Gorey Harbour & Mont Orgueil Castle, St Martin, Jersey UK by John De Carteret

Canon S5is

Mont Orgueil (Gorey) Castle overlooking the harbour of Gorey, a site that has been fortified since prehistoric times, the construction of the present castle started following the division of the Duchy of Normandy in 1204. The fortress is constructed on the concentric principle, wherein a series of independently defendable positions are built within the greater whole. Thus, the castle is divided into four self-contained units, the Outer, Lower and Inner Wards, and the Keep, all of which are enclosed by lengthy curtain walls built upon rock foundations.
However, following the development of gunpowder it was rendered indefensible (from an overlooking hill). The castle was used as a prison (by the Crown) until the end of the 17th century, after which it soon became dilapidated. Repairs were carried out in 1730 - 1734 and in 1800 the Corbelled Tower was used by Admiral Philippe d'Auvergne as headquarters for his secret service in Brittany and Normandy. In 1846 it was visited by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and has also hosted King George V and Queen Elizabeth II. In 1907 the Crown handed it over (in a ruinous state) to the people of Jersey, and it has been managed as a museum since 1929. During WWII it was garrisoned by German Forces who added modern fortifications and tried to camouflaged these to blend into the existing structure. It passed to the Jersey Heritage Trust in 1994 and in April 2006 after a long building programme was reopened to the public. (Although the Stitcher seems to have got a bit confused by the haze, the surrounding coast of France can be seen running all along the horizon).