old government house
A period of reconstruction followed the hurricane of 1924 during which a contingent of Trinidadian contractors were employed to remodel the Post Office and Hospital, and to also raise a new Government House from the wreckage of the original. Mr. Cecil Georges, Clerk Of works for the British Virgin Islands Government and son of J.E.W Georges who had superintended the cutting of the Joes Hill road, oversaw the construction of the new official residence in 1926; but due to the lack of materials available was forced to use ghut gravel and beach sand when erecting the new steel reinforced structure. For many years, this monument to British colonialism was the most visible structure when entering Road Harbour and its position on a hill overlooking the town combined with the fact that it housed the most important man in the colony earned old Government House the nickname ‘Olympus’ amongst the local population.
The picture to the right is an early photograph (circa 1930) of 'Olympus' know known as 'Old Government House'
George Eggleston, who visited Tortola in the late 1950s, describes a visit to Old Government House in his book ‘Virgin Islands’
‘The regular Administrator, Geoffrey Allesbrook, was presently at home on vacation leave to England. The Acting Administrator, His Honor Edward A. Evelyn, had previously filled the post of Administrator so was called out of retirement by the British Government to sit in whilst Mr. Allesbrook was away. A very nice little cruising sloop, the Arawak, which was anchored near us belonged to the Acting Administrator. His honor and Mrs. Evelyn had been ardent sailors cruising Arawak up and down the islands in all kinds of weather. But, sadly, Mrs. Evelyn had died six months previous to our visit and the loss was a great shock to her husband. Arawak had been sitting idle for some time.
Opposite the dock is the Post Office and above it is the office of the Administrator. I dropped in to leave my card and try and arrange an appointment and was surprised when his Honors pretty Secretary disappeared for a few minutes and returned to say “come right in; Mr. Evelyn will see you now”. I was uneasy when I suddenly found myself shaking hands with a good looking middle aged Britisher in a white starched suit and old school tie. ‘I just asked for an appointment I didn’t expect to call in my sailing shorts and old sneakers’”, I said. “Just the thing”, replied His Honor. “I wish I were dressed as you are myself. Sit down and tell me how the cruisings going”. When I shook his hand in leaving, he said, “why don’t you and your wife come to Government House for a drink around six-thirty this evening. You can land at the small pier where I keep my dinghy”. This spontaneous hospitality is very typical of English officials we have met in the Caribbean islands.
The picture to the right is an early photograph (circa 1930) of 'Olympus' know known as 'Old Government House'
George Eggleston, who visited Tortola in the late 1950s, describes a visit to Old Government House in his book ‘Virgin Islands’
‘The regular Administrator, Geoffrey Allesbrook, was presently at home on vacation leave to England. The Acting Administrator, His Honor Edward A. Evelyn, had previously filled the post of Administrator so was called out of retirement by the British Government to sit in whilst Mr. Allesbrook was away. A very nice little cruising sloop, the Arawak, which was anchored near us belonged to the Acting Administrator. His honor and Mrs. Evelyn had been ardent sailors cruising Arawak up and down the islands in all kinds of weather. But, sadly, Mrs. Evelyn had died six months previous to our visit and the loss was a great shock to her husband. Arawak had been sitting idle for some time.
Opposite the dock is the Post Office and above it is the office of the Administrator. I dropped in to leave my card and try and arrange an appointment and was surprised when his Honors pretty Secretary disappeared for a few minutes and returned to say “come right in; Mr. Evelyn will see you now”. I was uneasy when I suddenly found myself shaking hands with a good looking middle aged Britisher in a white starched suit and old school tie. ‘I just asked for an appointment I didn’t expect to call in my sailing shorts and old sneakers’”, I said. “Just the thing”, replied His Honor. “I wish I were dressed as you are myself. Sit down and tell me how the cruisings going”. When I shook his hand in leaving, he said, “why don’t you and your wife come to Government House for a drink around six-thirty this evening. You can land at the small pier where I keep my dinghy”. This spontaneous hospitality is very typical of English officials we have met in the Caribbean islands.
