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Located on the picturesque island of Guernsey, Vale Castle can trace its history back to the Iron Age. Playing a vital role for the island during many wars, the castle now offers stunning views and a beautiful part of its coastal walk.
Filmed: Summer 2022
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---- Short History ----
- With earthworks dating from 500 BC, the hill has been a strategic position for millennia. Protecting the tidal passage that once existed, separating the north of the island from the rest.
- In 968, monks from the monastery of Mont saint-Michel in France, came to Guernsey to establish the Abbey of St Michael.
- In 1061, pirates pillaged the island. In response, Samposn D’Anneville was sent to drive them out with the help of the monks. He succeeded and they were granted half the island. The monks acquired the hill and built Saint Michael castle (now Vale Castle) to protect against the pirates.
- In 1372, Owain Lawgoch, a claimant to the Welsh throne, led an attack on Guernsey on behalf of the French. He later withdrew after killing 400 of the islands militia.
- Granite curtain walls were added in the 15th century. Buttresses, a well, powder house, guardroom and houses for the garrison were added too.
- During the English Civil War, Guernsey supported the Parliamentarian cause and may have stationed Parliamentarian troops in the castle, whilst Castle Cornet supported the Royalist cause.
- France became an enemy during the American Revolutionary War, and was also a threat during the French Revolution. As a result the castles defences were strengthened, including two large cannons, signal masts and a fire beacon, barracks and garrison of regular army troops.
- In 1799, 6,000 Russian troops stayed nearby, but hundreds died of disease. Many of the their graves are located near Vale Castle.
- During WWI, the local militia had a small garrison in the castle. And between the wars, the barracks were used by the States as homes.
- The last modifications came in WWII, when the German occupied the island. They demolished the barracks and built four concrete machine-gun positions, trenches and other defences.
---- Further Reading ----
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vale_Ca...
- www.bbc.co.uk/guernsey/conten...
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24 июн 2022
