Plantation House, St Helena
| Plantation House | |
| St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Plantation House | |
| Location | |
| Location: | 15°57’20"S, 5°43’15"W |
| History | |
| Country house | |
| Information | |
| Owned by: | Government of St Helena |
Plantation House is the official residence of the Governor of St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. The house is on the island of St Helena, just over two miles south of the capital, Jamestown,
History
The house was built 1791-2 by the East India Company, 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: the Castle was historically the Governor's residence and has since became his "town" residence.
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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.[1] Tours of the State Rooms are available by appointment.
Tortoises
Possibly the world's oldest living tortoise, named Jonathan, resides in the grounds and belongs to the government of St Helena.[2] He was hatched in 1832, and potentially could be the last living example of his particular 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's and nearby is St Paul's Cathedral, also a Grade I listed building.
Outside links
- St Helena Island Info, Plantation House
- St Helena government The Tortoises at Plantation House
- Flickr Plantation House in 2010
- Plantation House with the old country church behind, c. 1812
References
- ↑ Land Planning and Development Control Ordinance Appendix 3: Listed Buildings
- ↑ Daily Mail 176 year old tortoise revealed as world's oldest animal