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Kempt Tower

Our flagship property in the heart of St Ouen’s Bay accommodating up to 12 guests

Sleeps 12

2 nights from £694, equivalent to £29 pp per night

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Kempt Tower is our most recently converted property and is already popular for extended family holidays in Jersey. This historic Martello Tower has been restored with all modern conveniences and fully equipped as a self-catering property.

Kempt Tower in St Ouen’s Bay on the west coast of the Island was built in 1834 as a defensive tower against possible French invasion. Constructed with Jersey granite, the ground floor was used to store weapons and ammunition whilst the upper floor housed ten troops and their commanding officer.

The Tower, which was restored in 2014 and is situated in Jersey’s National Park, has the best of both worlds, with being a stone’s throw from the beach below but with some of the Island’s top restaurants only a short walk away. If you’re looking for the ultimate holiday for the whole family there are several surf schools nearby and also picturesque paths through Jersey’s wetland nature reserve and sand dunes.

Sleeping up to 12 guests in an open plan living space, this property is a jewel within the bay of St Ouen. It has a fully equipped kitchen, comfortable lounge area with flat screen TV with Freesat, spacious dining area and a fantastic roof terrace with 360 degree views across the whole of the bay and beyond.

The tower is available to hire throughout the year and is even great for a cosy winter’s evening with a wood burning stove or after a long summer day spent in the surf or exploring the surrounding wetlands and dunes. Enjoy evening drinks and a BBQ on the easily accessible roof terrace, watching the sun set over the breath-taking landscape.

    "A truly unique experience to be shared with family and friends."

    "We would highly recommend it for families or a group of adults…. A truly wonderful experience which will not be forgotten."

    "The tower is beautifully renovated so you can see the amazing stonework of the vaulted ceiling."

    Facilities in detail

    • 4 double beds with 4 single beds above each – linen & towels provided
    • 2 shower cubicles
    • Gas oven & cooker
    • Fridge
    • Dishwasher
    • Washing machine
    • Crockery & cutlery provided
    • Woodburning stove
    • Central heating
    • TV with FreeSat & DVD player
    • Roof terrace
    • Parking
    • Dogs allowed (supplement of £10 per dog)
    • Cot available on request (linen not provided)
    • Beach location
    • No disabled access
    • WiFi not available

    Pricing

    2021

    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
    £694.00 £980.00 £1715.00 £1155.00 £2200.00 £1210.00 £2550.00

     

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    History

    Jersey has a wide range of defensive fortifications from prehistoric times through to the 1940s. St Ouen’s Bay is one of the most exposed stretches of coast in Jersey and was historically vulnerable to invasion. The 18th century witnessed a period of increased political tension between Britain and France and because of its geographical location Jersey was more or less on a continuous war footing. King William IV enquired as to the state of Jersey’s coastal defences in 1831 and a report was commissioned from Lieutenant-Colonel Lewis, the Commanding Engineer in Jersey. It was found that new measures would be necessary alongside a chain of batteries and coastal defence towers (known as Conway towers) which already existed in locations along St Ouen’s Bay.

    The States of Jersey ordered that work commence on the construction of new coastal defences on 3rd March 1832 and a series of towers of the English Martello pattern was built. Kempt Tower, the largest example of a Martello constructed in Jersey, was built in 1834 to the standard English East Anglian cam-shaped pattern and designed to mount one 24-pounder gun and two 24-pounder short guns. The Tower is named after Sir James Kempt, the then Master of the Ordnance, who had been one of Wellington’s Generals at the Battle of Waterloo. Kempt Tower maintained a military role into the mid- 19th Century, as evidenced by a Royal Engineer’s Report in January 1848 which records three 32-pounder guns mounted at the Tower.

    After 1850, Jersey was no longer regarded as a fortress island as hostilities with France abated and the coastal towers declined into obsolescence. In June 1902, the War Department approached the States of Jersey to enquire if they would be interested in purchasing a number of coastal fortifications. A letter from the war office to the Royal Engineer Office in Jersey in February 1909 refers to Kempt Tower as no longer being War Department Property.

    Between 1985 and 2010, Kempt Tower was used as a visitor interpretation centre to explain the natural environment of St Ouen’s Bay.

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

    Ecology around Kempt Tower

    Kempt Tower is situated in the St Ouen’s Bay coastal plain. Although the tower itself is not thought to provide a wildlife habitat, the coastal strip between the sea wall and Five Mile Road provides a unique series of habitats where the blown sea spray encourages the growth of salt loving plants, many of which occur here and nowhere else in the Island including greater seastock, sea spurge and Alderney sea-lavender. Sea holly, childing pink and prickly salt-wort are here in far greater abundance than elsewhere, whilst yellow horned poppy, sea-kale and pyramidal orchids also occur in significant amounts. Jersey also lies on two migratory flyways and the shorelines are internationally important for over-wintering waterfowl. The National Trust for Jersey have a Wetland Centre 800m away along the Five Mile Road.

    Images can be found at Société Jeriasie

      Property FAQ
      How many does this property sleep? Kempt Tower sleeps up to twelve people in four double beds, with four single beds in an open plan bunk area alongside the living area. 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? Yes, there is parking opposite the tower in a public car park. What are the bathroom facilities? There are three toilets and two shower cubicles located on the ground floor. What heating does the property have and does it have a fire? Kempt Tower has electric heating throughout and a wood burning stove, for which logs are provided. Does the property have a washing machine or dishwasher? Kempt Tower has both a dishwasher and a washing machine. You will need to bring your own washing machine detergent, but dishwasher tabs are provided. Are dogs allowed to stay in the property? Yes, up to two dogs are allowed to stay at the property with an additional cost of £10 per dog. Is there an outside area? Kempt Tower has a large roof terrace which is accessed through an internal staircase. The Tower is also located within Jersey’s only national park and has beach access nearby, so you will never be short on outdoor space!

      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. We can recommend Avis for car hire. You will get the best rates by going on their website www.avisjersey.co.uk 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. 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 for self-catering properties. 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, soap, 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. DVD’s and 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

      Please click here to download our terms and conditions.

      Click here to read our data protection policy.

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