The Battery, St. John's

The Battery, St. John's

The Battery is a small residential area within the city of St. John's, Newfoundland. It sits on the entrance to the harbour located on the slopes of Signal Hill. The Battery is noted for its steep slopes, colourful houses, and its importance as a battery for the defense of St. John's harbour in both World Wars.

The Battery is home to Chain Rock, a land outcropping to which a large chain and anti-submarine boom were attached connecting to Fort Amherst in order to prevent the entry of German U-boats into the harbour during World War II. Chain Rock is one of two rocks located on opposite sides of the Narrows, Chain Rock on the battery side and Pancake Rock on the opposite. The space between the two rocks is 174 meters. Chain Rock and Pancake Rock were used as early as 1770.Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador, Volume one, page 395, 396] A chain was stretched between both rocks by means of a capstan at nightfall to prevent illegal entry of enemy ships. During World War I the chain was replaced with anti-submarine nets.

Another historic property in the area is Anderson House located at 42 Powers Court in the Battery as it is believed to be the oldest structure in the city of St. John's. [St. John's: Anderson House, Newfoundland and Labrador Heritiage Site; Memorial University of Newfoundland http://www.heritage.nf.ca/society/rhs/rs_listing/136.html]

lope Instability

While there has only been three major cases of recorded slope instability in The Battery, archived reports and evidence suggest that minor landslides, and a small number of avalanches, have been frequent in the area's past. A list of notable incidents of slope instability resulting in injury or death includes [The Assessment of Geological Hazards and Disasters in Newfoundland: An Update. (St. John's: Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Department of Mines and Energy, Geological Survey) http://www.nr.gov.nl.ca/mines&en/geosurvey/publications/cr1999/batterson.pdf] :

Although no major events have occurred since 1959, in 1995 the city of St. John's began studying the area in an attempt to minimize risk associated with rock slides and avalanches. The Canadian Avalanche Association conducted studies in the area, and based on their work, the city spent an estimated $300,000 to protect the area from further instability. [The Battery - A Case Study; Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage Site; Memorial University of Newfoundland http://www.heritage.nf.ca/environment/battery.html]

Notes


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • History of the battery — could only function in a certain orientation. Many used glass jars to hold their components, which made them fragile. These practical flaws made them unsuitable for portable appliances. Near the end of the 19th century, the invention of dry cell… …   Wikipedia

  • Battery — may refer to:*Battery (electricity), an array of electrochemical cells for electricity storage, or one such cell **See List of battery types for links to electrical batteries *Battery (crime), contact with another in a manner likely to cause… …   Wikipedia

  • Battery Park — is a 25 acre (10 hectare) public park located at the Battery, the southern tip of the New York City borough of Manhattan, facing New York Harbor. The Battery is named for the artillery battery that was stationed there at various times by the… …   Wikipedia

  • John Wayne Gacy — Mug shot of John Wayne Gacy Background information Birth name John Wayne Gacy, Jr. Born March 17, 1942(1942 03 17) Chicago, Illinois …   Wikipedia

  • John and Lorena Bobbitt — John Wayne Bobbitt (born March 23 1967 in Buffalo, New York) and Lorena Leonor Bobbitt ( née Gallo) (born 1970 in Bucay, Ecuador) were an American couple, married on June 18 1989, made famous for a 1993 incident in which Lorena cut off John s… …   Wikipedia

  • The Palisades, Washington, D.C. — The Palisades is a neighborhood in Washington, D.C., situated along the Potomac River, running roughly from the edge of the Georgetown University campus (at Foxhall Road) all the way to the D.C. Maryland boundary (near Delacarlia Treatment Plant) …   Wikipedia

  • John Couey — Prison booking photo of John Couey Born John Evander Couey September 19, 1958(1958 09 19) Florida, United States Died …   Wikipedia

  • John Pelham (officer) — John Pelham (September 7, 1838 ndash; March 17, 1863) was an artillery officer who served with the Confederate cavalry under J.E.B. Stuart during the American Civil War. Dubbed The Gallant Pelham for his military prowess and personal courage,… …   Wikipedia

  • John H. Howell — was a US Army artillery officer and commander of the 3rd New York Artillery which he led during the American Civil War, and served as chief artillery officer during the New York Draft Riots. Early military careerEnlisting as an orderly sergeant,… …   Wikipedia

  • John Wolfe Ambrose — (born in Newcastle West, Ireland on January 10, 1838) was a poor Irish immigrant boy who grew up to be a brilliant engineer and developer. Because of his efforts, channels within and leading into the New York Harbor were deepened and widened, to… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”