'256 JERBOURG UD ITS FORTIFICATIONS. 



from capture, and then we find these Anglo-Normans taking 

 advantage of the natural strength of Jerbourg, extending 

 and strengthening the defences there. 



But the Normans constructed castles, not camps. They 

 selected high ground, preferring a hill, either surrounded 

 by water, or rising so abruptly as to be accessible only 

 in one direction. The castle consisted of a donjon or 

 keep, the strongest position into which the garrison might 

 retire even after all the outer works had been carried. 

 This was surrounded by an open space, ballium or court, 

 which in turn was enclosed by walls, having towers at 

 intervals, the strongest being those protecting the gate or 

 principal entrance. This again was surrounded, if possible, 

 by a moat or trench, a draw-bridge across which formed 

 the only access to the castle. The walls were often 12ft. 

 or more in thickness, the whole structure so massive that 

 it would be very difficult to remove all trace of the building 

 if once erected. 



Four Guernsey castles are named in the old charters and 

 other documents : the Yale Castle, the Chateau de Marais 

 (or Ivy Castle), Castle Cornet and the Chateau de Jerbourg; 

 it is with this last that we are at present concerned. My 

 suggestion is, and I maintain that the historical facts and 

 documents support it, that there never was a true castle, 

 keep, towers, walls, &c, at Jerbourg. 



We have the name Chateau de Jerbourg; so we have 

 Chateau dTcart, yet no one suggests that there ever was 

 a veritable castle at Icart ; so in Cornwall we have Treryn 

 Castle, but no building. Had there been a true castle as 

 suggested, some remains of it must have survived ; no one 

 would .have taken the trouble so completely to destroy such 

 an extensive and massive structure that not a vestige, even 

 of the foundations, can anywhere be discovered. Yet it is 

 asserted that it existed and afforded accommodation to all 

 the inhabitants of the island, and continued in use as late 

 as 1627. 



The existence of the castle is supposed to be proved 

 by ancient documents ; I proceed, therefore, to quote those 

 in which Jerbourg is referred to. 



The oldest* is from the assize rolls of 27 Edward I., 

 1299. In it, Matthew De Saumarez, a minor, the son and 

 heir of Matthew De Saumarez, deceased, together with 

 Thomas d'Estelfeld and Robert Blundel, guardians of 

 the said Matthew, came before the justices and acknowledged 

 * Supplied me by Miss Carey. 



