Gun Hill Signal Station
Encyclopedia
Gun Hill Signal Station, St. George is the largest and most important of the military outposts in Barbados
, with military associations from at least 1697. In the Militia Act of that year, when it was known as Briggs Hill
, it was named as one of the four points where guns were to be placed to give alarm in the event of an invasion, so it is likely that the name Gun Hill goes back nearly 300 years.
When the signal stations were established in 1818–1819, it became the key link in the chain, passing signals from Highgate
east to Moncrieffe on the cliffs of the St. John/St. Philip border, and north to the Cotton Tower, Grenade Hall and Dover Fort (and vice versa). But Gun Hill was also the typical 'Hill Station' of the tropics, used as a convalescent station for the troops, and for evacuation of the Garrison
in times of epidemics of yellow fever
and once (in 1854) of cholera
. There was only a small barrack, and a mass evacuations went under canvas.
After the decline of the signal stations, the Gun Hill buildings fell into complete disrepair. They include the station with its prominent tower, a kitchen, magazine, sentry box and ruined barracks. On the hillside below is the famous LION. In 1981 the Barbados National Trust
leased the station from the government and restored it with the help of a government grant.
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
, with military associations from at least 1697. In the Militia Act of that year, when it was known as Briggs Hill
Briggs Hill
Briggs Hill is a conspicuous ice-free hill, high, standing on the south side of Ferrar Glacier between Descent Glacier and Overflow Glacier in Victoria Land. It was charted by the British Antarctic Expedition, 1910–13, under Scott, and named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names for...
, it was named as one of the four points where guns were to be placed to give alarm in the event of an invasion, so it is likely that the name Gun Hill goes back nearly 300 years.
When the signal stations were established in 1818–1819, it became the key link in the chain, passing signals from Highgate
Highgate
Highgate is an area of North London on the north-eastern corner of Hampstead Heath.Highgate is one of the most expensive London suburbs in which to live. It has an active conservation body, the Highgate Society, to protect its character....
east to Moncrieffe on the cliffs of the St. John/St. Philip border, and north to the Cotton Tower, Grenade Hall and Dover Fort (and vice versa). But Gun Hill was also the typical 'Hill Station' of the tropics, used as a convalescent station for the troops, and for evacuation of the Garrison
Garrison
Garrison is the collective term for a body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, but now often simply using it as a home base....
in times of epidemics of yellow fever
Yellow fever
Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease. The virus is a 40 to 50 nm enveloped RNA virus with positive sense of the Flaviviridae family....
and once (in 1854) of cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
. There was only a small barrack, and a mass evacuations went under canvas.
After the decline of the signal stations, the Gun Hill buildings fell into complete disrepair. They include the station with its prominent tower, a kitchen, magazine, sentry box and ruined barracks. On the hillside below is the famous LION. In 1981 the Barbados National Trust
Barbados National Trust
The Barbados National Trust, founded in 1960, is an organisation which works to preserve and protect the natural and artistic heritage of Barbados and to increase public awareness of Barbados' historic and architectural treasures...
leased the station from the government and restored it with the help of a government grant.