Visit Elizabeth Castle's barracks hospital for the first time

Sunday 09 April 2017

The doors of the barrack hospital at Elizabeth Castle will open to the public for the first time today as part of a free Family Fun Day, sponsored by Lloyds Bank.

The public will also be able to abseil down the side of the castle to get to the moat as part of the event, which is held between 10:30 and 15:00 in connection with Jersey Heritage's 'Love your Castle' campaign.

Launched last month, the campaign aims to raise awareness of the fortress amongst locals as well as money to fund restoration projects.

Helen Gray, Jersey Heritage's fundraising manager, says: "Our goal is to get as many people as possible to come and rediscover the castle. We know it is popular amongst tourists but lots of locals don't come often. We want people who see the castle every day on their way to work to come back and fall in love again with the castle. Hopefully, they will then come back and visit, which is the best way of supporting us. Maybe they will even become members, sign a letter of support or make donations."

Jersey Heritage Love your Castle from Jersey Heritage on Vimeo.

To draw locals back to the castle, Jersey Heritage has planned a lot of activities, which will all be free thanks to event sponsor Lloyds Bank. The schedule includes arts and crafts, a circus skills and a wicker workshop and a Tudor gallery. There will also be a paint shooting range which will help produce a communal piece of art as well as musical entertainment with local bands. 

There will also be a competition to try and win a stay at one of the Jersey Heritage lets, a family membership and a goodie bag.

The highlight of the day will surely be a visit to the barracks hospital which is usually closed to the public. It forms part of the early 19th century refurbishment and includes engineer's stores and stables, a coal yard, as well as a ward for infectious diseases and a dead house. 

Ms Gray explains: "It is an occasion for the public to see a historic place that served as a garrison hospital. It is a unique building in the UK and it is normally closed to the public because it is not interpreted. Part of our long term vision for the castle is to open this section permanently." 

People are encouraged to walk along the causeway to reach the castle as the Castle Ferry will be reserved for families with young children and elderly or disabled passengers.