for its pristine Georgian architecture, with
many buildings constructed from the
local volcanic rock.
Boasting an impressive façade, the
century-old Consulate Hotel features a
life-sized figure of Napoleon on the upper
terrace. Dating from 1772, St James’
Church is the oldest Anglican church in
the Southern Hemisphere.
However, Jamestown’s most iconic
structure, built in 1829, is Jacob’s Ladder,
a 699-step staircase linking Jamestown
with Ladder Hill Fort.
No photos do justice to its sheer scale.
Merely looking up the ascent was enough
to induce vertigo. Maybe later.
The inhabitants call themselves Saints.
They speak English but with curious
usages that take some getting get used to.
A friend referred to it as a cross between
Cornwall and Australia, but I could detect
Kiwi and Irish inflections. They tone it
down for the tourists, but once the locals
start conversing, a translator is required!
Past the old Customs House I found
Sub-Tropic Adventures and, beyond that,
the Steps, the embarkation spot for the
next day’s diving. Swathes of netting
encased the cliffs above to prevent ☛49 divErBIG ANIMAL DIVER
divErNEt.com
Above right from top:
It’s not all about the big
stuff, and there are quite
a few endemic species of
fish – strigate parrotfish;
glasseye snapper; island
cowfish; St Helena
wrasse; island hogfish,
spotted scorpionfish;
spotted moray eel.