Plantation House (Saint Helena)
Encyclopedia
Plantation
House is the official residence of the Governor of Saint Helena
. It is located 2 miles to the south of the capital, Jamestown
, on the island of Saint Helena
.
, as a "country" or summer residence for the Governor. The Company governed the island until 1834, when it became a crown colony
, although Governors of the island have continued to use the property since. Administration of the island is generally carried out from Jamestown, notably at The Castle
(historically the Governor's residence which then became the "town" residence). An explanation for the location of the Governor's official residence is the less arid climate and terrain found further inland, compared to in James Valley. The (summer) residence of the Lieutenant Governor was Longwood House
, also inland from Jamestown.
The house was extended most dramatically in 1816 and considerable alterations, mostly external, were made in 1960. The roof was originally slate
but, like with most buildings on the island, this has been replaced with metal sheeting. It is designated as a Grade I listed building. Tours of the State Rooms are available by appointment.
, named Jonathan
, resides in the grounds and belongs to the government of Saint Helena. He potentially could also be the last living example of his species. The grounds are home to at least five giant tortoises and are open to visitors at any time.
and nearby is St Paul's Cathedral
, also a Grade I listed building.
Plantation (settlement or colony)
Plantation was an early method of colonization in which settlers were "planted" abroad in order to establish a permanent or semi-permanent colonial base. Such plantations were also frequently intended to promote Western culture and Christianity among nearby indigenous peoples, as can be seen in the...
House is the official 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 located 2 miles to the south 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...
, on the island of Saint Helena
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...
.
History
The house was built 1791-2 by the East India CompanyEast 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...
, as a "country" or summer residence for the Governor. The Company governed the island until 1834, when it became a crown colony
Crown colony
A Crown colony, also known in the 17th century as royal colony, was a type of colonial administration of the English and later British Empire....
, although Governors of the island have continued to use the property since. Administration of the island is generally carried out from Jamestown, notably at The Castle
The Castle (Saint Helena)
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...
(historically the Governor's residence which then became the "town" residence). An explanation for the location of the Governor's official residence is the less arid climate and terrain found further inland, compared to in James Valley. The (summer) residence of the Lieutenant Governor was Longwood House
Longwood House
Longwood House was the residence of Napoleon I during his exile on the island of Saint Helena, from 10 December 1815 until his death on 5 May 1821. It is situated on a windswept plain some from Jamestown. Formerly the summer residence of the Lieutenant Governor, it was converted for the use of...
, also inland from Jamestown.
The house was extended most dramatically in 1816 and considerable alterations, mostly external, were made in 1960. The roof was originally slate
Slate
Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism. The result is a foliated rock in which the foliation may not correspond to the original sedimentary layering...
but, like with most buildings on the island, this has been replaced with metal sheeting. It is designated as a Grade I listed building. Tours of the State Rooms are available by appointment.
Tortoises
Possibly the world's oldest living tortoiseTortoise
Tortoises are a family of land-dwelling reptiles of the order of turtles . Like their marine cousins, the sea turtles, tortoises are shielded from predators by a shell. The top part of the shell is the carapace, the underside is the plastron, and the two are connected by the bridge. The tortoise...
, named Jonathan
Jonathan (tortoise)
Jonathan is a Seychelles giant tortoise that lives on the island of Saint Helena.Jonathan was brought to the island from the Seychelles in 1882, along with three other tortoises at about 50 years of age. He was named in the 1930s by Governor Sir Spencer Davis...
, resides in the grounds and belongs to the government of Saint Helena. He potentially could also be the last living example of his species. The grounds are home to at least five giant tortoises and are open to visitors at any time.
Neighbourhood
The House is situated in the district of St Paul'sSaint Paul's, Saint Helena
St. Paul's is a dispersed area of settlement in the central part of the island of Saint Helena, and is a district of the island. In 2008 the district had a population of 795, compared to a population of 908 in 1998...
and nearby is St Paul's Cathedral
Saint Paul's Cathedral (Saint Helena)
Saint Paul's Cathedral is a cathedral church on the island of Saint Helena and is part of the Anglican Diocese of Saint Helena. It is located approximately 2 miles south of Jamestown in the district of St Paul's....
, also a Grade I listed building.
External links
- St Helena Tourism Plantation House
- Saint Helena government The Tortoises at Plantation House
- Flickr Plantation House in 2010
- Plantation House with the old Country Church behind, c. 1812
