Castle Cornet facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Castle Cornet
Part of Guernsey, Channel Islands
Saint Peter Port Harbour, Saint Peter Port
Castle Cornet stands on the former tidal island of Little Roussel.
Location of Cornet Rock (red) within Saint Peter Port (white)
Type	Norman castle with keep
Height	Up to 13 metres (43 ft)
Site information
Owner	Bailiwick of Guernsey
Open to the public	Yes
Condition	Partially restored
Site history
Built	c. 1206–1256
In use	Until mid 19th century
Materials	Diorite Ashlar Mortar Timber
Battles/wars	French Invasion of 1338 English Civil War
Events	Hundred Years' War Napoleonic Wars German Occupation of Guernsey

Castle Cornet is a large island castle in Guernsey. It used to be a tidal island, meaning it was surrounded by water at high tide. It is also known as Cornet Rock or Castle Rock. This castle was very important for defending Guernsey and its main harbour, St Peter Port. In 1859, it became part of the harbour's walls.

Geography

Castle Cornet is a small island. It measures about 2 hectares (4.9 acres) (5 acres) in size. It is about 175 metres (574 ft) long and 130 metres (430 ft) wide. The castle lies almost 600 metres (2,000 ft) east of Guernsey's coast.

History

Castle Cornet was once a tidal island, just like Lihou on Guernsey's west coast. It was first built as a castle between 1206 and 1256. This happened after the Duchy of Normandy was divided in 1204. Timber and lead were sent from England to help build castles in Guernsey and Jersey.

At first, the castle had a main tower (a keep), a chapel, two courtyards, and strong outer walls. In 1338, French forces captured Guernsey. They attacked Castle Cornet and took it on September 8. The French then killed the castle's defenders. These included eleven soldiers and 50 archers.

Guernsey took the island back in 1340. The castle was recaptured in August 1345. This happened after a three-day attack by soldiers and local fighters. The French had spent seven years making the castle's defences better. This likely included the barbican. In 1358, the French returned and captured the castle again. But they were forced out the next year. An island traitor was also executed.

In 1372, Owain Lawgoch attacked Guernsey. He was a Welsh leader fighting for France. His attack was called "La Descente des Aragousais." Owain Lawgoch left after killing 400 local fighters. But he could not capture Castle Cornet. He found it too strong and well-supplied with weapons. The French attacked again in 1380 and took the castle. But island forces quickly drove them out again.

In the early 1400s, the castle was improved. The Carey Tower was built around 1435. A French attack in 1461 was stopped. The costs for building, repairs, and the soldiers were paid for by money raised in Guernsey. This was done by the Warden, who was in charge of the castle.

Cannons and gunpowder changed how castles were built. So, Castle Cornet was updated in 1545 and 1548. In 1547, the French attacked Guernsey. They were met with gunfire from St Peter Port and cannon fire from the castle. More building work took place. Materials for the castle came from nearby islands. Sand was brought from Herm. In 1594, the "Royal Battery" was finished. New, stronger bastions (parts of the wall) were also built.

Sir Walter St John sadly drowned at the castle in August 1597.

In 1627, King Charles I lowered the cost of running Castle Cornet. He gave Guernsey more rights in a special document. In return, the island had to provide food and supplies for the castle. This included beer, bacon, butter, cheese, fish, and wood.

English Civil War

During the English Civil War (1642–1651), Castle Cornet supported the King. These supporters were called Royalists. But the rest of Guernsey supported the Parliament. These supporters were called Parliamentarians. Sir Peter Osborne closed the castle on March 14, 1642.

Throughout the war, the castle's cannons fired at St Peter Port town. Many buildings were destroyed. The Royal Court (the island's government) had to move. It is thought that ten thousand cannonballs were fired at the town.

Some island leaders were captured on a ship and taken to the castle. They were held in the Carey Tower. They made a rope from flax and escaped. They returned to the island at low tide.

In 1651, Parliamentarian forces took the island of Jersey. Jersey had been Royalist. A soldier named Nicholas Robert from Saint Martin, Guernsey was with them. While there, he found the Crown of England. It had belonged to King Charles I. He brought it back to Guernsey. He gave it to the Governor of Castle Cornet.

