State House, Sierra Leone: Difference between revisions
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| name = The State House |
| name = The State House |
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| native_name = |
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| former_names = |
| former_names = Fort Thornton |
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| alternate_names = |
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| image = Freetown_06_10_(13).jpg |
| image = Freetown_06_10_(13).jpg |
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| alt = |
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| caption = |
| caption = |
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| map_type = |
| map_type = Sierra Leone Freetown Central |
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| map_caption = |
| map_caption = Location in central Freetown |
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| map_size = 300 |
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| map_dot_label = State House |
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| client = |
| client = |
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| owner = [[Politics of Sierra Leone|Government of Sierra Leone]] |
| owner = [[Politics of Sierra Leone|Government of Sierra Leone]] |
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| current_tenants = [[ |
| current_tenants = [[Julius Maada Bio]], [[President of Sierra Leone]], [[First Lady of Sierra Leone|First Lady]] [[Fatima Bio]], and their family |
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| landlord = |
| landlord = Government of Sierra Leone |
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| coordinates = {{coord|8|29|12.21|N|13|14|2.1|W|region:SL_type:landmark}} |
| coordinates = {{coord|8|29|12.21|N|13|14|2.1|W|region:SL_type:landmark}} |
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| start_date = |
| start_date = |
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| completion_date = 1895 (122 years old) |
| completion_date = 1895 (122 years old) |
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| inauguration_date =1894 |
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The '''State House''' is the [[official residence]] |
The '''State House''' is the [[official residence]] of the [[president of Sierra Leone]]. It is home to the offices of the president, senior presidential staff and associated aides. The State House is located at State Avenue, [[Tower Hill (Sierra Leone)|Tower Hill]], in central [[Freetown]]. |
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==History== |
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The [[office]] of the president of Sierra Leone is at State House; as well as official [[Party#Reception|reception]]s, [[cabinet meeting]]s, meetings with visiting foreign heads of state and international delegations are all held at the State House. |
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The State House is located on State Avenue, [[Tower Hill (Sierra Leone)|Tower Hill]], in central [[Freetown]].<ref name="SH">{{cite web |title=The State House |url=https://statehouse.gov.sl/the-state-house/ |publisher=Government of Sierra Leone |access-date=13 November 2021}}</ref> It stands on the site of Fort Thornton, built from ca. 1792 to 1805 and named after [[Henry Thornton (reformer)|Henry Thornton]]. Inside of it was Government House, the seat of the British governor. Although it was being continually repaired and [[Jane Drew]] made alterations to it after the war,<ref>Iain Jackson and Jessica Holland, ''The Architecture of Edwin [[Maxwell Fry]] and [[Jane Drew]]: Twentieth century Architecture, Pioneer Modernism and the Tropics''. Routledge 2016, p. 30.</ref> it was soon after considered "to be nearing the end of its useful life".<ref>''Annual Report of the Public Works Department for the Year 1947'', S. 4.</ref> In 1949 plans for a new Government House were presented to the public.<ref>''The Crown Colonist'', vol. 19, April 1949, p. 249.</ref> They had been prepared by the senior architect of the Public Works Department, [[Robin Halliday Macartney]], who was entirely responsible for the design and the construction.<ref>''Annual Report of the Public Works Department for the Year 1950'', p. 1.</ref> After several delays the building was finished in 1954 and the governor, [[Robert de Zouche Hall|Sir Robert Hall]], moved in in February.<ref>''Annual Report of the Public Works Department for the Year 1953'', p. 6. See also ''Annual Report of the Public Works Department for the Year 1952'', p. 10 f. about the building progress and construction details.</ref> At the express wish of the governor, "the fortification walls should be retained on account of their aesthetic and historical value."<ref>''Annual Report of the Public Works Department for the Year 1953'', p. 5.</ref> Therefore, the walls were declared National Monuments in 1949.<ref>''Annual Report of the Monuments and Relics Commission for the Year 1949'', p. 1.</ref> As the old walls were of uncertain strength, "it was deemed prudent to place no great load on them".<ref>''Annual Report of the Monuments and Relics Commission for the Year 1949'', p. 6.</ref> The old bastion walls can be seen from the gate. [[File:Government House, Freetown, Sierra Leone.jpg|thumb|Sierra Leone, Freetown. Entrance to Government House.]] The lions on the gateposts have also been taken over from the old Government House. Thus the building harmoniously combines the old and the new. It consists of "two wings pivoted on a central tower"<ref>''The Crown Colonist'', vol. 19, April 1949, p. 249.