Grosnez Castle

Grosnez stands on the northwestern headland of Jersey, a small castle built in the fourteenth century as a refuge for the population of the surrounding parishes rather than a garrison fortress, cut off from the land by a ditch and defended on the other three sides by cliffs. What survives is the gate arch and fragments of wall. The view runs to Guernsey, Sark and Herm on a clear day.

Background

Little was known of the castle's history until the late nineteenth century, when the Société Jersiaise excavated it in the 1880s and 1890s and removed the rubble that had buried all but the top of the gatehouse. Recent research suggests that work began in about 1369-70 under Sir Renaud de Carteret, then Seigneur of St Ouen. The surviving ruins, all of local granite, include the gatehouse, outer walls, four towers and some simple interior buildings. The gatehouse once had a portcullis, and its design resembles the second gate at Gorey Castle. A stone stairway was added in 1908 for visitors. The site is a Grade 1 listed building, managed by Jersey Heritage since 2003.

Source: Wikipedia, "Grosnez Castle"

The main sights

• The gate arch - the surviving entrance of the fourteenth-century castle.
• The ditch - the cut across the headland that defended the landward side.
• The cliffs - the drops that made the other three sides secure.
• The island view - Guernsey, Sark and Herm visible on clear days.

When to go

May to September is the pleasant season, though the headland is windy at any time. Clear days are needed for the island views. Winter storms make it unpleasant.

Things to know

Very little survives beyond the arch and some wall footings. The headland is completely exposed with no shelter. There is no interpretation beyond a board.

Nearby

Plémont is east, and St Ouen's Bay is south.

Key facts