HISTORY

Elizabeth Castle was built in the 16th and 17th centauries off the coast of St. Helier. The castle is around 500 yards long and 60 yards wide. Elizabeth Castle was named after Queen Elizabeth I and started to be constructed in 1594. The Upper Ward was constructed first before later on adding the Queen Elizabeth Gate in 1959. Before Elizabeth Castle was used in a military context, the Governors of Jersey moved their official residence there. When the English Civil War broke out, in 1642 Prince Charles II came over to Jersey to stay safe, he stayed in the castle for 10 weeks before returning in 1645 and 1649, where he stayed in the Governors house.

In 1651, the castle was involved in its first piece of conflict as Parliamentary forces landed in Jersey and bombed the castle with mortar. It was next involved in conflict in the 18th centaury as the Seven Years War took place where the French were defeated by the troops under Major Francis Peirson at the Battle of Jersey.

In 1940, German forces added bunkers, search lights and gun emplacements to the castle as well as building addons to the castle, around 100 German soldiers stayed in Elizabeth Castle until Liberation Day in 1945.