A walk through history

On a hot day one recent weekend we accompanied contract archeaologist Ben Jeffs and his guide Ed Thorpe down Thompson's Valley to map the historical features of the valley. This valley was considered by the English commander-in-chief with the responsibility of guarding Napoleon as a potential invasion route for French forces if they attempted a rescue of their charismatic leader. To stop this a coastal wall and two cannon batteries were built, together with barracks, cookhouse, lavatory, officers quarters and all the other infrastructure the military consider necessary in such situations. All this in one of the more remote parts of the island. While the others rested in the shade of the sea cliffs, Ed, Ben and Mike mapped these features by carrying heavy Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment up steep, unstable and HOT hillsides to places with names such as Eagle's Eyrie. Mike and Ed didn't take any water and so were a tad thirsty when they returned to the others two hours later. Then the long walk back up the hill began.

Ben and Ed and the heavy GPS on Eagle's Eyrie cannon battery site

Ben demonstrating one way of getting down steep unstable slopes. All very good, except for the good drop into the sea over on the right

Inside a circular (Martello) tower

A cannonade guards the entrance to Thompson's Valley. One of the few that still has parts of the wooden chassis

A wall. To keep the French out

Wishful thinking? Even in the 18th Century there were graffiti artists