Doyle Column (Doyle Monument)

Doyle Column, St Martin, GY4

Doyle Column (also known as Doyle Monument) was erected in honour of Sir John Doyle, former Governor of the island, in recognition of his contribution to building a road network.

The original monument, built in 1820, was 96 feet (29 m) in height. It was built of granite and a staircase inside wound up to its summit. It had the simple inscription, "Doyle - Gratitude".

The monument was demolished by German engineers in 1944 during the Occupation when a gun battery was built close to the site and it blocked the 360 degree angle of fire, photographs showing the demolition were taken.

A second smaller monument, a granite column, was built in the same location, a small hill, at a cost of £1,400, and was completed in 1953.

In his essay L'Archipel de la Manche (The Archipelago of the [English] Channel) Victor Hugo wrote

Guernsey admires General Doyle. Guernsey has built and dedicated to her General a great column which overlooks the sea and is visible from the Casquets.