Jersey's coastline has a continuous chain of castles, forts, towers and gun emplacements, built over the centuries to attempt to stop the French recapturing what was once part of the Duchy of Normandy, but became English when King John retained it after losing his French possessions in 1204. This page contains a selection of pictures of these fortifications. More can be found on the pages devoted to the individual installations.
Mont Orgueil Castle at Gorey in 1880
Another view in 1950
Mont Orgueil was handed to the people of Jersey by the Crown in 1907 and dignitaries posed for a commemorative photograph
Another picture of the 1907 ceremony
A train pulls away from Gorey with the castle in the background
An artist's impression of Mont Orgueil under seige
Built on a rocky islet off St Helier, Elizabeth Castle was the replacement for Mont Orgueil as the island's main defence installation
Elizabeth Castle parade ground in 1922
Fort Regent never fired a shot in anger, having been built as a defence against Napoleon in the early 19th century
Garrison soldiers on parade at Fort Regent
Grosnez Castle is in the north-west corner of the island. Nobody knows exactly when and why it was built
Fort Leicester at Bouley Bay is now self-catering holiday accommodation
Fort William on Grouville Common in 1903
Le Hocq Tower painted by Le Capelain in 1840
The coastal round tower at St Catherine
Another view of St Carherine's tower
Fliquet Tower before its upper section was removed
A row of towers in Grouville Bay
.jpg)
