Admiral Lord James de Saumarez Memorial
A new memorial for Guernsey's local naval
hero
Admiral Lord James de Saumarez was born in St Peter Port, Guernsey on 11th March
1757 and died in his beloved island in 1836 after a long and distinguished career in the Royal Navy with is
contemporary Hopratio Nelson. His naval engagements included the Battle of the Nile, Battle of Alerziras, Defender
of the Channel Islands, Bombardment of Granville and later the Baltic Mission where he defended Sweden against the
French from 1807 to 1812. Read more about this great Britsih Admiral here
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The States of Guernsey built a memorial to celebrate and remember his achievements with money
raised through public subscription. The foundation stone for the monument was laid on 1 August
1876.
The 99 foot high granite memorial in Delancey Park was completed on 11 October 1877 and
officially unveiled on 1 August 1878, the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Nile where de
Saumarez had been second in command.
On 7 December 1943 all except the base was demolished as the German Forces occupying the
Channel Islands levelled many of the island's monuments and structures to clear fields of fire
for their artillery batteries.
In 1954, after a debate spanning more than ten years, the States of Guernsey decided not to
replace the monument and instead place the bronze plaques, which had adorned the memorial, in the
outer bailey of Castle Cornet.
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| In 1874. Courtesy of Guernsey Museum & Galleries |
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However, in 2009 a charitable organisation, the Admiral de Saumarez Trust, was set up to support community and
island wide regeneration projects starting with Delancey Park, including the de Saumarez monument.
Guernsey's Lieutenant Governor, Sir Fabian Malbon is one of the patrons of the Trust, he said: "Admiral James de
Saumarez was one of the remarkable figures in Guernsey's history. After an exceptional career in the Royal Navy, he
spent 25 years in retirement engaged in charitable work for the Island community and good works abroad.
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"Honouring him by creating a charitable initiative and reconstructing the monument is an
appropriate way of bringing some of Guernsey's history back to life especially for young
islanders."
The new monument will feature the original bronze plaques which will be moved back from Castle
Cornet to the park and is being designed by architects Cresswell, Cuttle & Dyke.
Architect Andrew Dyke said "the proposed design will be a spirit of the original" adding, "it
will be lit up with lights representing the constellations and stars with which the Admiral would
have been very familiar for navigation purposes.
"The monument will be clearly visible from many parts of the Island and from the Northern and
Eastern approaches."
Though still subject to planning permission the Trust hope work on the monument will be
completed in time for Liberation Day 2010.
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The proposed replacement memorial |
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Bronze Plaques
There were four plaques, one on each side of the memorial. One was a dedication of
the memorial: "To James first Baron de Saumarez of Guernsey GCB, KS; DCL, Admiral of
the Red, General of Marines, b.1757 d.1836. This memorial is erected by his fellow
countrymen as a tribute of admiration to his heroism and Christian character.
1878."
The others are a head and shoulders relief of Lord de Saumarez, a frieze of the action
off the west coast and a list of victories at sea during his career from 1778 to 1801.
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| Frieze of Crescent's escape from a French fleet |
Saumarez and the Crescent |
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