796:), and pump rods and valves – should be removed from the well-shaft and scrapped, "because the Fort requires the well-water to be used for commercial and domestic supplies within the new leisure complex, and contamination from this old machinery cannot be risked". This act of "cultural vandalism" was carried out under the supervision of the clerk of the works, Mr. Greenwell, which was protested by a few knowledgeable persons at the time, but the reconstruction contract was politically sensitive; knowledge of the machinery's destruction and scrapping was limited to members of the managing FRDC, and to the project architect and main contractors' staff. So, the general public of Jersey, who might have expressed their concerns, never became aware of the destruction until long after the fact: even now it is not common knowledge amongst those who care about preserving as much of Jersey's historic past as possible. Though the main contractor salvaged all the recovered machinery parts, and handed them over to the client, as required under the construction contract for "all antiquities recovered from the Site", the Fort Regent authorities scrapped them two years after contract completion as being "of no historic interest and not worthy of preservation".
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During the clearing and cleaning of the well shaft in 1979, the main contractor discovered a 40-ft-tall flat sheet of granite caused by a natural fracture plane that formed one face of the shaft about 100 ft below the surface. It was so hot, water dripping onto it from further up the shaft turned to steam, hot enough to blister a bare hand accidentally brought into contact with the granite surface. This may be the only example in the island of
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converted to operate by donkey power. This method, too, proved less efficient than was thought desirable; it proved difficult to get the donkeys into and out of the chambers through the long, sloping tunnel which originally began at ground level in the East
Bastion, The motive power was changed again to be provided by a small
799:
Access to the underground well-head and machinery chambers down a steep set of concrete steps and a steeply sloping tunnel is deemed too dangerous under modern health and safety concerns, this historic 19th-century well-head machinery seems doomed to be forever hidden away from members of the public.
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blasted through to the spring, at a depth of 221 ft below the well-curb in the underground well-head chamber, they did so unexpectedly and water rose rapidly in the shaft. The miners were hanging in a basket halfway up the shaft. The major of engineers in charge of the works recorded that "great
768:
and Son in 1815, in a double circular underground chamber excavated just below the level of the parade ground. One chamber contained the capstan and connected to the adjacent chamber which contained the well-head machinery, and the mouth of the shaft. At some later time, the man-powered capstan was
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are at the fort, one facing west and the other facing east, and four redans, two to the south, and two at the north end. Cannons placed in these areas would have been able to target forces attacking Fort Regent from any direction. The redans are not typical examples because they have more than two
763:
or capstan at parade-ground level, but this proved to be both time-consuming and unpopular with the soldiery and lasted for only a year after the official opening in 1814. The first rocking beam pumps, operated in series all the way down the well-shaft by one long pump-rod, and operated by a
735:
to a depth of about 71 m (235 ft) by blasting a shaft of an average diameter of 8 ft with gunpowder charges. The Fort Regent well is believed to be the deepest well-shaft in the island , and is a stunning tribute to the persistence and ingenuity of
Georgian military engineers.
913:. The strategy is proposed to have a total cost of circa £100 million. The plan proposes the removal of sports facilities from Fort Regent by early 2022, which is "beyond the end of its useful life". The report states it is not the best location for health and fitness facilities for
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A curtain wall, similar to the one on the west, provides protection to bombardment from the east. The East
Bastion and south redans are positioned behind this wall. The height of this rampart allows for a view to the southeast coast of Jersey, including a view of Icho Tower, a
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made a decision to adapt the site into a leisure centre. The swimming pool located on the glacis field, which opened in 1971 and closed in 2009, was the first modern addition to the fort. Demolition of its roof and flattening of the site will be completed in early 2021.
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Along the top of the cliffs on the west side, between the West
Bastion and Northwest Redan, is a 5.5-m- thick (18 ft) curtain wall that provided protection from attacks on that side. Quarrying also steepened the cliffs.
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difficulty was experienced in recovering the men to the surface before they were drowned by the inrush from the Spring". The construction records, including the commanding officer's daily diary, are now in the
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at the south end, which is a flat, sloping open area of grass, known as the Glacis Field. The only road and foot access to the fort is in this area; all other sides are very steep or vertical cliffs.
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residents. A new leisure centre is due to be constructed in the town centre to replace the fitness facilities lost on the site of the
Waterfront centre. The reported expected that would be moved to
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and were researched by the architect and the main contractor – C.G. Dumond (Builders) Ltd. – for useful information during the conversion of the fort into a leisure centre in the 1970s.
