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In the mid 1800s, Castle Cornet was first connected to Guernsey as part of a visionary project to develop the harbour.
Today the granite pillars that propped up that first bridge still survive, but with the concrete deck crumbling, it has been closed to vehicles for a month and £7m. is needed to fund a replacement.
Express plots the options for the future and has a quick look at its past.
It has been five years since plans began to be drawn up as the concrete deck of the bridge deteriorated.
Inspections have been happening since then.
The last of these in October showed that 64% of the underside of the deck was now showing defects, compared to 53% five years ago, and a decision was made to shut the bridge to all vehicles as a result.
The States’ Trading and Supervisory Board has published a States report outlining the options and its preferred route of a like-for-like replacement with some improvements to meet health and safety requirements including better handrails, lighting and seating - it may also be lower.
Construction would begin in the second half of 2025, taking about a year, during which time temporary pedestrian access to the castle would be maintained.
The States need to approve the project.
The first parts of Castle Cornet were built on what was at the time an isolated rock about a mile out to sea in the 13th century.
Pictured: Engraving of Castle Cornet in 1672 by E Jewitt, image courtesy of Societe Jersiaise.
It was designed to defend St Peter Port harbour.
Soldiers could make their way from the castle to the town at low tide across a causeway, but from half-tide up it was cut off.
Pictured: Work on the harbour in 1856. The image is believed to have been taken by Victor Hugo's son Charles.
The castle was connected to Guernsey in 1861, as part of the harbour redevelopment which expanded its area from 4.5 acres to 73. A picture attributed to Victor Hugo’s son Charles in 1855/6 shows the emplacement under construction.
Pictured: Victor Hugo with Castle Cornet now connected in the background.
The current bridge is made up of a nine-span reinforced concrete deck built in 1951 on granite supports believed to date from when the first bridge was built with an iron and timber deck.
Pictured: The castle breakwater and bridge visible beyond the sailing ships in St Peter Port Harbour. The granite supports remain. Image courtesy of Societe Jersiaise (https://catalogue.jerseyheritage.org/).
The approach bridge linking it to the castle, also made of reinforced concrete, was built in 1964.
The bridge, which is about 95m long, also links to the castle breakwater, which was built between 1861 and 1864.
Pictured: The bridge was closed to vehicles in October after the last inspection.
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