A Conservation Engineer for St Helena

Help us get a conservation engineer to St Helena

Some of St Helena's most important historic monuments need urgent repair and protection. We are fundraising to send a conservation-accredited structural engineer to St Helena to assess the most appropriate means of stabilising and repairing them before more historic fabric is lost to the weather and the sea. 

We have a highly qualified and experienced engineer in the UK who is willing to work largely pro bono if we can raise the cost of their flights and subsistence. This is a great opportunity to move forward on preserving these important heritage sites. If we can raise the funds in time, the investigative work will be done in January 2026 in partnership with the National Trust of St Helena and the Commonwealth Heritage Forum.

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Which monuments are we focusing on?

High Knoll Fort stands 600 metres above sea level to the southwest of Jamestown. It is the largest, most prominent and most complete of the forts and military installations on the island. It is a Grade I listed building and one of the jewels in St Helena's tourism offer, but it is in a sadly deteriorating and increasingly unsafe condition. Its earliest elements date to 1790, when the East India Company ruled the island. During Napoleon's exile to St Helena, the fort was occupied by the 20th Regiment of Foot. Over half a century later, it was redeveloped and greatly enlarged by the Royal Engineers. It is a spectacular site, but among its many problems there is a large section of the western wall that has collapsed, leaving parts of the firing platform hanging in the air without support. Without rapid, expert intervention, it is only a matter of time before more of this fantastic piece of history simply crumbles away.

The spectacular High Knoll Fort, showing the collapsed section of the western wall.

Banks Battery, which was built between 1700 and 1740, and then modified during Napoleon's incarceration, occupies a highly strategic position relative to ships arriving at Jamestown. Approaching ships had to send a boat ashore identifying their nationality and friendly intentions or else risk coming under a barrage of fire from the battery. Unhappily, the site was significantly damaged by storms in 2010 and its deterioration is ongoing. It is highly vulnerable and urgently needs stabilisation repair. Munden’s Battery first existed as just two guns in 1673, but was considerably expanded in 1708-10. The battery protected the harbour of Jamestown, and is reachable from the town centre via a steep trail, which adds to its value as a potential tourism site. But its surviving structures are in a dangerous, crumbling state and have suffered from inappropriate repair in the past which is now hastening its degradation.

Banks Battery. Photo courtesy of Professor Brent Fortenberry, 2020.

These monuments are an important part of St Helena's history and, indeed, world history. Please donate today and help us get the right expertise to St Helena to map out the best future for them.

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Thank you for your support.