St Catherine's Breakwater

St. Catherine's Breakwater, Jersey, is all that exists of a projected "refuge" harbour for the Royal Navy. The harbour was designed during the period of Anglo-French rivalry during the 1840s, and work began on the North Breakwater in 1847. It was finished in 1855, by which time Britain and France were fighting as allies against the Russians, and the planned Southern Breakwater was never completed.

The harbour at St. Catherine's (and its twin on Alderney) were intended to be used by the Royal Navy during wartime, and were to be used as forward bases during a blockade of the French coast.

For larger images, click on the appropriate thumbnail.

For larger images, click on the appropriate thumbnail.

© Robert George Cordery (2005)