Cherbourg

Cherbourg, a fortified seaport town and arsenal of France, in the department of Manche, at the head of a deep bay on the northern extremity of the peninsula of Cotentin, 70 miles S. of the Isle of Wight, and 230 WNW. of Paris. Begun by Vauban in 1687, the harbour-works and fortifications were pushed on by the great Napoleon, and were supposed to have been completed in 1858 by Napoleon III. at a total outlay of 200 million francs; but less than thirty years after, the French government resolved to spend 49 millions more on the construction of fresh works between 1883 and 1894. The stupendous digue or breakwater, inclosing a space of nearly 2000 acres, is described in the article BREAKWATER. In connection with its fortifications, this breakwater assumes an importance that attaches to no other work of the kind in existence. At the apex of the angle formed by the meeting of the two branches of the digue, there is a centre fort or battery, measuring 509 feet on the inner line of the parapet, which forms a flat semi-ellipse. The circular forts at the extremities of the breakwater are remarkably well placed for purposes of defence. Behind the centre battery there is an elliptical tower, measuring 225 feet on the major, and 123 feet on the minor axis. The entrances to the harbour are round the ends of the digue; and the passages are further defended by the fortifications of the Ile Pélée, and by the batteries of La Roche Chavaignac and Fort Querqueville. A series of coast redoubts, and the large fortifications of Les Flamands, du Homet, Digosville, and Nacqueville, are situated behind this outer zone of defence. 'The arsenal,' says Dr Russell, 'is inclosed by a continuous line of bastion and curtain of a very elevated profile, defended by outworks, wet and dry ditches, and by profuse batteries of the heaviest guns, either in casement or en barbette. Wherever you look, you fancy that on the spot you occupy are specially pointed dozens of the dull black eyes from their rigid lids of stone.' The town itself is commanded by La Roule on the heights behind. The commercial harbour of Cherbourg consists of an outer harbour, 786 feet in length by 654 feet wide, and of an inner basin, 1338 feet long by 416 feet wide. The great inner naval floating-harbour was inaugurated by the Emperor Napoleon in 1858, in presence of Queen Victoria. Entirely cut out of the solid rock, it is 20 acres in area, and is surrounded by building-slips and capacious graving-docks. It is calculated that the roads of Cherbourg cannot, on account of the small depth of the greater portion, shelter more than 25 or 30 sail of the line, and about as many frigates, at one time. The commercial port displays little activity, the principal exports being eggs, butter, and cattle. The town itself is insignificant, the streets being narrow and dirty; the only buildings of note are Trinity Church, founded by the English about 1450, the hôtel-de-ville, and the theatre. There are some manufactures of hosiery, chemicals, lace, and leather, sugar and salt refineries, sawing and flour mills; but the industrial energies of the great bulk of the population are absorbed in the arsenal and dockyards. Cherbourg is a very ancient place; originally Casaris Burgum, in the 11th century it was known under the name of Carusbur. In 1758 Cherbourg was taken by the English, who destroyed the naval and military works, and levied a contribution on the town. Pop. (1872) 34,785; (1891) 38,540; or 54,371 with the three suburbs of Tourlaville, Octeville, and Equeurdreville.