Ascension : Ascension Island Conservation Department
Submitted by The Islander (Conservation Office) 09.09.2010 (Article Archived on 23.09.2010)

Cross Hill was one of the first land features to be given a name

Cross Hill

Cross Hill was one of the first land features to be given a name. It was called Crucifixion Hill in the 1700’s because of the great wooden cross erected as a day mark for passing ships. A semaphore was erected on the hill to communicate both with ships and with Green Mountain, probably in about 1816 when another semaphore, the Weather Port Signal, was erected on the hill now known as Weather Post. In 1884 the committee of Lloyds requested to be informed of all ships passing the island, and in 1900, with the introduction of direct cable communication with England, they took over the entire running of the Signal Station from Admiralty. The remains of the signal house and the actual semaphore were still on the summit until the erection of the radar station in 1957. There are the remains of a building on the lower slopes overlooking the anchorage. This was built in the 1820’s and has been variously known as Commodore’s Cottage (after Capt. Wm. Bate who lived there 1828-1838 q.v.), Governor’s Lodge and the Island Club. When the Navy abandoned the island in 1922, it became the residence of the Manager of the Eastern Telegraph Co. (Cable & Wireless Ltd.). The Governor of St Helena stayed there during his visits to the island. During World War 2 it was requisitioned by the military authorities. (Packer, 2002).

Dog and Cat Ordinance, CAP A10

Section 7: Restriction on keeping cats

(1) A person must not keep a cat that is over the age of six months unless the cat—

(a) in the case of a female cat—has been spayed or is otherwise incapable of producing progeny; or

(b) in the case of a male cat—has been castrated.

(2) A court that convicts a person of an offence under subsection (1) shall order the person to have the cat—

(i) in the case of a female cat—spayed or otherwise rendered incapable of producing progeny; or

(ii) in the case of a male cat—castrated,

(3) A person who wilfully fails to comply with an order made in accordance with subsection (2) shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding £500.

Section 13. Dogs worrying livestock

(1) If any dog kills, wounds or worries any livestock the owner of such dog shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding £50 or, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction in respect of the same dog, to a fine not exceeding £100.

(2) Where a dog is proved to have killed, wounded or worried any livestock it may be dealt with under section 12 of this Ordinance as a dangerous dog.

Volunteers welcome. Please contact Olivia Renshaw or Natasha Williams. Ascension Island Conservation Department. Georgetown. Tel: 6359. Email:  olivia.renshaw@ascension.gov.ac

natasha.williams@ascension.gov.ac