The Garrison overlooking Hugh Town on St Mary's is a major historic site and intimately tied up with the development of the island. It's now in the care of English Heritage.
With a history spanning 350 years, the defences of the Garrison on St Mary's form one of the most remarkable and impressive coastal defence systems in England.
Although a castle and harbour were built by the Normans in the 12th Century at what is now Old Town, little was done to develop the strategic potential of the islands until the 16th Century.
An initial attempt at building a garrison on the Porthloo side of Hugh Town (since known as Harry's Walls) started in 1551, but progress was slow as resources were deployed elsewhere. The threat of the Spanish Armada changed all that, and new defences were begun, focusing on the promontory the other side of the harbour known as the Hugh.
The first defences were built from 1593 onwards, beginning with Star Castle, followed by defensive walls around the perimeter of the Hugh. These were reinforced and extended during the Civil War in the 1640s, when the islands became a Royalist stronghold (the future Charles II stopped here in his way to Jersey).
The final phase of building - during which the fortifications took their present form - took place between 1715 and 1742, to counter the threat from French shipping. Minor reinforcements were made during the latter part of the 19th Century and during both World Wars.
The establishment of the garrison led to the economic development of the current harbour and Hugh Town itself, and the parallel decline of Old Town. It therefore forms an important stage in the island's history.
The site today includes an almost complete set of walls encircling the Hugh, a gunpowder store (which houses an explanatory exhibition about the site), Star Castle (now a hotel - no public access), and various store and barrack buildings.
The walls and their gun emplacements (complete with 18th and 19th Century guns) provide an excellent afternoon's walk, with stunning views out across High Town and the islands.
Access is free: wear good walking shoes as in sections the paths are uneven and slippery after wet weather. read more