The following report on the defence of Jersey can be found in WO 30/77 at the National Archives in Kew. It was written on 18th June 1804. In February 2015 we travelled to Jersey and worked our way around the coast looking for the defences mentioned in this document, with varying success. The original report is typed in italics, with our comments in roman type. There were several blank pages in the report, so page numbers do not always follow on. Page 1 is the covering letter and page 10 is a list of the forces in the Island as at 1st February 1805. The original spelling has been kept.
The maps that were produced to go with the report have been added in the relevant places.
During the American Wars of Independence (1776-1783) the island was threatened by the French who were the allies of the rebels. General Seymour Conway, the Governor of Jersey, ordered a series of round towers to be built around the coast to defend the island. The first four were completed in 1779. The building programme was sped up after the French invasion of 1781.
The towers were entered by a door on the first floor, which was reached by a ladder which could be drawn inside if there was any danger. They tapered slightly from about 10.5 metres in diameter at the base to about 8.7 metres at the top. Inside, the tower was divided so that the magazine and storeroom were on the ground floor and the upper two floors served as accommodation for the militia – one officer and eight or ten men. The main armament was a heavy cannon set on a traversing platform on the roof.

Report by Major General Brownrigg

In support of the opinions that I have advanced that St Malo is the Port from whence this Island is most likely to be attacked, I shall beg leave to state what follows.
It seems to be the opinion of all Officers that Jersey has nothing to fear from the enemy but a surprise. The best mode, perhaps, for the french to effect this is to Quarter the force, they may judge necessary for the attempt in the Towns and Villages at the distance of 15 or 20 Miles from the Port of embarkation. To carry on this plan properly their armament should be make unknown to us, but this they could not do in Cherbourgh, Carteret, Portbail, Turville, St Germain or Granville; any great collection of boats in any of those Ports must be observed by our Cruizers. But at St Malo several hundreds of boats might be assembled unknown to us, let our Navy be as active as possible and there they might remain untill every circumstance favoured the views of the enemy; when the troops, for our invation, would be ordered to march from their several Quarters, embark and sail almost at the same moment.
I have never heard, Military men consider, Caen River dangerous to this place, but notwithstanding the distance etc etc, for the reasons above stated, I think it ought, to be viewed with a jealous eye.

Forces in the Island of Jersey (1st February 1805) - Corps Rank and file fit for duty

Royal Invalid Artillery	43
Royal Artillery 61	61
Royal Artificers 35	35
His Majesty’s 18th Regiment of Foot 2nd Battalion 783	783
His Majesty’s 57th Regiment of Foot 2nd Battalion 203	205
His Majesty’s 58th Regiment of Foot 2nd Battalion 474	474
His Majesty’s 69th Regiment of Foot 2nd Battalion 463	463
His Majesty’s 83rd Regiment of Foot 1st Battalion 597	597
His Majesty’s 3rd Royal Veteran Battalion 611	611
His Majesty’s 1st Garrison Battalion 107	107
	3377
Take off the Royal Veteran Battalion and Royal Invalid Artillery in Elizabeth Castle Forts and Towers and 200 Men for other Guards	854
Remains Regular moveable Force	2523
Island Militia according to last Return	1383
Royal Militia Artillery	258
Total Moveable Force	4164

Lieut Genl Brownrigg

Sir, Jersey 18th June 1804
In obedience to your General instructions of the 4th April 1804 I will, to the best of my abilities make a detailed report of the Island in which I have the honor to be Temporary Assistant Quarter Master General.
From the little practice I have had in this branch of His Majesty’s Service much of what I shall say may be inaccurate, not sufficiently digested and perhaps founded upon mistaken notions, for which I have to request your indulgence. Any advice will be received with gratitude and implicitly followed.
It is a matter of astonishment to all strangers, that this Island, an appendage of England or rather of British Monarch’s since the Conquest of William of Normandy, and within 16 miles of some part of the French Coast, has so long remained under the British Government, particularly when they see a number of extensive Bays, some such as Grouville, St Aubins, and St Ouens presenting themselves to those ports, of the enemy from whence there is most reason to expect an attack and sufficiently large to admit hundreds of boats to land in a line on a fine beach. But it is a gratifying reflection that the more you get acquainted with the advantages that surround this Island, the more confidence you have in its strengths. The great number of rocks, the power of the tides, the variety of currents, together with the fortifications on the coast must, ever, render this place of very difficult access to an invading army, and perhaps inaccessible if not surprised, and if defended by a strong Garrison Commanded by an experienced Officer.
The plan I propose to adopt in forming this report, is first to make a few observations, necessary to understand the different parts of it; describe the several accessible bays, the country in their vicinity, mention the french Ports from whence they are most likely to be attacked, and the resources which nature and art afford this country, to repel the enemy.
The Island is in general divided into small enclosures of, from one to three acres. The hedges or rather bands of these enclosures are about six feet high and ten feet thick, so that every field is a redoubt of considerable strength. Besides, the tops of these banks are covered with thorns, furze or brambles, so thick that they are mostly impenetrable to infantry.
The publick roads are of two kinds some 12 feet wide and others only eight feet wide. They are in general sunk below the level of the fields and on each side is a bank such as I have just mentioned.
There is also, on each side of the roads, a row of trees. And altho very passable for Artillery, the roads are in general very bad and so constructed that, there are few places where two field pieces could pass by one another.
Upon this coast spring tides happen two days after New and full moon, when it is high water at about eight o’clock and they run at the rate of about five Miles an Hour.
On the neighbouring french Coast, spring tides happen one day after new and full moon.
Neap tides are on the 11th and 25th of the moon’s age, when it is high water at about two o’clock and they run at the rate of about three Miles an hour.
Having made these few preliminary observations I will now proceed to describe the accessible Bays.

St Aubins Bay

This Bay which forms nearly a semicircle extends from East to West, that is from St Heliers Town to St Aubins about 3 Miles.