The castle held out for nine years. It was supported by Royalist Jersey. Two years after King Charles I was executed, the castle surrendered. This happened on December 17, 1651. The castle's 55 soldiers were allowed to leave with their weapons. The royal Crown was sent back to London. Castle Cornet was one of the last Royalist strongholds in the British Isles to surrender.

Later Developments

The castle was used as a prison for a Parliamentarian leader, Colonel John Lambert. He was held there from 1662 to 1670.

Castle Cornet was also the home of Guernsey's governor. But on December 30, 1672, a disaster happened. Lightning struck the castle's gunpowder storage. This destroyed the main tower and many living areas. The governor, Lord Hatton, was there. The explosion killed his mother, wife, and several staff members. After this, the governor lived on the main island, not in the castle. The destroyed tower was never rebuilt.

The castle was updated during the Napoleonic Wars. More barracks (places for soldiers to sleep) were added. It stopped being the island's only prison in 1811. That's when a new prison was built in St James Street. After the war, the castle became part of the breakwater for the harbour.

In 1887, a pond for toy yachts was built along the breakwater. This was for Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee.

The castle was used as a prison until the end of World War II. During World War II, a small group of German soldiers occupied the castle. They called it Hafenschloss ("Harbour Castle"). The Germans made changes to the castle using concrete for modern warfare. After the war, in 1947, the Crown gave the castle to the people of Guernsey. This was a thank you for their loyalty during two world wars.

Description

Castle Cornet was built over 800 years. Because of this, its design is not very orderly. There are six gateways to pass through to reach the highest part of the castle.

The main gate is hidden from cannon fire from the island. The coat of arms above the gate belongs to Queen Elizabeth I. The original outer wall was built around 1570. It has been strengthened since then.

The Outer Ward is reached through the main gate. It has a portcullis (a heavy gate that drops down). An 18th-century barrack block is on the right. A 19th-century guard room is also there. The second outer wall behind it is from the English Civil War time. At the top of this area is another gate. It twists to make it harder for attackers to get through.

The Barbican is the oldest part of the medieval castle. It dates back to the mid-1200s. Arches inside allowed defenders to drop things on attackers below. This included missiles and liquids like quick lime. There is another portcullis here. Some walls here are made of smaller stones. They might have been built by the French when they were under attack around 1345. A narrow passage and another sharp turn stopped attackers from using a battering ram. There was a drawbridge and the original entrance to the 13th-century castle. A vaulted passage with a tower on top was the original gatehouse. It was later used as the town prison. This passage became known as the "prisoners walk."

The Citadel had another portcullis and door at its entrance. There are many structures here from the German occupation (1940-1945). The top once held a square tower. Three Parliamentarians escaped from it in 1643. Many defensive walls in this area were built in the 1500s.

At the very top, there used to be a round tower. This tower was destroyed in the 1672 explosion. That explosion killed seven people, including the Governor's wife, Lady Hatton. The medieval Tour Carré (Square Tower) can still be seen. So can the Gunners Tower and its medieval courtyard. The married quarters barracks were built around 1750. The Sutler's House is the oldest home in the castle. It survived the 1672 explosion. The hospital in the Inner Bailey was built in 1746. The Royal Battery is in the north-east corner of the castle. It was built around 1575. The noon day gun is fired from this battery.

Present Day

Castle Cornet, with its 800-year history, is now a museum itself. Inside, it has four other museums:

• The Story of Castle Cornet
• Maritime Museum
• 201 Squadron RAF Museum
• Royal Guernsey Militia Museum – this includes items from the Royal Guernsey Light Infantry

Every day, except for a few months in winter, a cannon is fired at noon.

The castle has a restaurant and four historical gardens. Guided tours are available. The castle also hosts outdoor theatre shows during the summer.

Protection

The entire Castle Cornet and the small island it stands on are a Protected Monument. It was listed on March 26, 1938. Its reference number is PM74.

Gallery

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  Castle Cornet has guarded the approaches to St. Peter Port since the 13th century

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  An old print of Castle Cornet c. 1814.

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  A 1672 engraving of Castle Cornet showing the keep that was destroyed by an explosion later that year.

See also

• Royal Guernsey Militia
• Royal Guernsey Light Infantry
• History of Guernsey