Last post I showed some of the World War 2 fortifications on Jersey. Jersey, one of the Channel Islands, sits close to the French Coast but has for centuries been loyal to the English crown. It is not surprising then that the coast has plenty of other, older defences.

The North coast is craggy and rugged but the bays of the South, East and West coasts were very accessible to invaders. During the Napoleonic wars, a series of towers was built around the island.

General Conway, Governor of the Island, planned for thirty towers to protect the coast from the threat of French invasions. La Rocco on St. Ouen’s Beach was the twenty third to be built, in 1795-6.

It makes an attractive landmark, standing sentinel over the five miles of sand that make St. Ouen’s Bay.

What a wonderful setting for a spot of sunset kite surfing!

But you have to admit that as a silhouette it looks a little like a submarine.

More from Jersey next post.