Fort Regent facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Regent |
|
|---|---|
| Saint Helier, Jersey | |
Fort Regent in 2008.
|
|
Fort Regent in the 19th century.
|
|
.svg)
 Fort Regent
|
|
| Coordinates | 49°10′53″N 2°06′21″W / 49.1813°N 2.1059°W |
| Type | Fortification |
| Site information | |
| Owner | People of Jersey |
| Controlled by | States of Jersey |
| Open to the public |
Yes |
| Condition | Intact |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1806 to 1814 |
| Materials | Granite Carboniferous limestone |
| Garrison information | |
| Garrison | British Army Jersey Militia Wehrmacht (1940–1945) |
Fort Regent is an old fort built in the 1800s. It's also a fun leisure centre today! You can find it on Mont de la Ville (Town Hill) in St. Helier, Jersey. From the fort, you can see the old Elizabeth Castle and the busy harbour.
The fort has strong walls, deep ditches, and special lookout points. These parts helped protect it. In the middle, there used to be a parade ground. Now, it's covered by a roof and is part of the leisure centre.
Contents
History of Fort Regent
Ancient Times on Town Hill
Long ago, a very old stone monument called a dolmen stood on Town Hill. Workers found it in 1785 while clearing land for the fort. This dolmen was given to Field Marshal Henry Seymour Conway. He was the Governor of Jersey at the time. He moved it to his home in England, where it still stands today.
Middle Ages and the 1500s
In the Middle Ages, Town Hill was common land for everyone to use. A small chapel was once at the bottom of the hill. It was taken down in 1814 when the fort was being built.
In 1550, King Edward VI wanted to move the town onto the hill. He thought it would be safer there. But the town never moved.
Later, in 1591, Queen Elizabeth I wanted to build defences on the hill. She promised to protect the town. But it seems no work was done on the fort back then.
The 1600s: A Battle on the Hill
In October 1651, during the English Civil War, a Parliamentarian army attacked Elizabeth Castle. They fired powerful explosive shells from Town Hill. This attack forced the castle to surrender in December 1651.
The 1700s: Early Defences
An old drawing from 1757 shows the first signs of defences on Town Hill. These were likely earthworks, not stone walls. A map from 1787 also suggests this.
Another map from 1799 shows that the main fort was actually on South Hill. Town Hill was used in 1781 during the Battle of Jersey. Soldiers used it to stop the French army from escaping.
The 1800s: Building the Great Fort
The Fort Regent we see today started being built on 7 November 1806. This was during the Napoleonic Wars. George Don, the Lieutenant Governor of Jersey, laid the first stone.
About 800 workers, including local people and Royal Engineers, built the fort. They finished the huge project in just eight years, by 1814.
The fort was named Fort Regent to honour Prince Regent. He was the King of the United Kingdom at that time.
The design of the fort is mostly thanks to Lieutenant-General John Humfrey. Lieutenant-Colonel John Evelegh also helped with the final plans.
Strong Walls and Defences
On the west side, there is a very thick wall. It is 5.5 metres (18 feet) wide. This wall protected the fort from attacks from the cliffs. The cliffs were also made steeper by quarrying.
A similar wall on the east side protected the fort from attacks there. From this wall, you can see the south-east coast of Jersey. You can even spot Icho Tower, a small fort built around 1811.
Bastions, Redans, and Ditches
The fort has two bastions, one facing west and one facing east. It also has four redans, two at the south and two at the north. Cannons in these areas could aim at enemies from any direction.
The fort has a long, flat, grassy area called a glacis at the south end. This is the only easy way to get into the fort. All other sides are very steep cliffs.
The East Ditch has strong stone walls. The Jersey Eastern Railway made this ditch bigger in 1873 to use it as a train station.
Cannons for Defence
The fort was designed to hold 100 cannons. However, a report from 1810 shows that it only had 55 cannons and six mortars.
The Deep Well
There was no water on Town Hill. So, from 1806 to 1808, workers blasted a deep well shaft. They used gunpowder to dig through the hard granite. The well is about 71 metres (235 feet) deep.
It is believed to be the deepest well shaft in Jersey. It shows how clever the engineers were back then. Water was first brought up by horses. Later, machines powered by steam and then gas were used. The old gas engine is still there today!
Signal Station
Even before the fort was built, Town Hill was used as a signal station. This meant people sent messages from there, perhaps using flags or lights.
The 1900s: Changes and New Uses
German Occupation
The last British soldiers left Fort Regent on 20 June 1940. During the German occupation of the Channel Islands, German forces added to the fort. They built concrete structures for anti-aircraft cannons. Some of these structures can still be seen today.
Storage Space
After the German occupation, the fort was used for storage. It held potatoes, wine, and coal. The nearby power station used to burn coal.
A Fun Leisure Centre
In 1967, the States of Jersey decided to turn the fort into a leisure centre. A swimming pool was built in 1971. It was a popular spot but closed in 2009. Its roof was taken down in 2021.
The Future of Fort Regent
In 2021, the Government of Jersey released a plan for sports facilities. The plan suggests moving sports activities out of Fort Regent by early 2022. They believe the fort is no longer the best place for modern fitness facilities.
New sports centres will be built in other parts of St. Helier. This means Fort Regent will change again. It will likely become a different kind of attraction for the island.
Images for kids
-
Fort Regent in 2008.
-
Fort Regent in the 19th century.
-
Most walls are built from large granite blocks and quoins.
-
19th century map: 1: North Outworks; 2: East Ditch; 3: East Outworks; 4: Parade ground; 5: Counterguard; 6: Glacis; 7: South Hill
-
A carronade in 2008, on the west rampart
-
One of the gun emplacements dating from the occupation
-
The swimming pool building can be seen in the upper area of the photo
