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Archirondel Tower

A special place with wonderful views

Accommodates 4 people

Sleeps 4

Prices from £42.82 pp per night

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Close to St Catherine’s woods, the impressive St Catherine’s Breakwater and secluded beaches, Archirondel Tower provides a perfect coastal base while you explore the north-eastern corner of Jersey.

Built on a rocky outcrop in St Catherine’s Bay in 1792, Archirondel Tower was used as a garrison for artillery soldiers and has been a key defensive point throughout Jersey’s history. Linked to the shore by the abandoned southern arm of St Catherine’s Breakwater, the Tower has been recently refurbished to accommodate 2 adults and 2 children.

Split over four levels with a large terrace at ground level and a roof terrace overlooking the tranquil bay of Archirondel, the Tower is great for those looking for adventure, with the sea on your doorstep. Inside the Tower the ground floor comprises of a beautiful vaulted-celling kitchen and dining area with a dining table for four. A very narrow spiral staircase takes you up to a sleeping area, with one double bed and two single sofa beds and then continues on up to the cosy living space with a log burning stove for winter evenings. The roof terrace, with views across the bay and beyond, is accessed from the living space via the staircase. The sleeping area can also be accessed using the external metal stairs.

If you enjoy water sports, such as kayaking, then we recommend bringing it with you. The eastern coast of Jersey has many secluded bays to explore and teeming with marine wildlife. There is also a café 100 yards away, which is perfect for those early morning bacon rolls before you go on your next excursion around the Island.

Aerial images courtesy of Traces of War Jersey.

Archirondel Tower is situated in Jersey’s National Park.

Living area in historic building

    "The location is amazing"

    Facilities in detail

    • 1 double bed with 2 single sofa beds – linen & towels provided
    • Shower room
    • Electric oven & cooker
    • Fridge
    • Dishwasher
    • Crockery & cutlery provided
    • Woodburning stove
    • Very narrow spiral staircase throughout
    • Central heating and underfloor heating on the ground floor
    • TV with FreeSat
    • Roof terrace
    • Parking nearby
    • Beach access
    • Not suitable for small children
    • Dogs not allowed
    • No disabled access

    Pricing

    2022

     

     

    Low Season

     

    4 January – 31 March
    ——-
    18 October – 19 December

     

    		  

    Mid Season

     

    19 April – 2 July
    ——-
    11 September – 17 October

     

    		  

    High Season

     

    1 April – 18 April (Easter)
    ——–
    3 July – 10 September
    ——–
    20 December – 4 January 2022 (Christmas)

     
     

    2 Nights

     

    		  

    3 Nights

     

    		  

    7 Nights

     

    		  

    3 Nights

     

    		  

    7 Nights

     

    		  

    3 Nights

     

    (Easter and Christmas only)

     

    		  

    7 Nights

     
     

    £445.00

     

    		  

    £575.00

     

    		 £1100.00 £680.00 £1362.00 £749.00 £1664.00

     

     

     

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    History

    Jersey has a wide range of defensive fortifications from prehistoric times through to the 1940s. In 1972, it was advised in a survey that the Bay of Arch Hirondelle required defences as it was vulnerable to French forces and a plan was proposed by General Conway in 1778 to build a series of 30 towers around the Island to deter French invasion. Archirondel, as it is known today, was the 22nd Tower to be built and is an evolution of the basic Conway design. Unusually, the Tower is predominantly built of rhyolite. This was due to Archirondel’s location which is relatively significant distance for the nearest source of granite.

    Archirondel Tower was built on an offshore rocky outcrop called La Roche Rondel with construction work beginning on 17 November 1792 and was completed by 1794 at a cost of £4,000. A year later, once professional soldiers of the Artillery and Engineers were introduced into the garrison, it was decided to build a permanent masonry gun platform around the base of the Tower. This was a prototype later used for La Rocco Tower in St Ouen’s Bay. It was this element which kept Archirondel Tower as significant defensive work long after the other Towers became redundant and remained effective unto the 1860s.

    In 1923 the Tower was purchased by the States of Jersey from the Crown for £200. It was left largely obsolete until German Occupying Forces extensively altered the Tower during the Second World War. The original stair was removed along with the floors being replaced with concrete. An opening was formed in the Tower at ground level and a small extension formed within the battery, which was modified so machine guns could be mounted. When you stay at the Tower you will also see above a steel blast door to enter the first floor the inscription of 1941 along with an image of a swastika.

    In March 2006, the Tower was registered as owned by the Public of the Island of Jersey and was initially fitted out as a basic coastal base until 2016, when it was decided to re-fit and modernise the interior to let out as a self catering property from summer 2019.

    To read more about Archirondel Tower, please see our conservation statement.

    Images can be found at Société Jeriasie

    Property FAQ

    How many does this property accommodate? Archirondel Tower Kempt sleeps up to four people in one double bed and two single sofa beds.

    Can I hire the property for one night? The minimum number of nights available for all of our properties (except for guided experience properties) is two nights. Please refer to the pricing section to see the number of nights available for each season.

    How do I collect the keys? Upon confirmation of your booking you will be sent a unique key code which opens the secure key box on site.

