Forts & Batteries
St Helena's military past has left a rich legacy of fortifications, many of which still remain in various stages of repair:
High Knoll Fort
The largest and most prominently placed. Rising 1903 feet in height above the level of the sea; on the top of which is a circular military building, formerly used by the Dutch as a Citadel, but now abandoned in consequence of the erection of more modern fortifications. The hill of High Knoll is almost entirely barren of pasture, except for a short space up the slope. The fort's purpose was to cover the Ladder Hill fort and as a retreat in the event of the island being overrun by the enemy. High Knoll stands almost complete, with a dry moat and drawbridge, with signs of a portcullis, cisterns, magazines, storehouses, tower and embrasures with slit walls. Dates built into the stonework over the gate read 1874 and the southern wall 1878.
Ladder Hill Fort
On the top of Ladder Hill, are the Barracks, and a battery and furnaces for heating shot when red-hot balls were fired from the guns. In the grounds of Signal House is a small gun used for firing salutes and two solid shells with lugs of the late to middle 19th century.
James fort and lines
The castle was part of the fortifications, with its wall, later pierced by the existing arch, though the previous entry port was further eastward, the moat and outer and inner walls. A battery exists on the cliff below signal house.
Sampsons Battery
Lower Mundens Battery was first built immediately after the British recaptured the island from the Dutch in 1673 and sporadically developed up until the Second World War. The search light batteries immediately above the end of the wharf date from this time. The derelict house which forms part of the fortifications was used to house St Helena's most recent political prisoners-three Bahreini princes held from 1957 to 1961.
Gregory and Cox's Battery
There are ruins of two batteries the former over looking Turk's Cap Valley, the latter on the end of the ridge, with the ruins of a tower or guard house
Banks Battery
The network of fortifications loosely referred to as Banks Battery is among the most interesting on the island. Because of the method of approaching the roads in a sailing ship they were of strategic importance. The spot was fortified as early as 1678 and the fortifications continued to be improved for the next 150 years.
The original fortification consisted of ‘Bankses Platform' behind the walled up valley but this was washed away and rebuilt in Napoleonic times. The new fort was guarded by the cannon that are still lying on the platform. A tunnel was built under the wall to carry storm water and the slots of a portcullis are visible. Later the main battery, first known as King William's fort and then as Half Moon Battery, was built and is well preserved; its guns lie in the water beneath the battery.
Mundens
Mundens battery provides an excellent vantage point from which to watch these pirates robbing returning fairy terns of their catch.
