Fort Grey
Encyclopedia
Fort Grey, colloquially known as the "cup and saucer", is a Martello tower
located on a rock in Rocquaine Bay on the west coast of Guernsey
. The French
called the rock upon which the tower
was built the Chateau de Rocquaine (Castle of Rocquaine). It was said to be the site of local witches' Sabbaths at one time.
The existing fort, with it's white tower was originally built as a defence by the British
in 1804 during the Napoleonic Wars
, it was named after Charles Grey, 1st Earl Grey
, who was Governor of Guernsey from 1797 to 1807.
It was sold by the War Office
in London
to the States of Guernsey
in 1891 for £185, and was last occupied as a fort by the Germans
when they invaded the Channel Islands
during the Second World War.
More recently it has been adapted for other more peaceful uses and now operates as a local shipwreck
museum
, housing a number of items of marine salvage
from famous wrecks
, including the MV Prosperity and Elwood Mead
.
Martello tower
Martello towers are small defensive forts built in several countries of the British Empire during the 19th century, from the time of the Napoleonic Wars onwards....
located on a rock in Rocquaine Bay on the west coast of 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...
. The French
French
French is the adjective form of France and usually refers to:* Something of, from, or related to the nation of France** French culture** French cuisine** French people, inhabitants of France or people having family origins in France...
called the rock upon which the tower
Tower
A tower is a tall structure, usually taller than it is wide, often by a significant margin. Towers are distinguished from masts by their lack of guy-wires....
was built the Chateau de Rocquaine (Castle of Rocquaine). It was said to be the site of local witches' Sabbaths at one time.
The existing fort, with it's white tower was originally built as a defence by the British
British
The word British is an adjective referring in various ways to the United Kingdom or the island of Great Britain and its people and language.People...
in 1804 during 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...
, it was named after Charles Grey, 1st Earl Grey
Charles Grey, 1st Earl Grey
Charles Grey, 1st Earl Grey, KB PC was one of the most important British generals of the 18th century. He was the fourth son of Sir Henry Grey, 1st Baronet, of Howick in Northumberland. He served in the Seven Years' War, American War of Independence and French Revolutionary War...
, who was Governor of Guernsey from 1797 to 1807.
It was sold by the War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to the States of Guernsey
States of Guernsey
The States of Guernsey is the parliament of the island of Guernsey. Some laws and ordinances approved by the States of Guernsey also apply to Alderney and Sark as "Bailiwick-wide legislation" with the consent of the governments of those islands...
in 1891 for £185, and was last occupied as a fort by the Germans
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
when they invaded the Channel Islands
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
during the Second World War.
More recently it has been adapted for other more peaceful uses and now operates as a local shipwreck
Shipwreck
A shipwreck is what remains of a ship that has wrecked, either sunk or beached. Whatever the cause, a sunken ship or a wrecked ship is a physical example of the event: this explains why the two concepts are often overlapping in English....
museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
, housing a number of items of marine salvage
Marine salvage
Marine salvage is the process of rescuing a ship, its cargo, or other property from peril. Salvage encompasses rescue towing, refloating a sunken or grounded vessel, or patching or repairing a ship...
from famous wrecks
Wrecks
Wrecks is a one-man play by Neil LaBute, that was commissioned and produced by the Everyman Palace Theatre in Cork, Ireland. The play was a part of the city's Capital of Culture programme in 2005. It made its American debut at the Public Theater in New York City in 2006. Both productions starred...
, including the MV Prosperity and Elwood Mead
Elwood Mead
Elwood Mead was a professor, politician and engineer, known for heading the Bureau of Reclamation from 1924 until his death in 1936. During his tenure, he oversaw some of the most complex projects the Bureau of Reclamation has undertaken...
.
External links
- Fort Grey, Museums, Guernsey
- http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Guernsey.html Governors of Guernsey
- http://www.museum.guernsey.net/download/Marie%20de%20Garis%20parish%20history%20extracts%20-%20SPDB.pdfHistory of St. Pierre du Bois by Marie de Garis 1995