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November 27, 2004
A tranquil court in the Castle of Good Hope
This tranquil court with its large pool and the Dolphin Fountain is situated in the North West Corner of the Inner Ward of the Castle. It was originally surrounded by the Clerks' offices and quarters at the rear of the Governor's Residence. During the British period of the governance the ballustrades were thrown into the pool and the pool itself filled in so that stabling and quarters for the junior officers could be provided in the enclosing buildings.
Since the scalling down of the military use of the Castle was begun in the late 1970's much restoration has been done, and the pool and its fountain were excavated and restored. The remaining balustrades and the dolphin itself were all recovered from the debris in the orignial pool.
It would seem that the British Military of the time had little regard for the history or the need to preserve anything, since they were responsible for the destruction of several other features during their stay here.
Sadly, another very interesting and possibly unique structure - originally located to the West of the Castle guarding the landing beaches and later the small harbour - a large battery equipped with heavy cannon and the means for heating shot, was destroyed, finally, by the civil government in the early 20th Century as it stood in the path of "progress". It seems we never really learn from our mistakes.
Posted by The Gray Monk at November 27, 2004 10:21 AM