Portelet Tower, Military tower in Portelet Bay, Jersey.
Portelet Tower is a round stone tower standing on the tidal island L'Île au Guerdain in Portelet Bay. The structure measures roughly 17 feet (5 meters) high with a diameter of about 27 feet (8 meters), forming a compact military outpost.
British forces built the tower in 1808 as part of their defensive fortifications during the Napoleonic Wars. A small garrison of one sergeant and twelve soldiers guarded the bay from this isolated location.
The tower is also known locally as Janvrin's Tower, named after Philippe Janvrin, whose body was temporarily buried on the island during a plague outbreak. This name preserves the memory of a tragic event that remains connected to the site.
The tower is only accessible at low tide when you can walk across the beach from the mainland to the tidal island. It is important to check the tide times before heading out, as the island quickly becomes surrounded by water.
After completion, military engineers maintained continuous fire for two weeks to fully dry out the entire structure. This unusual method was necessary to stabilize the damp stones in this exposed coastal location after construction.
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