Island 236 - Fort Charles/The Green, St Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands

Fort Charles/The Green is a small tidal island linked to St Helier on Jersey by a concrete causeway, which is just under a mile long, at low tide.  It was linked by a bridge to the islet on which Elizabeth Castle now stands by the 1650s.  The gap between the islands was filled in at a later date and it is now quite difficult to spot the join.  A map of 1650 I found in a book called The Channel Islands and The Great Rebellion by M.F.H. Ellis and published in 1937 shows a bowling green at the south end of the island and a windmill in the middle of it.  Neither exists today.  The island was originally more rocky but the rocks were removed to prevent them from being used as cover by invading armies leaving the largely flat profile the island has today.  In 1688 the island was enclosed to form the outer ward of Elizabeth Castle.  The Germans added more fortifications during their occupation of the Channel Islands in the Second World War.

Elizabeth Castle is maintained and run by Jersey Heritage.  There is an admission charge and the ticket office is located at the north end of Fort Charles. The admission charge in 2014 when we visited was £10.10 for an adult if you walk across the causeway and £12.65 if you use the amphibious DUKW ferry.  I thought it was well worth the money, as the site is quite extensive and there is a lot to see.



German Bunker - added during the Occupation

Causeway at low tide

Bank of wild flowers

Fort Charles looking north towards St Helier



Fort Charles - built in 1646



Looking towards Elizabeth Castle

Start of the causeway, looking towards St Helier

Fort Charles from the top of Elizabeth Castle

East coast of Fort Charles from Elizabeth Castle
In the shadow you can just about make out a delightful looking garden in between the upper and lower walls.  Where the wall changes direction is the original gap between the two islands. 

Fort Charles - eastern side

Causeway at low tide



On Fort Charles looking south towards Elizabeth Castle

East coast of Fort Charles