Georgetown, Ascension Island
Encyclopedia
Georgetown is the capital
and chief settlement of Ascension Island
, situated on the west coast of the island.
The town is centred around St Mary's Church, part of the Anglican Diocese of St Helena
and the former Exiles Club, which is on the site of the original Royal Marines
barracks from the times of Napoleon's exile to Saint Helena
in the early 19th century. The town is named for King George III
, who reigned at the time the island was claimed for Britain and garrisoned by the Admiralty in 1815. As well as the church, there is a pier, an athletics track, a small supermarket, Royal Mail
post office, snackbar, hotel, police station, hospital, dental surgery and a library. There is no school however and pupils travel to Two Boats
village, 3 miles inland.
There is a hill overlooking the town called Cross Hill, which has a fort on it with some Victorian cannons and a pair of BL 5.5 inch Mark I naval gun
s, that were originally fitted to HMS Hood
; the latter were used to repel a U-Boat German attack during World War II
with surprisingly great success - the Germans did not approach the island again. There is another old fort on the other side of the town, which plays host to the museum.
The town is a centre of culture on Ascension. It usually hosts local athletics events as well as being the start of the annual dew pond race from sea level to the highest point on the island on Green Mountain
. Ascension Day activities (to celebrate the discovery of Ascension) are either hosted here or in nearby Two Boats village. the population was about 450. Nearby Long Beach is an important nesting ground for the giant Green turtle.
Capital City
Capital City was a television show produced by Euston Films which focused on the lives of investment bankers in London living and working on the corporate trading floor for the fictional international bank Shane-Longman....
and chief settlement of Ascension Island
Ascension Island
Ascension Island is an isolated volcanic island in the equatorial waters of the South Atlantic Ocean, around from the coast of Africa and from the coast of South America, which is roughly midway between the horn of South America and Africa...
, situated on the west coast of the island.
The town is centred around St Mary's Church, part of the Anglican Diocese of St Helena
Anglican Diocese of St Helena
The Diocese of Saint Helena is an Anglican diocese within the Anglican Church of Southern Africa. It covers the islands of Saint Helena and Ascension in the Atlantic Ocean and was created in 1859. St Paul's Cathedral is on Saint Helena.-History:...
and the former Exiles Club, which is on the site of the original Royal Marines
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
barracks from the times of Napoleon's exile to Saint Helena
Saint Helena
Saint Helena , named after St Helena of Constantinople, is an island of volcanic origin in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is part of the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha which also includes Ascension Island and the islands of Tristan da Cunha...
in the early 19th century. The town is named for King George III
George III of the United Kingdom
George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
, who reigned at the time the island was claimed for Britain and garrisoned by the Admiralty in 1815. As well as the church, there is a pier, an athletics track, a small supermarket, Royal Mail
Royal Mail
Royal Mail is the government-owned postal service in the United Kingdom. Royal Mail Holdings plc owns Royal Mail Group Limited, which in turn operates the brands Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide...
post office, snackbar, hotel, police station, hospital, dental surgery and a library. There is no school however and pupils travel to Two Boats
Two Boats, Ascension Island
Two Boats is a village at the foot of Green Mountain, Ascension Island, about 3 miles from Wideawake Airfield. It has a population of about 120 and is residential in nature....
village, 3 miles inland.
There is a hill overlooking the town called Cross Hill, which has a fort on it with some Victorian cannons and a pair of BL 5.5 inch Mark I naval gun
BL 5.5 inch Mark I naval gun
The Breech Loading 5.5 inch Mk I was a naval gun used by the British Royal Navy during both World Wars.-Naval history:This weapon was developed by Coventry Ordnance Works in 1913 and offered to the Greek Navy as main armament for two new cruisers building at Cammell Laird...
s, that were originally fitted to HMS Hood
HMS Hood
Three ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Hood after several members of the Hood family, who were notable Navy officers: was a 91-gun second-rate ship of the line, originally laid down as HMS Edgar, but renamed in 1848 and launched in 1859. She was used for harbour service from 1872 and was...
; the latter were used to repel a U-Boat German attack during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
with surprisingly great success - the Germans did not approach the island again. There is another old fort on the other side of the town, which plays host to the museum.
The town is a centre of culture on Ascension. It usually hosts local athletics events as well as being the start of the annual dew pond race from sea level to the highest point on the island on Green Mountain
Green Mountain
Green Mountain is a common name for "The Peak", the highest point, on Ascension Island which has gained some fame for claims that it is one of very few large-scale artificial forests.-History and Vegetation:...
. Ascension Day activities (to celebrate the discovery of Ascension) are either hosted here or in nearby Two Boats village. the population was about 450. Nearby Long Beach is an important nesting ground for the giant Green turtle.
External links
- Diocese of Saint Helena Parish of St Mary the Virgin
- BBC Weather Georgetown climate figures