Mont les Vaux to Gorey VillageMont les Vaux to Gorey Village


 

Start: Bus stop Horey pier. Duration 45 Minutes. Smooth walking.

Pier

 
The walk starts at Gorey Pier bus stop , once the end-station of the Jersey Railway.
From the bus stop you can see Mount Oguil castle, its history reached back to the stone age.  The different stages of its development can be discovered in the castle.

 
Due the 14 century, as the French ruled over the east part of Jersey, they  enlarged the castle. After Connel Hasting chased the French  away, the castle enlargement went further. Over the centuries its served as state prison.

The daughter of Connel Hasting married Charles de Cartier, the owner of Quens Manor. Connected to Charles de Cartier is following anecdote about the French occupation time.

 
Once Charles de Cartier rode along  Quens Bay, as he perceived that a troop of French soldiers followed him and surely wanted to set him in prison.  He started to gallop as fast as his black horse could run. Finally arrived at the safety of his manor the horse collapsed of exhaustion and died.

A painting of the loyal horse can be found in the entrance area of the Manor. During construction work activities in the last century (19 century), the remains of the horse were found.

The walk heads to Fort William along the promenade, accompanied by little gardens,where once were the tracks of the Jersey railway. Before the opening of the railway the sea was only a jump away from the houses and the surrounding land was a marsh land.  Governor Don transformed the marsh  to agriculture land.

History of ships


A stone table , 100 meters away from  bus stop Gorey Pier, remind on the ship building history of Gorey. Across the stone table is a fontaine. In its mid is a ship keel carry the name of the ships, which were build in Gorey.

Beach carts

The next stop  is the slip way at the beach hotel, where you can find a snack bar. Don't miss to try the crab sandwiches. Across the slip way is a house , where big wheels lies against the wall. Once these wheels belong to beach carts, which were used in Victorian times  for going bathing.

Oysters

In the 18 century families from the mainland came to Jersey in the hope of a better life. For improving their income they gathered  oysters. In those times the coast where abounded with them. First these families lived in huts,later on they got a cottage from the government.

Witch stones

 
These cottages still exist and are located at New Road and Old Road. A closer look on them reveal a secret, a stone looks out of the wall, this is so called witch stone.

The story behind is , that in the old times  the people believe that due the night witches flew

round the houses and would have spoken a spell over a house, if they found no  resting place.

Victorian houses

 

Across New Road is Kendal Place with its old milestones and fine Victorian houses. Most of them has still  the orginal victorian fences. 

 

 

 

Rosedale

Our way leads us to La Rue Hormann, passing the Old Bank house, where a ghost of a captain
finds no rest. A fine store in Victorian style, Rosedale store, give you a glimpse how shops were
in the old days.

Old Bank House

 

Across of the Old Bank House is a gorgeous cottage, a close look at the garden wall reveals, that each brick has a sign of the manufactory.


At the end of the street a pink building  catching our eyes, this is the Old Railway Station of Gorey.

Left of the building you find the old water tower as well, which was also converted to a house.

In the vicinity we find an old building which belonged once to Fort William, remains of the drawing bridge and the water trenches are still there.

Along Le Mont de Gouray we are passing a Methodist church, which looks quite modern, but was built in the 18 century. First it was a church, then a cinema and now its a church again.

Coats of arms

 

Following the road a little bit further we find on the left an old house, which has an old stony coat of arms above

its entrance door. The stone once belonged to Mount Oguil castle.

Gouray Lodge

In the vicinity the governor manor is on the left side. Governor Don lived here, he built most of the streets of Jersey for military purpose.

As Napoleon was imprisoned at Elba, which seemed to be the end of the Napoleonic war,

the governor Don was transferred to Gilbaltra.

He passed on  his duties to Hilbrai Turner. Turner, who mother came from Jersey,took part at the

battle of van Nale at Egypt. He brought the Rosetta stone to England.

After his retirement he stayed at Jersey and enjoyed gardening and drawing.

Drawing was one of the basic skills an officer has to excel.


Turner couldn't enjoy his retirement  for long. Napoleon escaped from Elba and the Napoleonic

war started again. Turner should play an important part in the following events.

Why ?

At these times, Jersey was repleted with french refugees, called royalist in France.

Turner supported them with money and form an army with them.

He attacked the North of France, this forced Napoleon to sent one part of

his troupes to the North of France.

This was for the advantage of General Wellington. Napoleon had to fight on two fronts.

Such weaken Napoleon lost the battle of Waterloo. The war was  over and

Turner could really retired.

Gouray Church

 

Following the street a little bit upward, stairs will be emerging on the right side, which leads to Gouray church. Crossing the street carefully we see a red mailbox.  It is the first mailbox which was set up in Europe.

Mont de la Guerende

 

After crossing the street we are heading down  to stairs which lead  to Mont de

la Guernde. It is an excellent viewpoint, on clear days France can be seen from there.

The sun-flooded slopes of the hill are used by potatoes farmer , even the upkeep isn't easy.

Victoria Tower

Following the street to its end , we turn left  and then right, which lead
us to a private street. On the left side is an old trading school, which was converted to a house. A narrow lane heads to Victorian Tower, a good place for a picknick  and beautiful view to Anne Port.  Access to the tower is permitted only for pedestrians.

Faldouet Dolmen

We are following the street which heads us to Falodouet Dolmen. At the end of a narrow lane the dolmen emerges, which was reconstructed in the 18 century by the famous Lucas family. After a priest found the dolmen and took some excavations. 

 
Walking  back the street we are passing a huge  building at La Rue de la Pouclee et des Quatres Chemins. In the  18 century it was a working house, called Hotel de la Garne, where  orphans or youngster without money could learn a handcraft.

Heading the street in direction Gorey,  we could enjoy  the view to Mont Orgueil castle due walking. We are  crossing the street at the end and ambling over a drawing bridge of Mount Orgueil until we are reaching a gate, which leads us  to a sight seeing platform. On warm days lizards  popping out of the granite walls to enjoy  the  sun, it is very joyful to observe them.

The last steps lead us to the harbour our staring point.   A visit to Jersey Pottery or Secret gardens for a cream tea finishes our walk.