The above photograph was taken circa 1930 of the living room in Old Government House
Hazel and I showered aboard Renegade and dressed in our best for our cocktail date. Mr. Evelyn met us at the entrance to Government House where we signed the guest book and he showed us upstairs to a large sitting room opening on a verandah with another of those breathtaking Virgin Islands views. An afterglow of sunset vermillion beyond a cluster of pink tinted clouds emphasized the silhouetted islands across Sir Francis Drake Channel.
When we parted Mr. Evelyn asked us to come by any afternoon; the house, he said, was a rather lonesome place and he liked company. We said that we planned to sail the next morning and were very grateful for his hospitality’.
Writing just a couple of years later in 1961, Jeanne Perkins Harman commented that;
‘Until recently, Government House, the plumbing of which, according to one occupant, was put together with champagne corks, had only one of its thirteen rooms furnished’.
Old Government House has an important place in the history and culture of the people of the British Virgin Islands. It has always been a place of purposeful activity, hosting official functions, social gatherings and Royal visits; all of which engaged local participants.
The annual garden party to celebrate the birthday of the reigning monarch entertained hundreds of citizens and residents yearly within the house and grounds and the event itself has become an institution on the calendar of social events in the British Virgin Islands. For some forty years, the party was held on the tennis court, where at other times young and old tennis enthusiasts practiced the art of the game.
The house and gardens have also hosted a number of royal visitors including Elizabeth the Queen Mother and Princess Alice in 1964, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II visited on two occasions, once in 1966 and again in 1977, Princess Margaret in 1972, Princess Alexandra in 1988, Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh in 1994, and Prince Andrew in 2000.
Unfortunately, the materials employed during the original construction of the building in 1926 accelerated the deterioration endemic to buildings in a sub-tropical climate, hastening the mortality of the site as an official residence. The building fell into disrepair and was closed for renovations in 1996, when the Governor and his wife moved to a temporary residence on the west side of Road Harbour.
Below is pictures from the restoration that converted the House into a Museum.
Hazel and I showered aboard Renegade and dressed in our best for our cocktail date. Mr. Evelyn met us at the entrance to Government House where we signed the guest book and he showed us upstairs to a large sitting room opening on a verandah with another of those breathtaking Virgin Islands views. An afterglow of sunset vermillion beyond a cluster of pink tinted clouds emphasized the silhouetted islands across Sir Francis Drake Channel.
When we parted Mr. Evelyn asked us to come by any afternoon; the house, he said, was a rather lonesome place and he liked company. We said that we planned to sail the next morning and were very grateful for his hospitality’.
Writing just a couple of years later in 1961, Jeanne Perkins Harman commented that;
‘Until recently, Government House, the plumbing of which, according to one occupant, was put together with champagne corks, had only one of its thirteen rooms furnished’.
Old Government House has an important place in the history and culture of the people of the British Virgin Islands. It has always been a place of purposeful activity, hosting official functions, social gatherings and Royal visits; all of which engaged local participants.
The annual garden party to celebrate the birthday of the reigning monarch entertained hundreds of citizens and residents yearly within the house and grounds and the event itself has become an institution on the calendar of social events in the British Virgin Islands. For some forty years, the party was held on the tennis court, where at other times young and old tennis enthusiasts practiced the art of the game.
The house and gardens have also hosted a number of royal visitors including Elizabeth the Queen Mother and Princess Alice in 1964, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II visited on two occasions, once in 1966 and again in 1977, Princess Margaret in 1972, Princess Alexandra in 1988, Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh in 1994, and Prince Andrew in 2000.
Unfortunately, the materials employed during the original construction of the building in 1926 accelerated the deterioration endemic to buildings in a sub-tropical climate, hastening the mortality of the site as an official residence. The building fell into disrepair and was closed for renovations in 1996, when the Governor and his wife moved to a temporary residence on the west side of Road Harbour.
Below is pictures from the restoration that converted the House into a Museum.