Elizabeth Castle closed due to water pump failure

Monday 21 August 2023

Elizabeth Castle has withstood four centuries, countless batteries and several wars, but a broken pump – which has left the entire tidal island without running water – has closed the site at the height of tourist season.

While the heritage site – which recently celebrated 100 years as a historic monument – is no stranger to closures due to extreme weather, the winter season, or broken Dukws, it relies on a busy summer season with visits from both locals and tourists.

But this summer there has been a spanner thrown into the works, with a water pump system failure meaning that the Castle has been closed to visitors this weekend and throughout Monday – and potentially Tuesday.

A spokesperson for Jersey Heritage explained: "We marked it as a health and safety issue because there would be no way to flush toilets, and no running water for the café to use."

"They are working hard to fix it, and we understand they are needing to pump something out. It's amazing what people flush down the toilet these days," they further explained, and said there was a chance it had been blocked.

"Because it's an old castle and it's 1970s pipe work, replacing a water pump is quite complicated and they are having to take out the entire system and replace it with a new one."

"We are trying to get it sorted as soon as possible, but it is tricky to get stuff out there."

With the weather finally taking a turn for the better this week, the spokesperson further said "it certainly wasn't something we planned."

"There are lots of people on holiday now and it's perfect weather, so we will want to open as soon as possible. We hope that if people are here for a week or so then they'll still get a chance to go to the Castle."

Even the Castle's 'Master Gunner' Chris Dalkner and his partner, the island's only residents, have had to retreat to the mainland while it is being fixed.

"In this current situation, without toilets or running water, it's not appropriate for people to be out there," the spokesperson further explained.