Castle Cornet
Encyclopedia
Castle Cornet is a large island castle
in Guernsey
, and former tidal island
, also known as Cornet Rock or Castle Rock, which has been part of one of the breakwaters of St Peter Port's harbour
, the main one in the island, since 1859.
s in area, with a length of 175 metres and a width of 130 metres. It lies not quite 600 metres east of the coast of Guernsey.
on the west coast of Guernsey, it was first fortified as a castle
between 1206 and 1256, following the division of the Duchy of Normandy
in 1204. In 1339 when a French force captured the island
and occupied it for several years, Cornet was besieged, captured and the garrison massacred.
With the advent of cannon and gunpowder, the castle was remodelled between 1545 and 1548. Prof. John Le Patourel, in The Building of Castle Cornet mentions that in 1566, iron and hammers were taken to "Creavissham" (i.e. Crevichon
), and that island quarried for the castle.
It served as official residence
of the Governor of Guernsey until 1672 when the keep was catastrophically destroyed. A bolt of lightning struck the magazine of the castle, destroying the keep and a number of living quarters. The Governor at the time was Lord Hatton
. His mother, wife and a number of members of staff were killed in the explosion.
It became integrated into the breakwater after the period of the Napoleonic Wars
.
Along the breakwater, a pond for toy yachts was constructed in 1887 for the jubilee of Queen Victoria
, which served as a seaplane base during World War I
.
In World War II
, it became occupied by a small group of German troops. It was presented to the people of Guernsey in 1945 by the Crown
.
It also has a restaurant, and hosts outdoor theatre performances during the summer months.
Island castle
The island castle is a variation of the water castle. It is distinguished by its location on an artificial or natural island. It is a typical lowland castle....
in Guernsey
Guernsey
Guernsey, officially the Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.The Bailiwick, as a governing entity, embraces not only all 10 parishes on the Island of Guernsey, but also the islands of Herm, Jethou, Burhou, and Lihou and their islet...
, and former tidal island
Tidal island
A tidal island is a piece of land that is connected to the mainland by a natural or man-made causeway that is exposed at low tide and submerged at high tide. Because of the mystique surrounding tidal islands many of them have been sites of religious worship, such as Mont Saint Michel with its...
, also known as Cornet Rock or Castle Rock, which has been part of one of the breakwaters of St Peter Port's harbour
St Peter Port Harbour
Saint Peter Port Harbour is located in Saint Peter Port. It was a natural anchorage used by the Romans but it is now Guernsey's main port for passengers. However, a lot of cargo is shipped from St Sampson's harbour. Castle Cornet is on one of the breakwaters....
, the main one in the island, since 1859.
Geography
The island measures about two hectareHectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
s in area, with a length of 175 metres and a width of 130 metres. It lies not quite 600 metres east of the coast of Guernsey.
History
Formerly a tidal island, like LihouLihou
Not to be confused with Lihou Reef National Nature ReserveLihou is a small tidal island that is part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, Channel Islands. It lies off the west coast of Guernsey and is the most westerly point in the Channel Islands. Coordinates: . The island was bought by the States of...
on the west coast of Guernsey, it was first fortified as a castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
between 1206 and 1256, following the division of the Duchy of Normandy
Duchy of Normandy
The Duchy of Normandy stems from various Danish, Norwegian, Hiberno-Norse, Orkney Viking and Anglo-Danish invasions of France in the 9th century...
in 1204. In 1339 when a French force captured the island
English Channel naval campaign, 1338-1339
The English Channel naval campaign of the years 1338 and 1339 saw a protracted series of raids conducted by the nascent French navy and numerous privately owned raiders and pirates against English towns, shipping and islands in the English Channel which caused widespread panic, damage and financial...
and occupied it for several years, Cornet was besieged, captured and the garrison massacred.
With the advent of cannon and gunpowder, the castle was remodelled between 1545 and 1548. Prof. John Le Patourel, in The Building of Castle Cornet mentions that in 1566, iron and hammers were taken to "Creavissham" (i.e. Crevichon
Crevichon
Crevichon is an islet off Herm, immediately to the north of Jethou, in the Channel IslandsAccording to Dr S.K. Kellett-Smith, it means "isle of crabs, crayfish or cranes". Like other names in the region it is Norman in origin...
), and that island quarried for the castle.
It served as official residence
Official residence
An official residence is the residence at which heads of state, heads of government, gubernatorial or other senior figures officially reside...
of the Governor of Guernsey until 1672 when the keep was catastrophically destroyed. A bolt of lightning struck the magazine of the castle, destroying the keep and a number of living quarters. The Governor at the time was Lord Hatton
Christopher Hatton, 1st Viscount Hatton of Grendon
Christopher Hatton, 1st Viscount Hatton succeeded his father, Christopher Hatton, 1st Baron Hatton, as Baron Hatton and also as governor of Guernsey in 1670...
. His mother, wife and a number of members of staff were killed in the explosion.
It became integrated into the breakwater after the period of the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
.
Along the breakwater, a pond for toy yachts was constructed in 1887 for the jubilee of Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
, which served as a seaplane base during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
In World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, it became occupied by a small group of German troops. It was presented to the people of Guernsey in 1945 by the Crown
The Crown
The Crown is a corporation sole that in the Commonwealth realms and any provincial or state sub-divisions thereof represents the legal embodiment of governance, whether executive, legislative, or judicial...
.
Present day
The castle incorporates the following museums:- The Story of Castle Cornet
- Maritime Museum
- 201 Squadron RAFNo. 201 Squadron RAFNo. 201 Squadron of the Royal Air Force, until March 2010, operated the Nimrod MR2, based at RAF Kinloss, Moray. It is the only squadron affiliated with Guernsey, in the Channel Islands. This affiliation started in 1935 and is commemorated in the museum on Castle Cornet. Its history goes even...
Museum - Royal Guernsey Militia Museum - including artifacts from Royal Guernsey Light InfantryRoyal Guernsey Light InfantryRoyal Guernsey Light Infantry was a regiment in the British Army that was formed from the Royal Guernsey Militia in 1916 to serve in World War I. They fought as part of the British 29th Division...
It also has a restaurant, and hosts outdoor theatre performances during the summer months.