontin. A major rebuilding programme took place between 1967 and 1968, during which the old chalets were demolished and replaced with modern two-storey blocks. The swimming pool and entertainment building were retained and upgraded. The camp always operated on a full-board basis, with all meals served in the large communal dining hall. The chalets themselves were “hotel style,” basically just a bedroom and bathroom.
Billy Butlin served on the board here during his retirement years in Jersey. The camp thrived for several decades but eventually closed at the end of 2000. It then spent the next 15 years abandoned and vandalised. Various proposals to cover the land with housing were rejected after strong local opposition.
In 2014, the National Trust for Jersey acquired the site for £7 million. The camp was demolished in 2015, and the land was restored to its natural state. Today, nothing remains of the once-popular holiday camp, and the area has been returned to its natural beauty.
To read more about Sir Fred Pontin and the history of Pontins Holiday Camps read our blog post here. We’ve also covered the history of several other Pontin camps which can be seen in our A-Z blog index.
Video showing the camp after closure
We’d love to hear your stories and memories of the camp. Please feel free to share a comment below.
