 Fortifications and the castle development work began the following year but were stopped by the King in December 1688, influenced by Louvois and fear of English attacks.In the absence of these fortifications, the population of Cherbourg attended to the destruction of the three ships of Admiral Tourville at the end of the Battle of La Hogue.The commercial port dug at the current position of the "place Divette" between 1739 and 1742, was devastated in August 1758 by an English attack under the orders of General Bligh and Admiral Howe.