Walking Tour

The Battle of Jersey

Walk the streets of St Helier where the only Revolutionary War ground combat on British soil took place on 6 January 1781. From the museum that tells the story to the square where musket balls struck the gilded statue of George II, and the island fortress that refused to surrender.

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3 stops 2.9 km ~1.3 hours (incl. visits)
1

Jersey Museum, St Helier

Holds Battle of Jersey paintings and permanent exhibition. The 'Being Jersey' gallery covers the 1781 battle. Two contemporary paintings complement Copley's Death of Major Peirson at Tate Britain: an Edward Francis Burney oil (1781) and a discovered P. Wright version (1796) used for the famous engraving.

Begin at the free Jersey Museum, where the 'Being Jersey' exhibition and two contemporary battle paintings set the scene. The museum's P. Wright painting was the reference copy for the famous engraving of Copley's masterpiece at Tate Britain.

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Directions to next stop

  1. Head southeast
  2. Turn left onto Castle Street, B92
  3. Continue straight onto Castle Street, B92
  4. Turn right onto St. Andrew's Place
  5. Turn right onto Charing Cross
  6. Keep left onto King Street
  7. ... and 3 more steps

Distance: 0.6 km · Walk: 7 min

2

Royal Square, St Helier (Battle of Jersey)

Site of the Battle of Jersey (6 January 1781) -- the only Revolutionary War ground combat on British soil. French troops under the Baron de Rullecourt were defeated by Major Francis Peirson's counterattack. Peirson was killed aged 24 but immortalised in Copley's famous painting at Tate Britain. The gilded statue of George II still bears musket ball marks from the battle.

Walk to the Royal Square where the battle was decided. The French took defensive positions around the gilded George II statue -- which still bears hidden musket ball marks from the fighting. Major Peirson was killed nearby, and within fifteen minutes the French were overwhelmed. The Peirson pub on the corner commemorates the 24-year-old hero.

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Directions to next stop

  1. Head south on Le Geyt Street
  2. Turn right onto Union Street, B76
  3. Turn left onto Old Street
  4. Turn left
  5. Turn left onto York Street, B72
  6. Turn right onto Seale Street
  7. ... and 11 more steps

Distance: 2.4 km · Walk: 28 min

3

Elizabeth Castle, Jersey

The stronghold that saved Jersey during the 1781 French invasion. Captain Mulcaster refused the French demand to surrender and opened fire, buying time for Major Peirson's counterattack. Jersey Heritage property on a tidal island with 1781 living history every Sunday, musket and cannon firing, and Jersey Militia exhibitions.

End at Elizabeth Castle, the tidal island fortress whose refusal to surrender saved the island. Captain Mulcaster's defiance gave Peirson time to organise the counterattack. On Sundays, living history interpreters recreate the 1781 garrison with musket and cannon firing. Take the causeway at low tide or the amphibious Castle Ferry.

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