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was located on the hill, prior to the construction of Fort Regent, and unknown prior to 1785. In 1785, workmen, who were leveling the area for use as a parade ground uncovered the
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During the 1970s reconstruction, the local government's client organisation – the Fort Regent
Development Committee (FRDC) ordered that all of the well-shaft access ladders,
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The design of the fort is credited to
Lieutenant-General John Humfrey, and it is thought that Lieutenant-Colonel John Evelegh would have also worked on the final plans.
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promising to fortify the top of the hill to provide defence for the town. Despite this, no evidence exists of any work being carried out during the 16th century.
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ordered the town to be relocated onto the hill as it would be easier to defend from that position however, the town was never moved.
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No well existed on the hill, so between
December 1806 and October 1808, a deep well-shaft was sunk into the notoriously hard Jersey
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An illustration by J. Heath, dated 1757, shows the first signs of fortification on the Town Hill, in form of lines, possibly
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840:. The militia reformed as the Jersey Field Squadron in 1987, and are located in the Engineers Barracks at La Collette.
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for 100 cannons are in place within the fortress. However, a report dated 8 March 1810, counts only 55 cannons and six
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irons hit with sledgehammers. As originally commissioned, water was raised to the surface by an above-ground horse
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located on high ground between Town Hill and South Hill. This bombardment forced the eventual surrender of
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After the German occupation, the fort was used as a storage area for potatoes, wine, and coal. The nearby
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1152:"The Future Use of Fort Regent – the Jersey Sports Village and Community Centre – a basis for change"
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In 1591, an intention to fortify the hill arose in the form of consent, from the
Procureurs of the
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The construction of the fortress we see today on Town Hill began on 7 November 1806, during the
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rather than stone walls. A map based on a survey carried out in 1787, under the order of the
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The swimming pool building (since demolished) can be seen in the upper area of the photo
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was situated at the foot of the hill during this period, but it was demolished by the
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man-powered capstan through a line shaft and gearing, was delivered and installed by
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and scarp, with a further outer ditch in the form of a large cutting. The
1125:"Historic Environment Detail – Historic Document Reference : HE1195"
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860:, the German forces made additions to the fort, including platforms for
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since the late 18th century, prior to the construction of Fort Regent.
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651: in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
254:. The fort is in close proximity to the fortified South Hill Engineers
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was in the centre, which is now built upon and covered with a roof.
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as a suitable position to prevent the retreat of the invading
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332:(1772–1795), who removed and brought it to his home in 1788,
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enlarged the cutting in 1873 to use it as a train station.
1210:"WATCH: Goodbye Fort pool... and five decades of memories"
510:. The fort was built using local workers and men from the
16:
Fort, used as a leisure centre, in Jersey, Channel
Islands
483:; 2: East Ditch; 3: East Outworks; 4: Parade ground; 5:
1251:"Government of Jersey - Capital Projects - Fort Regent"
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The last British force to garrison Fort Regent was the
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One of the gun emplacements dating from the occupation
864:. Some of these concrete structures remain to date.
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964:"Fort Regent facilities, bookings and opening hours"
467:Most walls are built from large granite blocks and
436:A later map produced by James Stead, known as the
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1177:"Fort Regent swimming pool might finally return"
1322:German occupation of Jersey during World War II
1022:Education, Sport and Culture (September 2006).
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559:sides, are closer to demi-bastions, as seen in
517:It was given the name Fort Regent in honour of
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1127:. Mygov.je. 2 September 1939. Archived from
820:The Town Hill has been used as a commercial
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773:. The steam engine, in turn, gave way to a
727:The pump at the top of the Fort Regent well
502:, with the laying of a foundation stone by
1048:"Fort Regent Jersey | Soft Play & Gym"
1024:"A Conservation Statement for Fort Regent"
566:The fort has one 210-m-long (689 ft)
1327:1806 establishments in the British Empire
1317:World War II sites in the Channel Islands
711:Learn how and when to remove this message
417:, at Elizabeth Castle, in December 1651.
273:The fort's main features are substantial
1302:Buildings and structures in Saint Helier
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858:German occupation of the Channel Islands
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443:The hill was used in 1781, during the
1239:(Report). Government of Jersey. 2021.
1234:Inspiring Active Places Strategy 2021
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834:Royal Militia of the Island of Jersey
1073:"1651: Jersey and the Channel Isles"
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649:adding citations to reliable sources
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550:Bastions, redans, ditches and glacis
246:on Mont de la Ville (Town Hill), in
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1208:Morel, Julian (23 November 2020).
