What a brilliant harbour Jersey nearly had! When the pesky French established a naval presence at nearby Cherbourg the British Government commissioned a harbour of refuge at St Catherine on the north-eastern tip of Jersey.
A huge effort was made. From 1847 up to a thousand workers – many of them Irish – caused chaos in the locality for a few short years while the northern arm of the harbour was constructed. Then suddenly the British and French made friends, steam was overtaking sail making the raison d’etre of the harbour redundant. The thing was silting up in any case. The works were abandoned, the southern arm of the harbour barely started.
The Brits tried to sell the breakwater to Jersey who refused, but later accepted it as a gift 🙂
This pic was taken the other evening from the heights of St Martin during a Jersey Joggers run.
Back On The Rock 
Lovely shot, Roy. I love the way the British tried to sell this to Jersey but they refused, very smart move. A great gift! 😉
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Jerseymen love a freebie Dianne. I suppose the Brits could hardly take it away. Hope you’re well.
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All well here. Roy. I’ve been doing the floor in ‘the big room’ for the last few days, hopefully it’ll be finished by tomorrow if I work non-stop for the next 24 hours (yikes)! 😉
I’ve also been trying to finish my latest novel as well and am finally up to the last chapter! YAY – but as you know, finishing is just the beginning, I’ll probably spend the the next three months editing the thing 😦
I hope you’re well, I’ve been thinking about your agents’ submission but won’t ask because I don’t want to be one of those people who nags and keeps asking when there’s no news xxx
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Excellent Dianne! I’m sure you can hear our fingers drumming on the table waiting for your next book. I’ll be sure to give any significant updates as and if they happen.
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Gorgeous view and a great bit of history – I too love that snippet about Jersey refusing to pay for what was already theirs 🙂
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Hi Andrea and thanks. Generations of Jerseyman have since escaped their wives to do a bit of fishing off the back of that breakwater!
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“Pesky French”…love it Roy! That’s a beautiful photo…thanks for sharing it and the history.
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Thank you Jill! An interesting few years back in the booming mid-19c.
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Stories, stories everywhere! Your little island has a lion’s share of them. Thanks for sharing this one with us, Roy.
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Hi Naomi! Yes, that one is fascinating. Many hundreds of labourers descending on that quiet part of the Island must have been a strange thing indeed. It’s not as if there were buses or trains into town either. Nearby there’s still a small property called ‘L’Hopital’ which indeed was used to treat those injured during the works.
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Interesting! What is L’Hopital being used for nowadays, or is it abandoned?
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Private house Naomi. Dang I drove past it yesterday – should have got a shot. I’ve often thought of the sort of injuries which must have happened on that project with so little in the way of medical facilities nearby. ‘L’Hopital’ must have been a vital source of help and comfort.
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Way for the Jersey folk to hold out for the best deal! 😉
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Jersey’s always had a nose for trade!
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Oh Roy, every time you post these Jersey pics you make me feel like jumping on the next plane over. I did ask for them, I know!!!
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Yes I have friends from France over at the minute Jean and I’m enjoying the siteseeing as much as them though I’ve live here 37 years!
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Wretched French – we’ve never really gotten over the Battle of Hastings, have we?
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Although historically Jersey were on the winning side at Hastings being under Norman rule at that time 🙂
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Ha! Love how spunky that island of yours is, Roy! Great shot and fantastic insight, as always.
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Hey Britt! It’s a fact that, being a smallish community, it’s good to score victories over bigger opposition. You have to choose your battles though. We love it when our sportsmen/women do well outside the Island, for example. Our rugby team is one of the top 24 in England (not that Jersey is in England, but…) and our netball girls just got promoted to the English National League (as opposed to Regional) for the first time. Go Jersey! And Portland 🙂
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