The Castle, Government building in Jamestown, Saint Helena.
Description
The Castle is a stone structure in Jamestown functioning as the main administrative hub with government offices and the supreme court housed within its walls. The building extends across multiple levels including chambers beneath the main structure.
History
The structure was built in 1659 by the East India Company as a fortification and became the residence of governors over centuries. During the Boer War, the underground chambers served as a detention facility for prisoners.
Culture
The building serves as the central hub for local governance and administration where residents conduct official business with their government. Walking through its rooms, you see where decisions affecting the entire island are made.
Practical
The building is open on weekdays when you can walk through without prior booking. It is best to visit in the morning when regular office hours are underway.
Did you know?
Beneath the main building lie underground dungeons accessible through narrow stone steps that reveal the site's wartime past. These chambers held prisoners during regional conflict and remain as reminders of that period.
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