Step closer for Victor Hugo Centre as £3m raised

The exterior of the States Offices on a blue sky day. There are sculptures of a man, woman and two children in the square in front of the building. There is a tree, bush and granite planter of flowers either side of the entrance. The entrance has a portico with columns which has the Guernsey flag flying from it. The building has three storeys and stands next to a road.
Image caption,

The States Offices has been earmarked for the Victor Hugo Centre

  • Published

A charity hoping to open a Victor Hugo Centre has announced it has raised £3m towards its £7.5m target.

The money raised through pledges and donations has been given to help create an event space, museum and learning hub in the States Offices building in St Peter Port.

Fundraisers said the centre would bring educational, cultural, economic and tourism benefits for the island.

Money raised includes matched funding from the States of 50 pence for every £1 donated privately.

Hugo lived in Guernsey for 15 years and in St Peter Port he wrote novels including Les Miserables, Toilers of the Sea, The Man Who Laughs, The Legend of the Ages and Ninety-Three at Hauteville House.

The States Offices building earmarked to become the centre overlooks the harbour where Hugo first arrived in 1855 after three years in Jersey.

Follow BBC Guernsey on X, external and Facebook, external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk, external.

Related topics