cannons
The Old Government House Museum is currently home to four canons. The cannons situated in front of the main front entrance door of the House are bronze Howitzers, manufactured in the Royal Brass Foundry of Woolwich in England in 1853.
They are decorated with the monogram of Queen Victoria, Queen of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales from 1837 – 1901, and with the monogram of Lord Fitzroy, Lord Raglan, Master General of the Ordinance, 1852-5.
This information was provided to the Old Government House Museum administration by curators at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London based on viewing of a sketch taken from a rubbing of the insignia. Photographs of the monograms are shown at the bottom of this page as well as the actual rubbing taken to the UK by Jillian Dunlop to try and understand their origin.
It was customary during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries for military campaign items such as these cannons to be dispatched out to overseas territories under British sovereignty after they had reached the end of their usefulness in order for them to be on permanent display there. The two English cannons in front of Old Government House were cast in 1853 and came to the British Virgin Islands after serving in the Crimean war.
They are decorated with the monogram of Queen Victoria, Queen of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales from 1837 – 1901, and with the monogram of Lord Fitzroy, Lord Raglan, Master General of the Ordinance, 1852-5.
This information was provided to the Old Government House Museum administration by curators at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London based on viewing of a sketch taken from a rubbing of the insignia. Photographs of the monograms are shown at the bottom of this page as well as the actual rubbing taken to the UK by Jillian Dunlop to try and understand their origin.
It was customary during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries for military campaign items such as these cannons to be dispatched out to overseas territories under British sovereignty after they had reached the end of their usefulness in order for them to be on permanent display there. The two English cannons in front of Old Government House were cast in 1853 and came to the British Virgin Islands after serving in the Crimean war.
The museums other two cannons have less documentation as they were discovered in Road Town during the late 60's and early 70's. They had both been exposed to the elements and have significantly deteriorated. These two cannons are located in the museums courtyard.
The smaller of the two is a 2 pounder cannon believed to be from the late 18th century. It was salvaged from Road Harbour and probably of Swedish origin and from a merchant ship. It is on permanent loan to the museum from H. Lavity Stoutt Community College. Its wooden carriage was designed by Captain Hugh Whistler and built by Jones Woodworking with the metal parts by Percy Williams. The various rings were used for blocks and tackle to secure and man the cannon. The front wheels are larger than the rear to account for the camber of the ship's deck.
The larger of the two cannons in the courtyard is a four pounder which was uncovered with a cluster of others during the improvement of the road through Road Town in the early 1970's. Mr Robert Sale purchased the cannon at that time and constructed the carriage. After Mr Sale's passing it was donated to the Museum by Mrs Cindy Wood and Mr Sale's daughters Emily and Alison Sale in memory of their father.
The smaller of the two is a 2 pounder cannon believed to be from the late 18th century. It was salvaged from Road Harbour and probably of Swedish origin and from a merchant ship. It is on permanent loan to the museum from H. Lavity Stoutt Community College. Its wooden carriage was designed by Captain Hugh Whistler and built by Jones Woodworking with the metal parts by Percy Williams. The various rings were used for blocks and tackle to secure and man the cannon. The front wheels are larger than the rear to account for the camber of the ship's deck.
The larger of the two cannons in the courtyard is a four pounder which was uncovered with a cluster of others during the improvement of the road through Road Town in the early 1970's. Mr Robert Sale purchased the cannon at that time and constructed the carriage. After Mr Sale's passing it was donated to the Museum by Mrs Cindy Wood and Mr Sale's daughters Emily and Alison Sale in memory of their father.
