Gorey

Sitting on the east coast of Jersey, and about 14 miles from the coast of Normandy, the small village of Gorey was for hundreds of years the front line of defence between the British Isles and its enemy, the French.

Archaeologist Ben Robinson follows this small village’s history as an important military location, from the castle built in the 1200s to the experiences of the village in the Second World War, when occupied by Hitler’s army.

Ben goes in search of archaeological reminders of the occupation and meets local resident Jason Meads, who has a subterranean gun tower literally in his back yard. He meets sisters Dorothy and Renee, who both recount their stories of what life was like as children living alongside the German army and hears that even the church made sacrifices to help the community that lacked basic clothing and adequate food.

Finally, Ben meets local historian Phillip Marett, who takes him to the gun tower from where the occupying soldiers could have watched the Battle of Normandy. He also hears a first-hand recollection of the liberation of the island.