Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Virginia. Alongside the vessel is a ducking stool, a contraption used in 17th-
century witch trials.
Retrace your steps across the bridge to King's Square. On the waterside stands the:
3
White Horse Tavern
This restaurant juts out into St. George's Harbour. Consider the tavern as a pos-
sible spot for lunch later (p. 122). For now, we focus on its history: It was once
the home of John Davenport, who came to Bermuda in 1815 to open a dry goods
store. Davenport was a bit of a miser; upon his death, some £75,000 in gold and
silver was discovered stashed away in his cellar.
Across the square stands the:
4
Town Hall
Located near the Visitors Information Centre, this is the meeting place of the
corporation governing St. George. It has antique cedar furnishings and a collec-
tion of photographs of previous lord mayors.
Bermuda Journey,
a multimedia
audiovisual presentation, is shown here several times a day.
3
From King's Square, head east along King Street, cutting north (left) on Bridge Street.
You'll come to the:
5
Bridge House
Constructed in the 1690s, this was once the home of several governors of Ber-
muda. Located at 1 Bridge St., it's furnished with 18th- and 19th-century antiques
and houses an art gallery and souvenir shop.
Return to King Street and continue east to the:
6
Old State House
The Old State House opens onto Princess Street, at the top of King Street. This
is the oldest stone building in Bermuda, dating from 1620, and was once the
home of the Bermuda Parliament. It's the site of the Peppercorn Ceremony, in
which the Old State House pays the government a “rent” of one peppercorn
annually. See chapter 7 for details on this grand ceremony.
Continue your stroll down Princess Street until you come to Duke of York Street and
the entrance to:
7
Somers Garden
The heart of Sir George Somers, the admiral of the
Sea Venture,
is buried here.
The gardens, opened in 1920 by the Prince of Wales, contain palms and other
tropical plants.
Walk through Somers Gardens and up the steps to the North Gate onto Blockade
Alley. Climb the hill to the structure known as “the folly of St. George,” the:
8
Unfinished Church
This cathedral was intended to replace St. Peter's Church (see stop 12 on this
tour). Work began on the church in 1874, but ended when the church was beset
by financial difficulties and a schism in the Anglican congregation.
