St Aubin: Harbour, Trade and Railway Walk

If you’re looking for a hotel in St Aubin, you can choose where to stay based on several specific interests: harbour views, historic commercial architecture, the development of a fort, or the Railway Walk to La Corbière.

The Harbour Quarter and Trade History

The harbour quarter offers views of boats and water. The first pier was built in 1675. A row of merchants’ houses with large cellars was built afterwards, used to store imported goods. The cobbled High Street is lined with historic buildings; many were built using profits from the cod trade. Two aspects of the area’s trading history can be seen side by side: the storage of imported goods and the economic foundation for building historic structures.

Individual places are also connected with this history. St Magloire in St Aubin was once the home of Charles Robin, a leading merchant in the Newfoundland cod trade. Robin’s connection gives the history of the cod trade a specific name and a former home.

Jacksons Yacht Services is housed in a late-18th-century sail loft that continues to serve its original purpose. The village’s history therefore includes both Charles Robin’s former trading career and a historic commercial building whose original function remains unchanged.

St Aubin’s Fort and the Railway Walk

The development of St Aubin’s Fort began in the 16th century with a defensive tower intended to protect the island against a possible invasion. In the 17th century, during the English Civil War, the tower was repaired and surrounded by gun emplacements. As a fort, the site was intended to protect ships in St Aubin’s harbour. Its history therefore spans several stages: from the defensive tower to its repairs and the defence of the harbour. St Aubin’s Fort dates from the 17th century; it is described as accessible at low tide. Check the tides if you’re planning a visit.

The Railway Walk follows the former railway line from St Aubin to La Corbière for four miles. Railway relics can be found along the route; the railway was last used during the Occupation. The Railway Walk is described as being more suitable for electric wheelchairs and pushchairs. This makes it different from the historic buildings and fort: it is a longer route along a former railway line.

Travel Planning Tips

The information about the route and the fort is relevant in different ways when planning your trip. For the Railway Walk, consider the four-mile distance and its described suitability for electric wheelchairs and pushchairs. For the fort, access at low tide is noted. If you’re planning to visit the fort, check the tides; when deciding whether to take the Railway Walk, you can factor in its described suitability. This lets you weigh the historic sites and the route according to your own interests, without treating them as the same kind of visitor experience.

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