Castle considered for new hostel

The construction of Elizabeth Castle began in the 1550s

Jersey's Tourism Department is looking at Elizabeth Castle as a possible site for a youth hostel, it has said.

The Youth Hostel Association (YHA) had opened its first hostel in the island at Haute de la Garenne in 2004 after a £2.25m revamp.

The YHA said it would not be returning to the building, which is at the centre of allegations of child abuse before it was taken over by the association.

Tourism bosses are working with the YHA to find suitable sites.

Saint's home

Haut de la Garenne, in the St Martin parish, was previously a children's home.

It opened in 1867 as the Jersey Industrial School for "young people of the lower classes of society and neglected children".

In 1900, its name was changed to Jersey Home for Boys, before undergoing another name change in 1960 to Haut de la Garenne.

Garenne means rabbit warren.

It closed as a children's home in 1986.

Before its refurbishment, the building also featured as a police station in the TV series Bergerac.

Work began on building Elizabeth Castle during the 1550s.

It was reputed to be the home at one point for St Helier, the island's patron saint, and was bought by the States of Jersey in 1923.