Discover Elizabeth Castle

Discover Elizabeth Castle Elizabeth Castle is an Island fortress that spans 24 acres and 15 centuries.

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555 AD - Martyrdom of St Helier 1155 - Founding of the Abbey of St Helier 1600-1603 – Governorship of Sir Walter Raleigh 1646 – Prince Charles resides in the Governor’s House during the English Civil War 1781- The Battle of Heritage 1940 – 1945 – German Occupation

Guard House, Outer Ward Access to the Castle was strictly controlled by the guard on duty, who questioned visitors to determine whether they were honourable. Only civilians from Jersey wishing to sell provisions or conduct business with troops were admitted, and they required a licence.

Bundles carried by visitors were searched and strangers were treated with suspicion. The Guard House contains a cell where undesirable civilians, as well as drunk, riotous or disorderly soldiers, could be confined.

Click here to meet our Guard on duty.

Fort Charles, Outer Ward Named in honour of the Prince of Wales (later King Charles II), Fort Charles was opened in his presence with great ceremony on 25 May 1647.

Built at the northernmost tip of the Islet as a self-contained unit accessed by a drawbridge, the Fort defended the approach to the Castle from the causeway with five or six cannon.

For 21 years it stood alone, before being encircled by the Curtain Wall and incorporated into the Castle proper. It kept its own ditch and drawbridge until about 1750.

Barrack Hospital, Outer Ward The building of the Barrack Hospital in the early 19th century marked a turning point in the standard of medical care for soldiers, their wives and children.

The hospital boasted two large wards, one for officers only, where patients were tended to in 'cots'. Soldier's wives played an important role in caring for the sick and injured. There were washrooms, a surgery, an infectious ward and 'dead house' or mortuary, as well as a large kitchen for cooking and laundry.

This early 19th century military hospital is thought to be unique in the British Isles

The Green, Outer Ward Originally a bowling green, this large open area was also the site of the Long Barracks, which was built around 1700 to house up to 360 men.

It was an ideal location for civilians with licences, including the wives of soldiers, to sell goods to the troops.

Referred to as sutlers or victuallers, these civilians were allowed to set up tents and lay out goods such as fruit, vegetables, dried beans, eggs, herbs and cider. Sutlers were also permitted to bring goods to the Officers' Barracks, but no later than 10pm.

Main Guard (Third Gate), Outer Ward In order to enter the gateway, visitors would have first approached a high palisade, passed through its gates, and then crossed a wooden bridge across a tidal ditch.

When the Main Guard was built in 1636, the open area beyond would have been dominated by the Priory of St Helier, the last remnants of which were removed in 1735.

Parade Ground, Lower Ward This was the centre of Castle life in the 18th century, around which is the accommodation for officers and soldiers, canteen, stores and washing facilities.

The large open area was used for military drill and punishment.

Click here to meet the Master Gunner.

Coastal defence bunker, Parade Ground One third of the 18th century Canteen to the left of the bunker was demolished, and part of the Royal Bastion behind it removed, so that this bunker could be built. The Great Sally Port was built in 1734 to allow troops access through the Castle walls to surprise invaders but was permanently blocked by the building of the bunker.

The Jäger-type coastal casemate on the Green faces west. This one defends the easterly approaches to the Island. The crew would have referred to the 'range card' painted on the wall above the gun, to determine the distance to targets such as 'Nipple R[oc]k.

Queen Elizabeth Gate, Upper Ward In 1590 this was the Castle's front door. Possibly the finest piece of granite carving in the Channel Islands, the archway is a memorial to Queen Elizabeth I and shows the skill of military engineer Paul Ivy.

The Governor’s House, Lower Keep Sir Walter Raleigh was the first Governor to live here, although it was for just 13 weeks. This building was the seat of the Island Governor after it was transferred from Mont Orgueil Castle at the start of the 17th century. In 1646, during the English Civil War, the penniless 14 year-old Prince of Wales stayed here for ten weeks bringing with him an attendant company of no less than 300 people who had to be fed and housed.

Despite being royalty on the run, the pomp of Court ritual was still practised. A page boy on bended knee presented a silver bowl for rinsing the royal hands.

Kneeling squires offered dishes one by one, from which the gentleman-carver cut a portion to taste to prove that it had not been poisoned, and then laid it before the Prince. The wine was served by a boy cup-bearer, who first sipped it himself, and, as the Prince drank, held a basin under his chin, lest a drop should soil his clothes.

Click here to meet the Necessary Woman to King Charles II

The Hermitage Rock The town of St Helier is named after a hermit from the area now known as Belgium, who chose to live on this isolated and sea-beaten spot in the sixth century.

When Helier was decapitated by 'sea rovers' [pirates] in 555, local legend says that Helier picked up his head and walked for 200 steps, thereby gaining his saintly status.

In the 12th century a chapel was built over Helier's cave, which remains the focus of the annual pilgrimage in July known as 'St Helier's Day'.