St James Church in Jamestown is the oldest Anglican Church in the southern hemisphere. The East India Company was granted a charter by Oliver Cromwell in 1657 to fortify and colonise places of strategic value to it. The Company claimed St Helena on 5 May 1659 at which stage the first Anglican church was built. An earlier Portuguese church is recorded as existing on this site as far back as 1571. Continue reading “The Oldest Anglican Church in the Southern Hemisphere”
The Wellington House Hotel, an 18th century Georgian style building, is perfectly located in the centre of Jamestown. This is a very comfortable and friendly hotel managed/operated by the most affable Ms Ivy Yon. Continue reading “Stay where the Duke stayed – Perhaps”
I am not (in this entry) recommending or advising against any particular accommodation on St Helena but rather drawing your attention to the fact that you must arrange accommodation on the island in advance of arriving and aiming to provide some general comment on accommodation which you may find useful. Continue reading “Accommodation on St Helena – General”
There are a few ways of getting around and seeing St Helena, some more practical than others. Personally, I strongly recommend you hire a car but the options are: Continue reading “Getting around St Helena”
There are very few ways of getting to the mid-Atlantic Island of St Helena and flying there is not one of them (yet).
If you are want to be sure that you will get to St Helena and have more than a few hours visit you will have to arrive by the RMS St Helena from Cape Town or Ascension Island. Continue reading “St Helena by Cruise Ship (or Not)”
Not being passengers on a cruise ship (see my separate blog entry – St Helena by Cruise Ship (or not)) or having our own yacht we only had one option when it came to getting to St Helena and that was via the RMS St Helena, either from Cape Town or Ascension Island. Continue reading “Getting to St Helena”
Referring to St Helena, Charles Darwin described it thus:
“A little world, within itself, which excites our curiosity”
and indeed it is.
I had never been to St Helena before and, outside what I knew from a little pre-trip research, I knew nothing of the Island or its people. Despite this, as we approached this tiny mid-Atlantic volcanic outcrop after nearly six days sailing aboard the RMS St Helena I admit to almost shedding a tear. Continue reading “St Helena – Introduction”
The Rambling Wombat 