Germans Occupy Guernsey
30th June 1940
The Germans landed in Guernsey and began their 5 year occupation of the islands. They built hundreds of bunkers across the island, one being a 60cm searchlight which was built at the end of the headland at Fort Hommet.
Building the Shrine
30th April 1965
Hubert Le Galloudec got permission from the States of Guernsey to clear out the searchlight bunker at Fort Hommet to make a seashell shrine. He wanted to create a place of peace where a place of war had once been. Hubert white washed the walls and drew his pictures selected his shells (yellow, brown & orange colours) and then stick them to the walls using poly filler. His wife Maisie spent the summer collecting seashells for the shrine and then knitting and reading outside while her husband worked.
Vandalism on the Shrine
3rd May 1971
By the mid-60’s the shrine was coming on well, but sadly on many occasions vandals caused damage. The States supplied a gate to stop visitors entering but more damage was done when stones were thrown through bars. Hubert worked tirelessly repairing the damage, trying to finish his project. But unfortunately the vandalism continued. The States eventually decided to close the bunker. A wall was constructed to block off the shrine and the door was closed for the last time.
The Shrine is abandoned for years
10th February 1993
Sadly Hubert never managed to complete his dream before he died on 26th October 1991, aged 67. Over the years, water damaged caused havoc with the shells on the floor. Rubbish and bricks were left to gather dust and the shrine lapsed into a state of decay.
The Shrine is rediscovered
6th April 2005
The Shrine Committee found the Shrine in this decayed state in 2005. Inspired by Hubert’s work, they enquired into restoring the shrine to its former glory and opening it to the public. Apart from a two year break, Andy, Chrissie, Ian and Mike have never stopped trying to add something new to the Fort Hommet bunker.
The Committee get the key and begin restoration
23rd June 2005
The Committee get the key to the Shrine and begin working on restoring the Shrine. The rubbish and bricks were removed, loose shells were collected and cleaned for re-use. Cobwebs were swept away and walls, ceilings and gates were re-painted. The damage on the outer walls was repaired to make it watertight and the cross was restored. Lights were fitted, statues replaced and countless hours of work were spent replacing the damaged shells on the wall.
The Statues Arrived
10th April 2008
Ian had a phone call from Mr George Timmer to say that he had brought back the three statues Jesus, Mary and Joseph from England. George also told Ian that Jesus and Mary were broken he had taken the statues to Mr Liam McKenna who could repair them.
Collecting The Statues For Repair
19th April 2008
Chrissie and Ian met George Timmer at Mr Liam McKenna house to collect the three statues. Chrissie, George Liam and Ian all helped each other to lift the statues from Liam workshop to George’s van. George tied up the small statues to the seats. Chrissie, George and Ian thanked Liam for repairing the statues who was more than happy offer any help in the future.
Collecting The Repaired Statues
13th June 2008
Andy and Ian went with George Timmer to pick up the three statues from Dave at Dowding Signs. Dave had painted over the statues where there had been white plaster which had been repaired. Then the statues were taken to the bunker and put in their position.
Opening Day
15th June 2008
The day the Le Galloudec Committee and Maisie have been waiting for three years. Just before that Father Anthony and Luke started the consecration service at 3pm Chrissie had put up a ribbon across the entrance gate into the shrine and Andy switch off the generator. Father Anthony and Luke started the consecration service which there was a reading and the taking of the bread and wine and everyone joining in the prayers, towards the end of the service Mike Garrett spoke on behalf of the Le Galloudec Committee and thanked Maisie Le Galloudec (husband of Hubert) for coming and being the guest of honour and thanked Helen Glencross of Culture and Leisure for all her help and support, Chrissie, Andy and Ian the Le Galloudec Committee for all the hard work that has taken three years to complete the project. Maisie walk over to the entrance of the bunker to cut the yellow ribbon Maisie’s favourite colour to open the Shrine to the public.
Opening a Second Room
17th May 2009
The Shrine Committee opened up the second room in the bunker as a picture gallery. The gallery is filled with newspaper articles, archive photos, the step-by-step process of the restoration and even translations of the old German writing on the walls.
Recording a CD
23rd March 2010
Chrissie Robert, one of the Shrine Committee members, recorded her voice on a CD (“Welcome to the Shrine”) to tell the history of the bunker and the work that has been done to restore it. The CD is played in the bunker as visitors are looking around, creating an immersive experience.
The Real Name of the Shrine is Discovered
14th September 2011
After finding an old press cutting and a recorded interview from Channel Television, the Shrine Committee discovered that the name of the Shrine was “The Shrine of the Sacred Heart”. It was decided to change the name from “The Le Galloudec Shrine”.
Recreating the Cross
10th January 2012
From January to Easter of 2012, the cross on the floor was recreated from a recently discovered photo of the original artwork. Over 1,300 shells were used to recreate the cross.
