High Knoll Fort
High Knoll Fort is a
It looms over Jamestown, and was built to assist in defending the island against potential French invaders, being a redoubt for the islanders. The original fort was built in 1799 as a circular tower, sometimes referred to as a Martello tower, and along the lines of the tower at Simon's Town in South Africa.[1] The purpose of the tower was to protect the rear approaches to the battery at Ladder Hill.[1] The High Knoll tower was incorporated into the present structure, which dates from 1874, when the Royal Engineers rebuilt it.[2]
During the Second Boer War, Boer prisoners from South Africa were briefly incarcerated at the Fort. (In addition, there were prisoner-of-war camps at Broadbottom, Deadwood No. 1, Deadwood No.2, and Jamestown.[3]) Much later, the Fort served to quarantine imported chickens, sheep, and cattle. Then in the mid-1980s, NASA had a technician at the fort who ran a small tracking station.[4]
Before it was rebuilt in the late 19th century, High Knoll Fort was known as the Citadel.[5] It is the largest, most prominent, and most complete of the forts and military installations on the island. The Saint Helena National Trust have begun[when?] a project to restore the fort.[6] It is designated as a Grade I listed building.[2]
Citations
- ^ a b Clements (1999), p.115.
- ^ a b Land Planning and Development Control Ordinance Archived 30 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine Appendix 3: Listed Buildings
- ^ Boer War POW camps on St Helena[1][2]
- ^ James, Baldwin (May 2009). "A Journey Alone Around the World By Sail and By Foot - 20: Emperors and Astronomers". www.atomvoyages.com. Archived from the original on 19 August 2012.
- ^ "High Knoll Fort | Saint Helena Island Info: All about St Helena, in the South Atlantic Ocean". sainthelenaisland.info. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
- ^ Joshua, Matthew, ed. (10 December 2010). "HIGH KNOLL FORT "THE ROAD TO RESTORATION" : A QUICK Q & A with Jamie Roberts from the National Trust" (PDF). St. Helena Herald. Vol. X, no. 33. p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 July 2011.
References
- Clements, William H. (1998) Towers of Strength: Story of Martello Towers. (London: Pen & Sword). ISBN 978-0-85052-679-0.
External links
- St Helena Tourism
- Saint Helena Island Info
- Flickr View from inside the redoubt