Bank's Battery

November 20, 2024

Back in the days of the East India Trading Company (EIC), St Helena itself was a fortress. On the northern side of the island, walls and batteries were built in order to defend the island from anyone who would try and land. The majority of these fortifications were built in the valleys where it would have been the easiest to land by ship. However many of these structures were also built high up into the cliffs, where soldiers could look out and scan the horizon for any incoming ships which may be trying to invade.

The island was only invaded one time in its EIC history by the Dutch, however the occupation did not last very long because the English then called in for reinforcements and pushed the Dutch back out.

Because of this worry of being invaded, an alarm system was set up all across the island in key locations where the soldiers could then signal across the island to let others know to prepare themselves to defend the island. Today a large majority of these walls and fortifications still remain and can be seen all across the island. Some are obvious large elaborate walls which hug the cliffs, while others are small piles of rubble scattered both inland and along the sea, which once were a look out tower or a cannon mount.

A few weeks ago we went on a hike to the most intact of these fortifications which is called Banks. Beginning in Jamestown, we walked up Mundens - which is a cliff top walk - which took us to Rupert's valley. From Rupert's we continued up through a second valley and then along the cliffs until we reached the first large fortification where there is also a pebbled beach.

Here there is a platform and a still mostly intact stone wall which was all built by the first settlers who arrived here. There is also a lime kiln which is what was used to fuse the stones together. From here we continued our hike upwards - to the second part of Banks which is a battery at the top of the hill where there was once a cannon, but which has now been pushed over the wall into the sea.

The final stop on our Banks explore was a 300 year old ladder. There is a metal ladder which is still standing from the late 1600s and going down it, you arrive at a little nook in the cliff which was built for the look out when he was off duty.

This is one of my favorite walks on the island, and a really good place to explore some of the island's history.