Installing a TV
25th March 2013
A small TV was installed in the gallery room of the bunker, showing a DVD of the old ITV interviews of the Shrine. Visitors were able to press play and watch the archive footage during their visit.
Handing Over the Shrine
5th August 2014
In 2014, the Shrine Committee took the decision to leave the running of the Shrine and handed it over to Festung Guernsey who have continued to help maintain the Shrine and open it to the public.
Andy Walker Takes Over for 2015
4th April 2015
Festung Guernsey’s Andy Walker takes on the openings at the shell shrine bunker for 2015 season.
Andy Walker Continues For 2016
2nd April 2016
Festung Guernsey’s Andy Walker continues opening of the shell shrine bunker for 2016 season.
Ian Joins Andy All Set For 2017
1st April 2017
Festung Guernsey’s Ian teams up with Andy Walker for the openings of the shell shrine bunker for 2017 season.
Andy Finds An Old Photograph
7th June 2017
Andy Le Galloudec found an old picture slide that was developed into a photograph of the shrine floor. There was a love heart shape or sacred heart in the centre of the cross, which we knew nothing about.
Working with Festung Guernsey
13th November 2017
The Shrine Committee got involved with the seashell shrine again, working alongside Festung Guernsey to maintain and raise public awareness of the Shrine.
Recreation of the Heart Begins
17th January 2018
We went to the Shrine and begun stencilling the shape of a heart. Took out the yellow shells and recreated the heart in orange seashells. This, we believe is the Sacred Heart.
Ian And Andy All Set For 2018
31st March 2018
Festung Guernsey’s Ian Blanchard and Andy Walker team up for the openings of the shell shrine bunker for 2018 season.
The TV gets upgraded!
12th June 2018
In 2018 we also received more ITV Channel TV reports from the Shrine, giving us 15 minutes of video footage to show at the bunker. It was decided that these videos should be shown in the best possible way, so a new 32-inch TV was installed in the bunker to replace the old one.
Our Website Goes Live!
2nd November 2018
With thanks to Delimited IT Solutions, who offered to provide their services free of charge after the directors visited the shrine one weekend, our website goes live!
Ian And Andy All Set For 2019
6th April 2019
Festung Guernsey’s Ian Blanchard and Andy Walker team up for the openings of the shell shrine bunker for 2019 season. This season, we have added a 2 minute video to the shell shrine TV 17 minutes of footage for visitors to view.
Metal Ceiling Re-Painted
30th August 2019
In 2019, the metal ceiling was re-painted in the shell shrine room of the bunker.
Ian And Andy All Set For 2020
4th April 2020
Festung Guernsey’s Ian Blanchard and Andy Walker team up for the openings of the shell shrine bunker for 2020 season. This season, we have added a 4 minute video on the history of the shell shrine to give 19 minutes of footage for the visitors to view.
Ian and Andy Set For 2021
3rd April 2021
Festung Guernsey’s Ian Blanchard and Andy Walker are all set for the openings of the shell shrine bunker for the 2021 season.
New Electric Candles
1st September 2021
With thanks to Smart Candles UK, we installed new flame movement electric candles.
Website Updated
26th November 2021
Our website has been updated with our 2022 dates, new photos and information.
Ian And Andy Set For 2022
2nd April 2022
Ian Blanchard and Festung Guernsey’s Andy Walker team up for the openings of the shell shrine bunker for 2022 season. This season we have added a 5min Festung Guernsey video to the shell shrine TV providing visitors with 24mins of footage.
15th Anniversary Of Shell Shrine
11th June 2023
Today marks The Shrine of the Sacred Heart 15th Anniversary (2008-2023) of reopening the restored bunker. To celebrate our 15th year we decided to have an open day to the public on Sunday 11th June from 2:00pm until 4.30pm to view the restoration from 2005 to present day and future plans.
Sad News
31st December 2023
“We announce the sad news that our dear friend and Shell Shrine committee member, Michael Garrett, has passed away. We just wanted to state that Mike’s persistence was key to the Shell Shrine’s restoration. From 2008-2014, Mike was our spokesman and made a valuable contribution to our team. In recent times, Mike had not been well but kept in touch and always wanted to know how the new committee and shell shrine was progressing. Mike’s visits to the shell shrine will be sadly missed. Mike will always be in our memories.” Ian Blanchard, Chrissie Robert, Andy Le Galloudec, Andy Walker.
Ian and Andy set for 2024
2nd April 2024
Ian Blanchard and Andy Walker team up for the openings of the shell shrine bunker for 2024 season. This season “Two Bunkers to Visit at Fort Hommet Headland” the Shell Shrine has joined together with the Casemate bunker to open every Tuesday & Saturday pm. April to October.
