Ladder Hill
| Ladder Hill | |||
| St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 The view down Jacob's Ladder into Jamestown | |||
| St Helena | |||
| Summit: | 879 feet 15°55’32"S, 5°43’9"W | ||
Ladder Hill on the island of St Helena is the hill rising steeply on the west side of the gorge within which the island's capital Jamestown is built. It rises to 879 feet above sea level, and up the cliff to the hilltop runs a remarkable stone-cut set of steps; Jacob's Ladder.
The suburb of Half Tree Hollow has developed on the top of the hill, joined to the capital by Jacob's Ladder.
Jacob's Ladder
In 1829, the St Helena Railway Company built an inclined-plane cableway on the island.[1] It was intended to lift supplies from the port at Jamestown up to Ladder Hill Fort.[2]
Later the railway was removed and in 1871 the Royal Engineers rebuilt the route as a long, steep staircase, now known as 'Jacob's Ladder'.[3] It is designated as a Grade I listed feature.[4]
The staircase is now lit and can be used to climb up Ladder Hill to Half Tree Hollow. The staircase consists of 699 steps and ascends 600 feet. A timed run takes place up Jacob's Ladder every year, with people coming from around the world to take part.
References
- ↑ "Views of St Helena". http://janus.lib.cam.ac.uk/db/node.xsp?id=EAD%2FGBR%2F0115%2FY30482B. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
- ↑ "St Helena: Atlantic exile". The Independent. 17 March 2002. http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/africa/st-helena-atlantic-exile-750229.html. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
- ↑ Geocaching GC1G8QB: 'Jacob's Ladder' (Multi-cache) on St Helena
- ↑ Land Planning and Development Control Ordinance Appendix 3: Listed Buildings