Fort George, Guernsey
In 1775/6 an epidemic amongst highland soldiers stationed at the fort area decimated the unit and the disease spread to civilians in neighbouring parishes.
In 1798 in frustration, he ordered the part built a fort to be demolished so as not to give potential invaders a haven,[3]: 194 it was not destroyed and construction work continued.
[4]: 5 On 27 March 1783, there was a mutiny in Guernsey by 500 regular soldiers, mainly Irish soldiers in the recently created 104th Regiment, who were in winter quarters in Fort George, caused possibly by some discharged men from the recently disbanded 83rd Regiment who had just been sent to join the 104th on the island.
[7] Duelling was not permitted in Guernsey, however duels took place, the most famous recorded being between two officers based at the fort in 1795, fought at L'Hyvreuse Avenue, St Peter Port, where Major Byng [8] of the 92nd Regiment died after challenging the Regimental Surgeon over a matter of honour for not standing for the National Anthem.
[13] The last person to be executed for murder in Guernsey in 1853, a John Tapner, worked as a clerk in the Engineers Department in Fort George; his botched robbery was matched with a bungled hanging.
They became such a problem that a law was passed in 1895 to restrict their activities, but it was not sufficient and a further law was passed in 1912 giving powers to examine women for diseases, detain them in the hospital if necessary and to deport foreign women deemed 'dangereuses pour la santé publique'.
During the Second World War the fort was occupied by German forces who gave it the name Stützpunkt Georgefest, constructing a number of emplacements and a Luftwaffe radar early warning station "Adlerschloss" with 2 x Freya, 2 x Giant FuMG 65 Würzburg-Riese radar installations and a Dezimetergerat microwave communication station.
[16] A plaque over the gate is addressed to Maj-Gen. Sir John Doyle Bt, GCB, KC, Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey from 1803 to 1816 and Commanding Officer in 1812.
[19] Originally called Terres Point Battery when it was built in 1780, it was renamed in 1815 in honour of the third son, Prince William, Duke of Clarence of King George III.
Ten gun mountings allowed the battery to fire in two directions, a magazine and Guard Room was also built.
A register of Baptisms and Burials was maintained by the Garrison Chaplain at Fort George between 1794 and 1810 and is held in the island archives.
UPDATE 2020 - the steps are currently closed due to landslip and the paths from the south or bottom of Val Des Terres / Postern gate should be used instead.
