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Click on a number to learn a little more of the town's history |
Jamestown is a seaport and the capital of St Helena, The town was founded in 1659, when the English East India Company built a fort and established a garrison at the site on James Bay, naming it after the Duke of York (later James II)
Jamestown consists of little more than a single street, running up a narrow, deep-sided valley for a mile to a height of 500 feet (150 m).
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Looking down Jacob's Ladder onto Jamestown |
The main sources of revenue for St Helena are customs duties, wharfage, and the sale of postage stamps to philatelists.
Plantation House (The Governor's Residence) and the Cathedral of St. Paul's are 2 miles (3 km) south of the town.
Longwood, where Napoleon was exiled and died in 1821, is 2.5 miles (4 km) southwest and is in the custody of the Government of France.
One of Jamestown's most notable features is Jacob's Ladder, a long Inclined Plane that is reputed to "break your heart going up and break your neck coming down". It was constructed in 1829 to connect Jamestown to the garrison on Ladder Hill, and was used to haul ammunition. It is still used today, though not by the older residents!
Jacobs Ladder has 699 steps and is 900 ft in length.
If you're looking for somewhere to stay in Jamestown, why not try Wellington House?
| Key to Jamestown | |||
| 1 |
The Wharf: this is the only way on and off St Helena, and the place where all passengers and provisions are landed | 17 | HM Prison: built in 1827, and home to 2 prisoners. Serious crimes are judged in the UK and prisoners held there. |
| 2 |
Mundens: fortifications named after Sir Richard Munden, who recaptured the island from the Dutch in 1673. Used in the 1950's to house 3 political prisoners from Bahrain. | 18 | |
| 3 |
HM Customs House: Mid 18th Century barrelled vaulted building. | 19 | |
| 4 |
The Bond Store: originally known as Captain Wade's House, and still a private residence. | 20 | Public Gardens |
| 5 |
Barrelled vaulted building once used as a mortuary. | 21 | Anne's Place: Restaurant |
| 6 |
Steps leading to the Public Gardens, Castle Terrace and the Sister's Walk | 22 | Broadway House: Late 18th Century building housing the island museum (open Mon-Fri, 08:30 -16:00) |
| 7 |
The Swimming Pool | 23 | Wellington House Hotel: an early 18th Century Building |
| 8 |
War Memorial | 24 | Post Office: built in Victorian Times as an Officer's Mess. It sells Island Maps, and the Philatelic Bureau is located here. The Bureau sells stamps from St Helena, Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha. Opening hours: 08:30 - 12:30, 13:00 - 16:00. Closed all day Wednesday and Saturday afternoons. |
| 9 |
Town Gates: originally built around 1708, and rebuilt in 1989. The gates were originally closed at night. | 25 | Essex House: Dating from 1739, this was the private residence of Saul Solomon. Now used by the Legal and Lands Dept and the Social Services Dept. |
| 10 |
Mule Yard: Owners would tether their donkeys when in town. Contains numerous stones with faded inscriptions. | 26 | |
| 11 |
The Castle: originally built in 1659 when John Dutton became the first Governor. Much of the fabric was destroyed by termites, forcing reconstruction in the 1860's. Now used for the Government Savings Bank. | 27 | Consulate Hotel: mid-18th century building, with railway girders supporting the courtyard verandah. These were used following termite damage. |
| 12 |
Police Station: in emergency call 999, enquiries 2626 | 28 | Market: a prefabricated cast iron building shipped to the island in 1865 |
| 13 |
Court House | 29 | The Standard pub |
| 14 |
Library | 30 | The White Horse pub |
| 15 |
Memorial to Dr Arnold: "The Greatest Friend the island ever had" | ||
| 16 |
Jacobs Ladder: see above.
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