In 1829, the Saint Helena Railway Company built an inclined-plane cableway on 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...

. It was intended to lift supplies from the port and capital of 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...

 up to Ladder Hill Fort. It was rebuilt as a long, steep staircase, by the Royal Engineers

Royal Engineers

The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....

 in 1871 now known as Jacob’s Ladder. It is designated as a Grade I listed feature.

The staircase is now lit and can be used to climb up Ladder Hill, where the suburb of Half Tree Hollow

Half Tree Hollow

Half Tree Hollow is the "suburb" of Jamestown, Saint Helena, a British island in the South Atlantic. The village is built at the top of Jacob's Ladder, a hillside stairway connecting it with Jamestown...

has developed. The staircase consists of 699 steps and ascends 183 metres (600.4 ft). A timed run takes place up Jacob's Ladder every year, with people coming from around the world to take part.