The Castle (Saint Helena)
Encyclopedia
The Castle is the main government buildings on the island of Saint Helena
, located in the historic centre of the capital Jamestown
, close to James Bay and the old town gate. The oldest parts of the complex date to 1710 but it was largely reconstructed in the 1860s because of termite
damage. It does not have the appearance of a typical castle
, though historically the site was part of the East India Company
fortifications of Jamestown.
Originally the residence of the Governor of Saint Helena
, it is today the location of many of the island’s administrative offices, including the Chief Secretary’s. Also part of the complex is Jamestown’s police station, a library, the island’s main courthouse and public gardens. Other buildings in Jamestown are also used to house government-related offices and functions. It is a Grade I Listed building.
Saint Helena
Saint Helena , named after St Helena of Constantinople, is an island of volcanic origin in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is part of the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha which also includes Ascension Island and the islands of Tristan da Cunha...
, located in the historic centre of the capital Jamestown
Jamestown, Saint Helena
Jamestown is the capital and historic chief settlement of the island of Saint Helena, in the South Atlantic Ocean. Located on the island's north-western coast, it is the island's port, with facilities for unloading goods delivered to the island, and the centre of the island's road and...
, close to James Bay and the old town gate. The oldest parts of the complex date to 1710 but it was largely reconstructed in the 1860s because of termite
Termite
Termites are a group of eusocial insects that, until recently, were classified at the taxonomic rank of order Isoptera , but are now accepted as the epifamily Termitoidae, of the cockroach order Blattodea...
damage. It does not have the appearance of a typical castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
, though historically the site was part of the East India Company
East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
fortifications of Jamestown.
Originally the residence of the Governor of Saint Helena
Governor of Saint Helena
The Governor of Saint Helena is the representative of the British monarch in the United Kingdom's overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha...
, it is today the location of many of the island’s administrative offices, including the Chief Secretary’s. Also part of the complex is Jamestown’s police station, a library, the island’s main courthouse and public gardens. Other buildings in Jamestown are also used to house government-related offices and functions. It is a Grade I Listed building.
See also
- St James churchSt James, JamestownSaint James' Church is a church on the island of Saint Helena and is part of the Anglican Diocese of Saint Helena. It is situated in the capital Jamestown and is the oldest Anglican Church in the southern hemisphere; the present building was put up in 1774....
- History of Saint HelenaHistory of Saint HelenaSaint Helena has a history of over 500 years since it was first discovered as an uninhabited island by the Portuguese in 1502. Claiming to be Britain’s second oldest colony, this is one of the most isolated islands in the world and was for several centuries of vital strategic importance to ships...