compound and gallows gate

                                  

“Gallows Gate” and the marks of the guardhouse steps

Its uses during the Second Settlement

The stone wall to the compound was built in 1828-1829. Inside the compound a three-storey prisoners’ barracks were constructed in stages during the years 1831-1835.  There were also other buildings such as wards and offices.  Up to 973 men and boys were locked into the barracks at night with between 20 and 120 people in each ward.  They slept in hammocks slung in rows from the walls.  The East ward had a courtroom, boys’ ward, workshops and sick room while the west ward contained invalids, overseers, police and the Protestant choir.  The steps to the guardroom were built into the wall on the outside of the compound and the marks are still visible today.  Protestant and Roman Catholic Chapels were added by Capt Maconochie. 

 

Gallows Gate is the name commonly used for the large gate facing Slaughter Bay.  Although generations of children have believed that condemned men mounted the steps still visible in the wall and were hanged from the gate, this was not the case and the gallows were elsewhere.

 

Its uses during the Third Settlement

The Pitcairners used the Protestant Chapel until they built their own on the Parade Ground. The Methodists used it until the early 1900’s and it was then used as a Seventh Day Adventist Chapel.  In 1904, the Whaling Company used a shed on the west of the compound for boiling down blubber.  Building materials were removed for use in other parts of the island and in the 1960s, the area was levelled to make a playing field.

 

The Fun Run 2009

Its uses today

The compound is used every year for community events, especially the Bounty or Anniversary Day Picnic on 8th June.

  

 

DAA KOHMPAUN EN GAELOHS GIET

“Gallows Gate” en dem maak o’daa gaadhaus step

Wieh yuus yet iin daa Sekan Setelment

Daa stoen worl fe daa kohmpaun bild et iin 1828-1829. Iinsaid daa kohmpaun dem bild wan thrii-stori prisnas’ baeraks iin stiejes in dem yias 1831-1835.  Dem orlsoe haed a tada bildings es words ena ohfises.  Ap tu 973 mien ena bois bin lok et ap iin dem barraks ina nait lorngfe twiin 20 en 120 salan iin iich word.  Dem sliip iina haemaks sling et iina roe fram em worl.  Daa Iis word bin gat wan kortruum, bois’ word, werkshops ena sor room wail daa wes word hoel dem invalids, oevasiiyas, pohliis en aa Prohtestant kwaiya.  Dem step gen daa gaadruum se bild et iin aa worl orna autsaid o’ daa kohmpaun en el stil si dem maak desdieh.  Prohtestant ena Roeman Kaethlik (Catholic) Chaepls se aed et bai Kaeptan Makohnoki. 

 

Gaelos Giet es daa niem kohmanli yuus et fe daa big giet fiesen Slorta Bieh (Slaughter Bay.)  Thoe jenarieshans o’ letl salan bin beliiw dem kohndemd mien bin maunt em step yu el stil sii in daa worl en hieng et orn daa giet, dieh es stoli en dem gaeloh es nada said.

 

 

Wieh yuus et iin daa Therd Setelment

Dem Pitkernas yuus daa Prohtestant Chaepel tal dem se bil dems oen orn daa Paried Graun. Dem Methadiss yuus et iin dem erli 1900’s en den bin yuus et fe daa Sewenth Dieh Aedventis Chaepl.  Iin 1904, daa Wielen Kampani yuus wan shed orn aa wes said o ’daa kohmpaun fe boiyl daen dem blaba.  Bilden matiiriyals bin tek et wieh fe yuus iin tada said orna alien en iin dem 1960s, daa ieriya se lewel et fe mek wan plieyen fiil.

 

Wieh yuus et nau

Daa kohmpaun wi yuus ewri yia fe kohmyuunitii events, speshli daa Baunti (Bounty) ala Aeniversri Dieh Piknik orna 8th Juun.