Victorian Alderney
In 1830 Alderney had a population of just over 1000 people; they lived a traditional life with each family fairly owning a good piece of farming land and a poor piece of farming land. But within 10 years a new development abruptly transformed the whole island scene. Cherbourg in France had become a strongly fortified naval base and this alarmed the commander of the Royal navy and so it was decided that Alderney would too become heavily fortified and keep watch on Cherbourg’s port.
Firstly they had to construct a harbour for refuge and observation. In 1844 approval was given for the construction of a breakwater, this would create a harbour of originally 67acres and later 150 acres. A chain of 18 forts and separate batteries, stretching from Fort Clonque in the west along the north coast and round to Fort Essex in the south-east, was constructed during the years 1850 to 1860; on the south and west coasts the steep cliffs were considered sufficient protection.
With all this construction work occurring, a large number of builders were needed. This resulted in the population increasing to 4,932 by 1861. This is nearly 3times the number of people currently on the island! Less than half of this population was originally from the island. A large number of immigrants to the island were Irish escaping from the famine. The Rue Neuve known as New Street (QE11 Street) was built to house the increased population and an imposing new Court House and jail were completed in 1851. The old Rue de Grosnez was lined with fine new houses and shops, and was renamed Victoria Street in honour of a visit by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert to see the works in progress on 9 August 1854. A settlement of workmen’s cottages was constructed at New Town, and other less permanent structures were erected on the main building sites.
But in spite of the huge expenditure in money and labour, the new fortifications, like most elsewhere over the next 50 years, were to become outdated as ships and weaponry were changing rapidly.
Most of the forts, built to defend the island and therefore the harbour, had been rendered partially obsolete and in 1901 the armament of Fort Albert was modernised and a garrison of one half battalion of infantry and a detachment of garrison artillery continued to be maintained on the island until c.1930.
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