    Does the property have parking? Archirondel Tower is located within the picturesque bay of Archirondel on the east coast of Jersey. There is a public car park nearby.

    What are the bathroom facilities? There is a shower room with one toilet.

    What heating does the property have and does it have a fire? Archirondel Tower has electric heating throughout and a wood burning stove.  We provide sufficient wood for 1 fire only.

    Does the property have a washing machine or dishwasher? Archirondel Tower has a dishwasher but no washing machine.

    Are dogs allowed to stay in the property? Due to the narrow spiral staircase, the Tower is not suitable for dogs.

     

    Visiting Jersey

    How do I get to Jersey? Jersey is within easy reach of the UK and Europe by air and by sea. During the summer Jersey is served by over 40 departure points across the British Isles, including both scheduled and charter flights. From London airports there are up to 12 flights a day to the Island, with journey times of less than one hour. If you wish to bring your car to the Island, fast ferry services leave from the south coast of England and northern France from St Malo.

    Can I hire a car in Jersey? There are several companies you can hire a car from on the island, either before hand or on arrival. Guests staying with Jersey Heritage qualify for a discounted rate with Avis via their website when booked directly.

    Is it easy to travel around Jersey? The Island is nine miles long by five miles wide and is easy to navigate by car or bike. There is also a good public bus system which operates throughout the year.

    Can I hire a bike in Jersey? Jersey is great location for cycling with dedicated cycle tracks winding through the island, green lanes and open coast roads.

    What currency is accepted in Jersey? Both Jersey and Bank of England notes are legal tender in Jersey and circulate together, alongside the Guernsey pound and Scottish banknotes. Some retailers also accept Euros.

    Booking & Payment

    Can I pay a deposit? For our self-catering properties, if you are booking more than two months in advance of your stay we require a 50% deposit at the time of booking with the remainder due two months before your stay. If you are booking within two months of your stay then the full amount is due upon booking. For our coastal tower properties, the full amount is due upon booking and a refundable £200 cash deposit is due on collection of the keys.

    How can I pay? We accept Maestro (if issued in the UK), Visa, MasterCard and direct bank transfers.

    How do I pick up the key? For our self-catering properties keys are located in a secure key box at the property, for which you will be given a unique code to access. For coastal tower bookings, keys are collected from Jersey Museum, St Helier on the presentation of £200 cash deposit.

    How can I cancel or change my booking? If you wish to cancel or change your booking, please contact our Jersey Heritage Lets team. Please note our cancellation policy detailed on your terms and conditions.

    What time can I check-in and check-out? The earliest time you can check-in is 3.00pm with a check-out time of 10.00am.

    How far in advance do I need to book? We always recommend to book as far in advance as possible as some of our properties are very popular, especially in the summer months, however we often have availability at short notice. We often require at least two week’s notice for a booking but please contact our Jersey Heritage Lets team to enquire.

    Do you have to be a Jersey Heritage member to book a property? No, our properties are available to everyone; however Jersey Heritage members receive special discounts and promotions. To find out more, please go to our Jersey Heritage members’ page.

    What happens if I can’t get to Jersey due to bad weather or I am delayed?  If for any reason you cannot travel to Jersey or your booking dates are affected by weather then please call the Jersey Heritage Lets Team as soon as possible. We do not operate a cancellation insurance policy and you will be responsible for any travel and accommodation costs incurred by you in relation to the booking. Please refer to our cancellation policy in our terms and conditions.

    What should you bring?

    With any self-catering property there are the basics you need to bring with you. Whilst we provide tea, coffee, sugar, a small cleaning pack, logs for fires, bed linen, hairdryers, bathroom towels and kitchen cooking essentials there are a few recommendations for what to bring with you to make the most out of your stay.

    Beach bag – filled with everything you will need to make the most of Jersey’s beautiful beaches, including beach towels.

    Water sports – Jersey is well known as a water-sports paradise, so make sure you bring any surf boards, body boards and wetsuits.

    Binoculars – from the dolphin pods on the east coast to the world-renowned bird watching at La Mare au Seigneur in St Ouen’s Bay, and the views from the top of Radio Tower at Corbiere across to the iconic lighthouse, a pair of binoculars means you will never miss a thing!

    Wellington boots – Jersey is full of spectacular walks through fields and wooded valleys.

    Walking boots – With fifty miles of coastal cliff paths, and another fifty of green lanes walking boots are a must for the intrepid explorer, especially if you’re staying at Fort Leicester or La Crête Fort.

    A good book – essential for any holiday, but there is nothing better than a wood burning stove or fire tucked up with a good book and a cup of tea.

    Board games – for those family nights in you may want to bring a DVD with you if you’re staying at one of our self-catering properties or a good old fashioned board game to enjoy.

    Torches – although most of our properties have electrical lighting and torches, we do recommend bringing your own.

    Water – Due to their historical nature or coastal location, some of our properties do not have access to running water or are on a bore-hole system. You will be advised on booking if we recommend bringing water with you or buying it locally. Please note bore-hole water is suitable for cooking and bathing.

    Terms & Conditions

    Click here to download our Terms & Conditions.

    Click here to read our data protection policy.

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