Bordeaux Harbour

Coordinates: 49°29′24″N 2°30′25″W / 49.490°N 2.507°W / 49.490; -2.507 Bordeaux Harbour is a fishing port and bay in the parish of Vale in the northeast of Guernsey, about 2 miles (3.2 km) north of Saint Peter Port.[1] The harbour is now used primarily as a beach, which is flat and low, "with stretches of fine sand and groups of boulders".[2]

Landmarks

Vale Castle, first mentioned in the early sixteenth century, overlooks the bay,[3] and the Bordeaux Kiosk is nearby.[4] There is cromlech of note near the harbour, known as "L'Autel de Dehus" (altar of the devil).[5] It has been described as "consisting of two immense flat stones lying north-east and south-west, inclining towards the former direction, and supported by a number of smaller ones".[1] The harbour area is also noted for its birdlife, and attracts zoologists.[5]

Quarry

A quarry of the same name as the harbour was operated close to the port for over 100 years, and allegedly produced 3.5 million tons of blue diorite over the years. It was damaged during World War II, when it was flooded with water and silt, and despite a restoration in the post-War period it later closed.[6]

Just off the bay is the Houmets islets,[7] mentioned by Victor Hugo who described Les Houmets, in his work The Toilers of the Sea (Les Travailleurs de la mer).[8]

A small battery built in the 18th-century existed at Bordeaux until all trace of the site vanished due to quarrying.

References

  1. 1 2 Lane, Louisa (1841). Redstone's Guernsey guide, or, The stranger's companion for ... Guernsey, by the author of 'Recollections of Sark'. p. 36.
  2. ↑ Guernsey: Pictured and Described by a Wayfarer. Arnold Fairbairns. 1907. p. 63.
  3. ↑ Bennett, Amanda (13 May 2014). Guernsey Through Time. Amberley Publishing Limited. p. 105. ISBN 978-1-4456-3509-5.
  4. ↑ "Lunch with a view in Guernsey". Visit Guernsey. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  5. 1 2 Ansted, David Thomas (1866). Black's Guide to Guernsey, St. Peter Port, and places of interest, including Alderney and Serk. p. 110.
  6. ↑ Bennett, Amanda (6 May 2015). Secret Guernsey. The Priaulx Museum, Amberley Publishing Limited. p. 36. ISBN 978-1-4456-4335-9.
  7. ↑ Stevens, Joan; Jee, Nigel (1987). The Channel Islands. M. Joseph. p. 131. ISBN 978-0-7181-2765-7.
  8. ↑ Pouchain, Gérard; Hugo, Victor (1985). Promenades dans l'archipel de la Manche, avec un guide nommé Victor Hugo (in French). Editions C. Corlet. p. 100. ISBN 978-2-85480-099-9.
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