THE EAKLY HISTORY AND FIRST SIEGE OF 

 CASTLE CORNET. 



BY COLONEL T. W. M. DE GUERIN. 



Previous to the loss of Normandy the history of our 

 Guernsey castles is shrouded in obscurity, for although many 

 documents of the 11th and 12th centuries referring to the 

 island have come down to us, they concern for the most part 

 religious bequests to various abbeys ; or, as in the case of the 

 great Norman Rolls, of the Exchequer, of Henry II. and 

 Richard I., refer to the revenue of the Crown and not to 

 military defences. 



Whilst' Normandy and England were united under one 

 Crown, the necessity for strong castles, capable of withstand- 

 ing a prolonged siege, did not exist, for none of the other 

 neighbouring states were strong enough to attempt to conquer 

 us. The only foes to whom we were exposed at this period 

 were pirates, who might raid the islands, but would not attempt 

 to occupy them. Against such attacks there existed in 

 Guernsey in the 12th century, and probably earlier, at least 

 one castle, or place of refuge, the " Chateau d'Orgueil " or 

 " Chateau des Marais," now most frequently called " Ivy 

 Castle." In the Great Roll of the Norman Exchequer, temp. 

 Richard I., 1195, Robert de Saint Mere Eglise, then fermor 

 of the islands, accounts for certain dues from the tenement of 

 Vaudin in the " Marais d'Orgueil," proving indirectly the 

 castle was already in existence and had given its name to the 

 surrounding marshes. It is possible the Vale Castle was also 

 in existence at this period. It stands on what was once the 

 fief of Ansketil Yiscount of Bayeux, which for some unknown 

 reason was confiscated by Duke Robert I. sometime previous 

 to the year 1032, and given by him to the famous abbey of 

 Mont Saint Michel. As the " Chateau des Marais " lies on 

 the other portion of the island held by the Yiscounts of the 

 Cotentin, it seems rather probable that both castles may have 

 had their origin in some defences erected by these Barons as 



