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 Rozel
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Origin of name
Rozel Bay was named after Rosel Manor, not the other way round. Rosel is the old French form of roseau, a reed. As George Balleine recorded in his Bailiwick of Jersey, the reeds in question grew in France, not Jersey.
- "In Normandy, almost opposite Jersey, stands the Castle of Rosel, whose seigneurs had three reeds as their arms. One of them invaded England with the Conqueror and founded the famous family of Russell. In early Norman days these seigneurs held three fiefs in the islands, two in Guernsey, both called Rosel, and Rozel in Jersey. But the first seigneur of Rozel whose name has come down to us was Ingram de Fourneaux, who, like most of the Norman Barons, when John was expelled from Normandy, sided with the French King and so lost his Jersey estates."
Balleine did not adhere to the convention which is still observed today (although not universally) of spelling the fief and manor Rosel, and the bay and surrounding area Rozel. A postcard exists on which the bay is described as 'Royal Bay' but this is a typographical error and the area has never had this name.
Early records
Rozel is a picturesque cove on the north coast of Jersey whose pier today provides facilities and protection for a variety of leisure craft and small fishing boats.
Although the jetty was not built until 1829, Rozel was a harbour as early as the 13th century, providing a natural and safe anchorage from all but severe northerly storms.
Balleine is very dismissive of the importance of Rozel, preferring to concentrate on the historical sites of Le Couperon and Castel de Rozel on either side.
- "When we have said that the barracks were built in 1810 as part of the precautions against Napoleon, and the pier in 1829 to provide accommodation for oyster boats, nothing remains to tell."
The port
The port is mentioned in the Extente of 1274, and appears again in a 1 August 1620 record of the appointment of Nicholas Richardson to coillect the King's dues as supervisor of the havre.
Not only was Rozel a convenient landing place for vessels travelling to and from the south coast of England, but it was also close to the French coast. It was not mentioned as one of the island's safe anchorages in Col Legge's Accompt of 1680, but five years later Philippe Dumaresq mentions it in his Survey of the island:
- "About half a league to the north west of St Catherine there is a small creek called Rozel, where Islanders keep several boats, both for fishing and going to Ecreho, thereto to fetch seaweed as they burn and manure their land with."
He might also have mentioned one of the other reasons for travelling to the Les Ecréhous, which was to exchange contraband goods with French sailors coming out of the ports of Carteret and Portbail.
Invasion threat
Because it provided a good anchorage and landing place for islanders, Rozel was also viewed as a likely invasion point and the States began to fear that the French would attack from this direction in the 18th century. They first installed a cannon, followed by a guardhouse at Le Houguillon. From 1739 to 1780 there are references in the Acts of the States to improving the fortifications, and finally the barracks were built.
The harbour became very busy in the 1790s and after complaints from the Constables of St Martin and Trinity, whose parishes meet at Rozel, the States agreed to their placing a long chain to which boats could be secured. Some 30 years later the harbour was even busier with the overspill of oyster fishing boats which could not get into Gorey Harbour. Over the decade from 1810 to 1820 the number of boats using Rozel as their home port grew from six to 30.
Their owners were concerned about the dangers posed by rocks in the bay and in 1824 the States agreed to provide £1,000 for their removal.
This was still not enough for the boat owners who petitioned the States through the two parishes on 18 March 1826, to improve facilities further. Here was the first mention of an existing jetty of some description, but in need of repair and with dangerous rocks at its base. The Harbours Committee considered the petition six months later and agreed to spend £2,000 on improvements, but to wait until work on piers at Bouley Bay and La Rocque had been completed.
Acting with the lack of urgency which was typical of the times (and has been a feature of the States in more recent years) the committee did not report back to the States until 1829, when it was agreed to go ahead with the construction of a proper harbour. The contract was given to Philip Godfray, son of Edmund.
Although most of the work was completed quickly, improvements and adjustments were still being made in 1832, but by 1845 Rozel had become a busy port, and would remain so until the oyster fishery went into decline. The amount of activity at the port prompted the States to appoint a Harbourmaster for a three-year term, to collect dues and ensure that port regulations were adhered to. The first holder of the post was George Noel. It is not known how long he served but the only other record of the appointment of a Harbourmaster as that of Thomas Philippe Renouf in 1893.
- A history of Rozel
- Coast: Rozel, one of the stops on our coastal tour of Jersey Added 2019
Click on image to see larger picture
1950s
1870s
1893 from the Victoria and Albert gallery collection
Rozel in 1951
1950s
1950s
1950s
Rozel Harbour
The harbour in the early 20th century
Rozel village
A quiet lane near Rozel
Rozel in the 1930s
A painting of Rozel in 1890
An excursion car visits Rozel
Looking east from Rozel Harbour
Rozel Harbour
1950 aerial photograph
Rozel in 1900
From the official 1960 Jersey calendar
Rozel from the sea by Ouless
Moorings, 1900
On the beach in 1955
1930s
1981
1965
1966
1966
1966
1966
1966
1966
1966
1966
Photocrom postcard
1930s
1958
The oyster fishing fleet at Rozel in the 1860s
Rozel from Chateau La Chaire
Rozel in 1967
An 1868 photograph by Henry Mullins. The jetty appears to be shorter than shown in photographs from later years
Rozel Valley photographed by Ernest Baudoux
Rozel Bay photographed by Ernest Baudoux
1951 aerial photograph
1933 aerial photograph by Aerofilms
1933 aerial photograph by Aerofilms
1933 aerial photograph by Aerofilms
1935
1870s
Rozel Valley
Le Chaire
A Photochrom picture of Rozel
Albumen print of Rozel lane
Rozel Pier
The bay
Rozel in 1956
An aerial view from 1965
A photograph taken in 1919
1875
1972
Spraying against a colorado beetle invasion in 1949
1910s
Rozel Valley in 1890
1928
1954
1880s
1895
1895
1905
Stroud
1870s
1943
LL postcard
LL postcard
LL postcard
LL postcard
Rozel in the 1880s, photographed by Philip Godfray
A Rozel lane: 1880s photograph by Philip Godfray
A cottage in the bay
1860s view by Henry Mullins
1920s
1906
1950s
An 1855 etching
Moorings in 1900
1930s
1880
Looking down on the barracks
Cottage in the bay
Defences on the beach in the Occupation
Rozel Fort
1957
Harbour kiosk
1935
Working on a large fishing vessel, possibly part of the oyster fleet, in the harbour
1890s
Photograph by Baudoux
1950s
1950s
1950s
1950s
1967
Freshly planted cotils at Rozel
1955
1955
A busy day for deckchair hire in the late 1950s or early '60s
1948
Early 19th century sketch by Henry Irwin