1185:. 2 September 2014. Archived from
309:Pre-history of Le Mont de la Ville
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1071:Plant, David (17 January 2010).
911:Inspiring Active Places Strategy
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352:, the Town Hill, and the nearby
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58:Fort Regent in the 19th century.
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1150:Travert, Roy (September 2003).
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262:and overlooks the 16th-century
1312:Archaeological sites in Jersey
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816:The Fort Regent signal station
788:floor-gratings (supplied from
356:were used as common land. The
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1307:Tourist attractions in Jersey
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755:The granite was drilled with
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508:Lieutenant Governor of Jersey
433:, supports this possibility.
1157:. The Fort Users Association
876:was coal-fired at the time.
601:in 2008, on the west rampart
390:In October 1651, during the
358:Chapel of Notre Dame des Pas
344:Middle Ages and 16th century
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479:19th century map: 1: North
321:. The dolmen was gifted to
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1292:Sports venues in Jersey
392:Third English Civil War
354:Petit Mont de la Ville,
204:Carboniferous limestone
1297:19th century in Jersey
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449:78th Regiment of Foot
398:Colonel James Heane,
1099:"The Signal Station"
907:Government of Jersey
645:improve this article
438:Bouillon Map of 1799
326:Henry Seymour Conway
210:Garrison information
46:Fort Regent in 2008.
1182:Jersey Evening Post
1105:on 10 December 2015
974:on 16 November 2017
927:Springfield Stadium
909:published a report
892:In December 1967,
546:built around 1811.
112: /
1257:. States of Jersey
1131:on 16 October 2013
1079:on 7 December 2018
919:Le Rocquier School
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330:Governor of Jersey
238:is a 19th-century
155:Controlled by
116:49.1813°N 2.1059°W
1214:Bailiwick Express
844:German occupation
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613:at Fort Regent.
445:Battle of Jersey
431:Duke of Richmond
407:explosive shells
403:Elizabeth Castle
338:Henley-on-Thames
264:Elizabeth Castle
159:States of Jersey
150:People of Jersey
142:Site information
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661:
660:"Fort Regent"
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656:Find sources:
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634:This section
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1259:. Retrieved
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1217:. Retrieved
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1191:. Retrieved
1187:the original
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1159:. Retrieved
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1133:. Retrieved
1129:the original
1119:
1107:. Retrieved
1103:the original
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1081:. Retrieved
1077:the original
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1055:. Retrieved
1052:Visit Jersey
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1030:. Retrieved
976:. Retrieved
972:the original
967:
958:
939:Mont Orgueil
910:
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891:
871:
862:flak cannons
855:
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828:20th century
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771:steam engine
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643:Please help
638:verification
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579:counterscarp
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537:East Rampart
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485:Counterguard
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219:British Army
191:1806 to 1814
183:Site history
165:Open to
29:Saint Helier
856:During the
453:French Army
380:Elizabeth I
350:Middle Ages
348:During the
260:La Collette
236:Fort Regent
229:(1940–1945)
119: /
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22:Fort Regent
1281:Categories
1261:2022-12-17
1219:2020-11-23
1135:16 October
1057:2022-12-16
950:References
915:St. Helier
794:War Office
790:Ironbridge
775:gas engine
671:newspapers
617:Water well
607:embrasures
504:George Don
493:South Hill
427:earthworks
405:by firing
334:Park Place
248:St. Helier
104:49°10′53″N
786:cast-iron
739:When the
599:carronade
447:, by the
376:Vingtaine
369:Edward VI
367:In 1550,
364:in 1814.
227:Wehrmacht
196:Materials
175:Condition
107:2°06′21″W
1193:8 August
1109:8 August
1083:8 August
1032:8 August
978:8 August
933:See also
561:hornwork
556:bastions
481:Outworks
400:besieged
291:bastions
287:redoubts
256:Barracks
215:Garrison
1161:1 April
868:Storage
779:in-situ
741:sappers
733:granite
685:scholar
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589:Cannons
577:-faced
575:masonry
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336:, near
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745:miners
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568:glacis
489:Glacis
469:quoins
394:, the
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315:dolmen
295:redans
293:, and
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252:Jersey
178:Intact
33:Jersey
1237:(PDF)
1155:(PDF)
1027:(PDF)
692:JSTOR
678:books
491:; 7:
487:; 6:
409:with
301:). A
188:Built
147:Owner
1195:2015
1163:2013
1137:2013
1111:2015
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