Listed building or place reference: GR0113 Historic site reference Property Seymour Tower Road name La Grande Route des Sablons Parish Grouville LocationView on map Grade Listed Building Grade 1 Category Anglo-Jersey military structure Statement of significance Seymour Tower is an exceptional example of Jersey's unique form of coastal defence tower, developed by Sir Henry Seymour Conway. It is one of twenty-three Conway towers built between 1778 and 1801 - the only one to have a square tower and one of only three to be constructed with an integral gun battery. Context n/a External Description The tower is square and built of regular squared and well-tooled blocks of granite with dressed granite around openings. The tower walls taper externally. The tower is arranged on four levels. The entrance door is raised above head height (originally reached by removable ladder). There is a finely carved keystone 'GR 1782' above which is a window opening with original iron bars in situ. A pair of timber doors opens inward into a small well area, from which an opening shows through into the magazine store below. There is a step up into the entrance level. The walls of the room are roughly squared granite with openings dressed with granite lintels and brick. There is a circuit of loopholes around the room designed for musketeers, above which are small windows. There is a fireplace in the southwest corner of the room, with an arched cast iron inset and mortar surround with late twentieth century graffiti. There is an exposed joist timber ceiling that appears to be a later replacement with the original main beam surviving (from which hang timber storage racks). Access to the upper level is via a modern timber companionway stair. The room has a brick floor with thin mortar finish, set into which is a hatchway. The wooden hatch door appears to be early and was repaired using a plank from a German WWII box - marked 'Reichs…' The hatchway provides access to magazine stores at lower basement level. Wooden steps from the hatchway lead down into a 'lobby' area from which access is gained to a pair of magazine stores. The 'lobby' has granite walls and a brick ceiling. An original timber beam runs the length of this space (from which hangs an historic wrought iron lamp hook) At the east end of the 'lobby' is an opening at head height, leading through to a well by the entrance doors into the tower. There is a pair of brick vaulted magazine stores. Both stores are lined with brick with a pair of baffled ventilation slots with offset ducts to the exterior of the tower. The west magazine has a heavy timber door with full width iron strap hinges and sturdy iron bolt. There is an earthen floor. There are two sets of initials carved into the inside of the doorframe. The east magazine has a heavy timber door with later bronze door fittings. There is a timber plank floor laid on sand. The upper level has walls of roughly squared granite with openings dressed with granite lintels and brick. There is a circuit of loopholes around the room designed for musketeers, above which are small windows. There is a fireplace in the northwest corner of the room - blocked with modern bricks. There is a wooden plank floor and exposed joist ceiling with a pair of iron beams supporting the roof platform. Access to roof level is via a modern timber companionway stair. The stair up to the roof platform climbs into a small wooden cabin (now encased in fibreglass). The timbers of the cabin are covered with dates and the names of people who have visited the tower since the beginning of the twentieth century. There is a granite parapet with mortar capping around the top of the tower. In the north east corner is a taller loop-holed niche set into the width of the parapet, overlooking the battery below. In the southeast corner is a rendered chimneystack with a Fareham ware pot. In the southwest corner is a rendered chimneystack without a pot. Between the stacks is a modern enclosure covering a water tank. On the east side of the base of the tower is a battery. The battery has a D-shaped plan, low encircling defensive wall of squared granite with dressed granite copings, and granite paving. The north wall of the battery continues alongside the tower to provide access to the tower entrance and steps down onto the rocky islet. A granite step at the entrance to the battery is carved with a North orientation line. Internal Description n/a Special interest Archaeological,Architectural,Historical For the best experience, you will need to use Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge web browser to view the map Back to detail page Back to search results Documents Terms and conditions for downloading documents The plans, drawings and material provided have been submitted to the Chief Officer for permissions in respect of the Planning and Building (Jersey) Law 2002. They are protected by copyright under the Intellectual Property (Unregistered Rights) (Jersey) Law 2011 (Article 70 of the 2011 Law). The material is being provided to make available for public inspection the Register of Planning and Building Applications and must not be used for other purposes without the prior permission of the copyright owner.The Minister for the Environment makes every effort to maintain the accuracy of the information on this website but cannot accept responsibility for and disclaims all responsibility for any loss or damage which may arise from the use of the information provided. For applications approved during or after July 2016 approved documents are available from within the ‘Approved Documents’ section. For applications approved from 15 May 2012 - July 2016 approved documents are available under the ‘Plans’ section. I understand and agree with the terms and conditions. Date Description Size 19/02/2013 ILAP Notices Schedule Listed Building Grade 1 939.79 KB Back to search results
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