7th November 1806
Fort Regent construction work begins
As one of the highest points in Jersey, St Helier’s Mont de la Ville (Town Hill) had previously been the site of a dolmen, which was only discovered when workers started to level the area to be used as Fort Regent’s parade ground. Despite being an important part of Jersey’s prehistory, the dolmen was boxed up and transported to the mainland, having been gifted to the governor, Henry Seymour Conway, who wanted to use it as a feature of his estate close to Henley-on-Thames.
Although the hill had long been recognised as a valuable defensive point, construction of Fort Regent didn’t get underway in an official capacity until 7 November 1806. On that day, Lieutenant Governor George Don laid the foundation stone, marking the beginning of eight years of construction work involving an average of 800 workers at a time. Works had already been done to prepare the ground for the ceremony.
Digging a water source
As well as the construction of the walls and ramparts, the digging of ditches and the positioning of cannon at strategic points, the works required the digging of a well to provide a regular water source for the troops who would be stationed at the completed fort. Digging the well was one of the most ambitious tasks, requiring the use of 975kg of gunpowder and employing 12 miners.
Fort Regent was last used in a military capacity by the German forces that occupied the Channel Islands through much of the Second World War. Following the war, it was used for storage and, in the 1960s, converted for use as a sports and leisure centre.
The fort was given its name – Fort Regent – in honour of George III who was, at the time, Prince Regent of the United Kingdom.
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Other events that occured in November
The States votes to flood Queen’s Valley
- The States of Jersey votes in favour of flooding Queen's Valley to create a new reservoir to meet the island's water needs.
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The Jersey Airport disaster
- The Jersey Airport disaster killed two crew and 12 passengers when their plane came down shortly after take off from Jersey Airport.
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Bailiff Cecil Stanley Harrison is born
- Cecil Stanley Harrison was Bailiff of Jersey and had earlier played a role in the trial that had resulted in the island's last execution.
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Agent ZigZag is born
- Spy Eddie Chapman double-crossed the Germans during World War Two, earning himself the name Agent ZigZag.
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