Jersey's Pallot Steam, Motor And General Museum - Worth A Visit

Joseph Lewis discovers the plant-related exhibits in Jersey’s Pallot Steam, Motor and General Museum

Lyndon Charles Pallot (1910-1996) was widely known as Don, born in the parish of Trinity, Jersey, and educated at the Parish School. This well-loved local character developed an interest in mechanics from an early age. He left school at 14 to start re-making bicycles, until he became a trainee engineer with Jersey Railways where his enthusiasm for steam was born.

In the early 1930s, Don opened Central Motors Works at Sion Trinity. This was an agricultural works, which was to become well-known throughout the island. Don became a brilliant engineer, who loved solving mechanical problems, and his ingenuity led him to invent several implements which were to make the life of Jersey farmers easier.

These included the Pallot elevator digger, tractor-mounted Cotil winch and tractor-mounted two-point linkage transport box – all of which can be seen in the Pallot Museum today. His ability to improvise proved invaluable during the difficult years of the occupation of Jersey by German forces.

Don and Dolly, his devoted wife of 62 years, had six sons and five daughters and the Ransomes, Sims and Jefferies traction engine is named Dolly May in her honour.

Don was a man of great vision and together with his own implements started collecting what he could of the island’s mechanical heritage. This ambition was realised in 1990 with the opening of the Pallot Steam, Motor and General Museum. Among a myriad of transport, agricultural and plant-related exhibits, four in particular are of interest to CP&M readers.