A ‘gem’ of Alderney’s past made ready for tourists
A ‘GEM’ of Alderney’s coastal heritage is to be opened up to visitors this summer, following extensive clearance work by Alderney Society volunteers and States Works.
Doyle’s Battery, colloquially known as Fort Doyle, had become overgrown with brambles and weeds when it was visited by members of the society in 2018.
The visit prompted the clearance work and a subsequent report was requested by Alderney States members into how the north coast site, between Platte Saline and Crabby Bay, could be opened up to visitors.
The Victorian fort, with added German fortifications, is expected to be ready for visitors from April, with interpretation boards and improved public access. A maze of trenches outside the entrance has also been exposed.
The battery, which was completed in 1854, originally housed four guns with barracks for 22 men, officers’ quarters, a cook house, a magazine and artillery stores.
During the island’s occupation by German forces from 1940, two anti-tank gun positions were constructed, along with bunkers for tank turrets, mortars, machine guns and personnel in what was known to the Germans as Resistance Nest Dohlenfeste (‘Jackdaw proof’).
In more recent years, the barrack block beside the entrance has been used by Commonwealth Games competitor Billy Le Poullain, among others, as it has been home to the Alderney Amateur Boxing Club.
The work is part of a programme of renovations and clearances which was recently summarised to Guernsey States members by Alderney representative Steve Roberts. This includes the opening up of the Nunnery heritage site, a well preserved small Roman fort with numerous later historical additions, and the Odeon range-finding tower.
Volunteers have also cleared the batteries at Fort Tourgis and Bibette Head.
Alderney Society president Dr Trevor Davenport thanked the States of Alderney and the States Works Department for their help with the project.
‘This is a gem of a small fort,’ he said. ‘Its position at Crabby near the harbour is very convenient and will furnish Alderney with another superb location for visitors and locals alike to appreciate and enjoy. We have received fantastic support from the States with several Members and officers showing keen interest.’
Many hundreds of man hours had gone into the project, he said.
The final phase will be to restore the toilet facilities, clean and redecorate some of the rooms and bunkers, and place the information boards.
Annie Burgess, chairwoman of the Economic Development Committee, said the island owed a debt of gratitude to the hard work of the volunteers.