Record Visitors at the Shell Shrine
5th October 2024
Record 434 visitors to the Shell Shrine in 4 hours, as part of the Festung Guernsey’s Open Day at Fort Hommet. 4 bunkers and other areas of the headland to view were open plus anti-aircraft guns and other artillery, military vehicles and re-enactors dressed in uniform plus a children / family treasure hunt. Festung Guernsey were also given permission to fire one of their heavy guns for the first time.
New Website Launched
15th November 2024
The Shrine of the Sacred Heart’s website was first created in 2018, and we wanted to update it. Delimited IT Solutions’ management gave permission to move the existing website to a newer design. Endless emails from the Shell Shrine Committee to Delimited IT Solutions, adding new photos with captions, and a new video called History of the Shell Shrine were added – plus new information about the restoration and the future work at Fort Hommet headland. We believe, with Delimited IT Solutions, we have created the best website possible. It gives those who have not been able to visit the shell shrine, lots of information. We hope you like this website as much as us, and a massive thank you to the team at Delimited IT Solutions because this would not have been possible without you.
Ready for the 2025 Season
29th March 2025
Andy, Chrissie, and Ian are ready to open the Shell Shrine for the 2025 season, alongside the team of Soo, Gabby, Chris, Paul, Ken, and Shaun. In 2025, the Shell Shrine celebrates 20 years since our Committee first asked the States of Guernsey for permission to restore the bunker. During the winter, Chrissie and Ian carried out some repair work and replaced fallen seashells on a small section of one of the walls. Andy and Ian also repainted the bunker walls, starting from the entrance gate and continuing into the corridor; the steps leading into the two rooms have been refreshed with colours from the 1940s. A big thank you also goes to Delimited IT Solutions for helping us update our website with more information, new pictures (before and after restorations), and a new video titled “History of the Shell Shrine.”
The Shell Shrine is now Connected to Mains Electricity
29th March 2025
This year marks a major milestone: after 10 years of discussions, planning (in three stages), gaining permission, securing funding, digging over 700 metres of trenches, laying ducting, and installing a power cable, the Shell Shrine bunker is now officially connected to mains electricity. Today, for the start of the new season, the Shell Shrine bunker was opened with mains power for the very first time—no more generator setup! This is a dream come true for the Shrine Committee and the team. It marks a new era: entering the bunker and simply switching on the lights. To commemorate the occasion, Andy and Ian wanted someone special to flip the switches. They asked Chrissie if her grandson could do the honours, and she happily agreed. So, at 2:00pm on 29th March, young Raphi Wynne (aged 5) turned on the three switches, lighting up the Shell Shrine. Shortly after, Raphi was given a Shell Shrine postcard and had his photo taken in the centre of the Shrine to mark the moment.
Guernsey Press and En Voyage Articles
5th August 2025
Today, the Guernsey Press featured a brilliant double-page article on the Shrine of the Sacred Heart, written by Simon De La Rue. The piece included up-to-date photographs inside the German bunker, along with details about future plans for the Fort Hommet headland. On behalf of The Shrine of the Sacred Heart Committee, we would like to extend our sincere thanks to Simon De La Rue and the Guernsey Press for their support. We would also like to give a special thank you to Aurigny, who have kindly included a feature on the Shell Shrine in the August and September edition of their in-flight magazine En Voyage. To read the article and see photos, please visit the Gallery.
VIPs Visit to the Shell Shrine
24th August 2025
The shrine of the Sacred Heart Committee members Chrissie Robert Ian Blanchard & Andy Walker had a great pleasure to meet & greet Guernsey’s Lieutenant General Sir Richard Cripwell KBE CB and some guests to Fort Hommet. The Committee met the group at the top car park introduced to each other and walked the main pathway down towards the far end of the headland towards The Shrine of the Sacred Heart bunker. Before entering Andy gave a brief talk on the fortifications on the headland and Chrissie and Ian gave a quick talk on the shell shrine. On entering the bunker the guests were shown into the shrine room they listened to the audio of the “History of the Shell Shrine”. The Committee then explained some more information about when we first visited the shrine before the restoration began. Chrissie, Ian & Andy then had their photo taken with the Lieutenant General (see photo in picture gallery). Then our guests moved on to the second room the interpretation room. They were shown a video of an interview Hubert Le Galloudec (who created the shell shrine) filmed by ITV Channel series called Link-up from the 1970s on why & how he created the shrine and why he was going to give it up. This was followed by a second video on the start of the restoration of the shell shrine. The visiting group were shown the list of local volunteers and companies that have helped supported the Committee over the years to restore the shell shrine. The feedback from the visiting group was so positive and comments were written in our visitor’s book and thanked the Committee for all their work that had been done & for allowing them to visit. Once leaving the shell shrine bunker the Committee walked the group around the back of the headland up unto the top of the Martello tower to explore and to see the sights on Fort Hommet and Vazon bay to the visiting group they absolutely loved the view on such a lovey sunny day. We continued our walk back to the top car park and said our goodbyes.