Victoria Tower (Guernsey)
Encyclopedia
Victoria Tower
In 1846 Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
made a visit to Guernsey
and as this was the first time a reigning monarch had ever visited the island. A small granite stone had been laid marking where The Queen had first stepped ashore in St Peter Port harbour. The following year in 1847, a Scottish architect William Colling was asked to draw up plans for a tower to commemorate the monarch's visit.
The site chosen for Victoria Tower was an earthen mound opposite the Arsenal, where Guernsey's militia were housed. On 27 May 1848 the first foundation stone was laid by The Governor of Guernsey, Major General John Bell during a large ceremony. Laid in the foundations of the tower was a time capsule containing Guernsey and English coins, which are the alms distributed to the poor by the monarch.
A public garden was later created which housed two cannons captured from the Russians during the Crimean War
and these now sit on the ramparts of Castle Cornet
. Many years later other guns were displayed in the garden but were removed and buried in 1940 so the invading German forces would think the island was not fortified. Presently there are two German guns situated in the gardens which were excavated in 1978.
In 1999 the tower was closed to the general public due to structural issues and re-opened on Wednesday 24 May 2006, the birthday of Queen Victoria, during a re-enactment of the ceremony in 1846. The Lieutenant Governor
, Vice Admiral Sir Fabian Malbon
KBE re-opened the tower in the presence of the Bailiff
Geoffrey Rowland.
In 1846 Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
Prince Albert
Prince Albert was the husband and consort of Queen Victoria.Prince Albert may also refer to:-Royalty:*Prince Albert Edward or Edward VII of the United Kingdom , son of Albert and Victoria...
made a visit to Guernsey
Guernsey
Guernsey, officially the Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.The Bailiwick, as a governing entity, embraces not only all 10 parishes on the Island of Guernsey, but also the islands of Herm, Jethou, Burhou, and Lihou and their islet...
and as this was the first time a reigning monarch had ever visited the island. A small granite stone had been laid marking where The Queen had first stepped ashore in St Peter Port harbour. The following year in 1847, a Scottish architect William Colling was asked to draw up plans for a tower to commemorate the monarch's visit.
The site chosen for Victoria Tower was an earthen mound opposite the Arsenal, where Guernsey's militia were housed. On 27 May 1848 the first foundation stone was laid by The Governor of Guernsey, Major General John Bell during a large ceremony. Laid in the foundations of the tower was a time capsule containing Guernsey and English coins, which are the alms distributed to the poor by the monarch.
A public garden was later created which housed two cannons captured from the Russians during the Crimean War
Crimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
and these now sit on the ramparts of Castle Cornet
Castle Cornet
Castle Cornet is a large island castle in Guernsey, and former tidal island, also known as Cornet Rock or Castle Rock, which has been part of one of the breakwaters of St Peter Port's harbour, the main one in the island, since 1859.- Geography :...
. Many years later other guns were displayed in the garden but were removed and buried in 1940 so the invading German forces would think the island was not fortified. Presently there are two German guns situated in the gardens which were excavated in 1978.
In 1999 the tower was closed to the general public due to structural issues and re-opened on Wednesday 24 May 2006, the birthday of Queen Victoria, during a re-enactment of the ceremony in 1846. The Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey
The Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey is the representative of the British monarch in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, a Crown dependency of the British Crown. The role of the Lieutenant Governor is to act as the de facto head of state in Guernsey and as liaison between the governments of Guernsey and the...
, Vice Admiral Sir Fabian Malbon
Fabian Malbon
Vice Admiral Sir Fabian Malbon KBE was the Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey from 2005 to 2011.-Naval career:Educated at Brighton Hove and Sussex Grammar School, Malbon joined the Royal Navy in 1965. He went on to command the frigates HMS Torquay and HMS Brave. He was made Commander of the 9th...
KBE re-opened the tower in the presence of the Bailiff
Bailiff
A bailiff is a governor or custodian ; a legal officer to whom some degree of authority, care or jurisdiction is committed...
Geoffrey Rowland.