High Knoll Fort is a splendid 18th and 19th century Fortified Tower, Garrison Building and once retreat for a large part of the islands population in the event of threat from abroad or from within the island. It has loomed over many of the islands great historical moments of the last two hundred years and has played its part in some. As most of you involved with the SHNT will be aware, parts of the Fort have fallen on two occasions over the last couple of years and the monument has been closed to the public since February 2008. The Fort is one of the most visible historic buildings on the island and was visited regularly by Saints and Tourists alike, before concerns about further collapse caused its closure.

There has been considerable pressure to reopen the monument and several reports have been produced indicating a larger assessment was needed. An application, supported by the Governor’s Office, to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Overseas Territories Programme Fund has supplied funds for a full historical and structural assessment of the Fort.
Ben Jeffs and Edmund Simons, Historic Building experts, are working on Saint Helena for two months to undertake the work. Ben and Ed have worked with the National Trust before, running the Built Heritage Project, an initial assessment and proposals for conserving and utilising the islands Historic Buildings.

The High Knoll Assessment will gather information on the Fort’s archaeology and history, its condition and the causes of the recent collapse. The team will produce a Conservation and Management Plan; plans of this type are a standard part of projects involving important historical sites in the UK and worldwide and allow work to the building without damaging what makes it special. The Plan will include a very detailed survey of the building and a series of reports outlining its history and its present condition and providing engineering details, drawings and instructions for its future restoration and management.

These reports will be supplemented by a guidebook to the Fort, available on island to introduce visitors to High Knoll and provide a souvenir of their visit.

A major part of the work will be gathering local opinion on future uses for the Fort as well as what Saints feel gives the building its character. A public meeting, and other opportunities, will be advertised to allow the inclusion of local opinions and ideas within the plans. 

If anyone has any questions or suggestions, they can contact the project by email at ben@blackfreighter.net or talk directly to the team while they are on island.

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