Castle Cornet

Castle Cornet
Part of Guernsey, Channel Islands
Saint Peter Port Harbour, Saint Peter Port
Castle Cornet stands on the former tidal island of Little Russel.
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, 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.

Geography

The island measures about two hectares 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 Lihou 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 and 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 Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, 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.

Present day

The castle incorporates the following museums:

• The Story of Castle Cornet
• Maritime Museum
• 201 Squadron RAF Museum
• Royal Guernsey Militia Museum - including artifacts from Royal Guernsey Light Infantry

It also has a restaurant, and hosts outdoor theatre performances during the summer months.

Gallery

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

An old print of Castle Cornet c. 1814.

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

External links

• Guernsey Museums & Art Gallery web site
  • A Short History of Castle Cornet

References

• Tupper, F B, The Chronicles of Castle Cornet, Guernsey, 1851
• Le Patourel, Prof. John, The Building of Castle Cornet