Clearing of gorse reveals bunkers near Fort Doyle
The clearing of foliage around bunkers situated near Fort Doyle has allowed a team from Festung Guernsey the opportunity to investigate the Second World War site.
Vale Commons Council found an open entrance to the bunker while foliage was being cleared and contacted Festung, which was able to assess the area last week.
The area near Fort Doyle had been covered with large amounts of gorse and bracken.
Festung project co-ordinator Paul Bourgaize said that, while the site was historically known to the group, it had been so overgrown that access to most of the bunker was previously too difficult.
‘Shortly after the council completed their clearance they got in touch with us because they had found some holes that they wanted us to investigate,’ he said.
The large holes in the ground have since been covered with metal to ensure no one can fall in.
With the foliage cut back, the group were able to identify trenches between the entrances to the bunker, as they had not previously realised that the trench carried on.
Among the notable finds made by the team include some 5cm mortar pits, trenches and Tobruks – small, reinforced concrete bunkers.
‘The site would have been used for storage of weapons and there are several smaller manned positions as well, so it would have been extensively used,’ Mr Bourgaize said.
‘We have since secured the holes with metal grilles and additional boulders, and at some point we will clear the remaining foliage and record everything.’
He added that discussions over the opportunity of opening the site up to the public in the future would be had with the council, but such a project was not one of the group’s priorities.
‘It’ll go on the nice-to-have list for now, but on the list nonetheless, we just have other priority projects that we are focusing on right now, such as the site at Fort Hommet,’ he said.
