Built on the closest point to Mainland France, this is one of the finest examples of a medieval fortress on Jersey , surrounded by steep cliffs and the sea on three sides.
The headland overlooking Gorey Bay has been settled since the Neolithic times and there was an Iron Age ditch and ramparts here. Originally referred to as Gorey or the King’s Castle, it seems to have been given the name Mont Orgueil Castle in the C15th. It was a the seat of Royal authority until the construction of Elizabeth castle.
Jersey became part of the Duchy of Normandy in the C10th and became a possession of the English Crown when William, Duke of Normandy, was crowded William I of England in 1066. When King John lost Normandy to the French King in 1204, the island chose to remain self governing under the protection of the English Crown.
Being just 14 miles off the French coast, Jersey was very much disputed territory between France and England. A fortress was needed to protect the island from attack by the French. Curtain walls with gateways and defensive towers were built around the headland enclosing the Lower, Middle and Upper wards, with a keep at the top. This contained the Great Hall, with two lodging towers at either end for official visitors. Soldiers were garrisoned in the Middle Ward which also had the kitchens and storerooms.
The castle was attacked by the French and changed hands several times between the C14th and C15th at the time of the Hundred Years War, before being finally retaken by the English in 1468.
By the C16th, cannon power was becoming increasingly important in warfare and the castle was transformed into an artillery fortress.
The Harliston Tower designed to take cannon, was built to guard entry through the main gate into the castle. The medieval keep was rebuilt as an impressive two storied Corbelled Tower. A massive D shaped bastion was built rising from the the Middle Ward in front of the old keep as extra protection. The living quarters in the old keep were refashioned. The old Medieval Hall became a kitchen and a new Great Chamber was built. The new structures all had flat lead roofs so cannon could be placed on them.
The Cornish Bastion was built against the curtain wall. Not only gave protection from attack by sea, the downward pointing gun ports also controlled the Lower Ward. A large L-shaped battery, the Grand Battery, protected against any landward attack
As the development of artillery outpaced the castle builders, many of the modifications quickly became obsolete. During the later part of the C16th, part of the walls of the Outer Ward were eroded by the sea and collapsed. A new wall was built to protect the roadway to the second gate. The Half Moon Bastion was added to help support the wall.
By now, St Helier was a more important harbour than Gorey harbour, and the decision was taken to build a new fortress, Elizabeth Castle, on a tidal island overlooking St Helier. The Governor moved his residence to there and Mont Orgueil was simply referred to as Le Vieux Chateau. There were plans to demolish Mont Orgueil Castle and use the stone to build Elizabeth Castle, but it was saved from demolition by Sir Walter Raleigh, then Governor of Jersey.
In the C17th, it was used as a political prison for enemies of both the Crown and Parliament, including some of the men who signed the death warrant of Charles I,
Repairs were carried out in the late C18th when it was used as garrison accommodation durin g the Napoleonic Wars. .
Although Mont Orgueil Castle was given to the people of Jersey by the English Crown in 1907, it was used as an observation base in World War One and occupied by the Germans during World War Two who refortified the site with observation towers, trenches and gun positions.
The Castle is now managed by Jersey Heritage and is open daily from 10-5. There are guided tours during the day. There is a very informative guide book available in the shop and plenty of information boards around the site. Being on a steep slope there are many steps to climb.
Entry is either from the the land side from the road between Gorey and St Catherine or from the quayside. A steep flight of steps leads to a gateway in the curtain wall into the Outer Ward.
Allow plenty of time for a visit as there is much to explore. The Castle is divided into four main areas, the Outer Ward, Lower Ward, Middle Ward and the Keep with the residential apartments. There are many passageways and stairways to different parts of the building and it can be confusing, especially as the Castle has been added to and modified extensively. It would be very easy to lose adventurous children in here!
It was a dull and overecast day when I visited and not good for photographs...
Website
cont...
The headland overlooking Gorey Bay has been settled since the Neolithic times and there was an Iron Age ditch and ramparts here. Originally referred to as Gorey or the King’s Castle, it seems to have been given the name Mont Orgueil Castle in the C15th. It was a the seat of Royal authority until the construction of Elizabeth castle.
Jersey became part of the Duchy of Normandy in the C10th and became a possession of the English Crown when William, Duke of Normandy, was crowded William I of England in 1066. When King John lost Normandy to the French King in 1204, the island chose to remain self governing under the protection of the English Crown.
Being just 14 miles off the French coast, Jersey was very much disputed territory between France and England. A fortress was needed to protect the island from attack by the French. Curtain walls with gateways and defensive towers were built around the headland enclosing the Lower, Middle and Upper wards, with a keep at the top. This contained the Great Hall, with two lodging towers at either end for official visitors. Soldiers were garrisoned in the Middle Ward which also had the kitchens and storerooms.
The castle was attacked by the French and changed hands several times between the C14th and C15th at the time of the Hundred Years War, before being finally retaken by the English in 1468.
By the C16th, cannon power was becoming increasingly important in warfare and the castle was transformed into an artillery fortress.
The Harliston Tower designed to take cannon, was built to guard entry through the main gate into the castle. The medieval keep was rebuilt as an impressive two storied Corbelled Tower. A massive D shaped bastion was built rising from the the Middle Ward in front of the old keep as extra protection. The living quarters in the old keep were refashioned. The old Medieval Hall became a kitchen and a new Great Chamber was built. The new structures all had flat lead roofs so cannon could be placed on them.
The Cornish Bastion was built against the curtain wall. Not only gave protection from attack by sea, the downward pointing gun ports also controlled the Lower Ward. A large L-shaped battery, the Grand Battery, protected against any landward attack
As the development of artillery outpaced the castle builders, many of the modifications quickly became obsolete. During the later part of the C16th, part of the walls of the Outer Ward were eroded by the sea and collapsed. A new wall was built to protect the roadway to the second gate. The Half Moon Bastion was added to help support the wall.
By now, St Helier was a more important harbour than Gorey harbour, and the decision was taken to build a new fortress, Elizabeth Castle, on a tidal island overlooking St Helier. The Governor moved his residence to there and Mont Orgueil was simply referred to as Le Vieux Chateau. There were plans to demolish Mont Orgueil Castle and use the stone to build Elizabeth Castle, but it was saved from demolition by Sir Walter Raleigh, then Governor of Jersey.
In the C17th, it was used as a political prison for enemies of both the Crown and Parliament, including some of the men who signed the death warrant of Charles I,
Repairs were carried out in the late C18th when it was used as garrison accommodation durin g the Napoleonic Wars. .
Although Mont Orgueil Castle was given to the people of Jersey by the English Crown in 1907, it was used as an observation base in World War One and occupied by the Germans during World War Two who refortified the site with observation towers, trenches and gun positions.
The Castle is now managed by Jersey Heritage and is open daily from 10-5. There are guided tours during the day. There is a very informative guide book available in the shop and plenty of information boards around the site. Being on a steep slope there are many steps to climb.
Entry is either from the the land side from the road between Gorey and St Catherine or from the quayside. A steep flight of steps leads to a gateway in the curtain wall into the Outer Ward.
Allow plenty of time for a visit as there is much to explore. The Castle is divided into four main areas, the Outer Ward, Lower Ward, Middle Ward and the Keep with the residential apartments. There are many passageways and stairways to different parts of the building and it can be confusing, especially as the Castle has been added to and modified extensively. It would be very easy to lose adventurous children in here!
It was a dull and overecast day when I visited and not good for photographs...
Website
cont...