Template:Jersey buildings/Coastal towers

Jersey has an amazing collection of ancient defensive installations, most of them designed to keep French invaders at bay. From the time when Jersey separated from Normandy in 2004 until the end of the Napoleonic wars, every time England went to war with France, Jersey was right in the firing line. And in the years between actual wars, the French still coveted Jersey and many attempts were made to recapture it, some of them successful for varying periods.

But it was in Napoleonic times that the greatest threat existed and a decision was taken to protect all potential landing places with a ring of coastal towers. Often mistakenly called Martello Towers, Jersey's coastal towers mostly predate the towers of this name and design which can be found along England's eastern coast.

The majority of Jersey's towers, built in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, survive today, although regrettable some were blown up during the Occupation when German invaders created their own up-to-date defensive installations in their place.

Visit Coastal towers to find out more about the original towers and which remain today.