</ref> which houses a spiral staircase with a mosaic of the world at the bottom. The two wings are asymmetrical in design, with an open facade at the front, creating a sense of lightness and buoyancy. When completed, the new Government House was one of the highest buildings in Freetown, a modern counterpart to the nearby [[Supreme Court of Sierra Leone|Law Courts]] of 1910. From 1976 on, the State House, as it was now called, received an extension which changed the original impression.<ref>''The Sierra Leone Gazette'', vol. 107, 1976, p. 879.</ref> During the colonial period it was used as the residence of the [[governor of Sierra Leone]]. It was the official residence of the [[prime minister of Sierra Leone]] from 1961 to 1971, after which it became the residence of the president.<ref name="SH" />[[File:State House, Freetown, Sierra Leone.jpg|thumb|State House, Freetown, Sierra Leone]][[File:Freetown 06 10 (12) (4723659115).jpg|thumb|Staircase|left]] |
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The State House is located within the central [[business district]] in [[downtown]] Freetown. The state House is a short distance from the [[Parliament of Sierra Leone|Sierra Leone House of Parliament]], just a few blocks from the [[Sierra Leone Ministry of Defence and National Security|Sierra Leone Ministry of Defence]] building, the Sierra Leone National Electoral Commission (NEC) building, and just a few miles from the [[Bank of Sierra Leone]] building. |
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==Security== |
==Security== |
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As the residence of the president of Sierra Leone, the State House is constantly protected by the [[Presidential Guard (Sierra Leone)|Presidential Guard]]. The guard is a special unit of the [[Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces|Sierra Leone Armed Forces]]. The [[Sierra Leone Police]], who are responsible for road traffic control around the State House, clear traffic and assist with security when the presidential [[convoy]] moves within any part of the country. |
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The State House is heavily guarded by the [[Presidential Guard (Sierra Leone)|Presidential Guard]], that is made up of a special unit of [[soldiers]] of the [[Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces|Sierra Leone Armed Forces]], and a special unit of [[police officers]] of the Operational Support Division of the [[Sierra Leone Police Force]]. |
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==Staff== |
==Staff== |
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The president senior staff members have |
The president's senior staff members have offices inside the State House. These include the office of the president's chief minister, [[chief of staff]], and the presidential [[press secretary]]. The offices of the [[aide de camp]] to the president, the Ministry of Political Affairs, the [[national security adviser]] to the president, the senior political advisors to the president, and the senior economic advisers to the president are all located with the State House. |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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The State House was built in 1895 and was initially referred to as Fort Thornton. In the colonial days it was the residence of the [[Governor of Sierra Leone]]. It became the official residence of the [[Prime Minister of Sierra Leone]] from 1961-1971. Since 1971, the State House has served as the official residence and principal workplace of the [[President of Sierra Leone]]. |
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== External links == |
== External links == |
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* [http://www.statehouse.gov.sl |
* [http://www.statehouse.gov.sl Official website] of the Republic of Sierra Leone State House |
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{{Coord|8|29|12.21|N|13|14|2.1|W|region:SL_type:landmark|display=title}} |
{{Coord|8|29|12.21|N|13|14|2.1|W|region:SL_type:landmark|display=title}} |
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{{Presidential Palaces in Africa}} |
{{Presidential Palaces in Africa |state=collapsed}} |
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[[Category:Buildings and structures in Freetown]] |
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Freetown]] |
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[[Category:Government buildings completed in 1895]] |
[[Category:Government buildings completed in 1895]] |
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[[Category:Houses completed in 1895]] |
[[Category:Houses completed in 1895]] |
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[[Category:Governors of Sierra Leone|*House]] |
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[[Category:Presidents of Sierra Leone|*House]] |
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Latest revision as of 14:47, 10 February 2024
| The State House | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
  State House Location in central Freetown | |
| Former names | Fort Thornton |
| General information | |
| Address | State Avenue, Tower Hill, Freetown, Sierra Leone |
| Coordinates | 8°29′12.21″N 13°14′2.1″W / 8.4867250°N 13.233917°W |
| Current tenants | Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone, First Lady Fatima Bio, and their family |
| Completed | 1895 (122 years old) |
| Inaugurated | 1894 |
| Owner | Government of Sierra Leone |
| Landlord | Government of Sierra Leone |
The State House is the official residence of the president of Sierra Leone. It is home to the offices of the president, senior presidential staff and associated aides. The State House is located at State Avenue, Tower Hill, in central Freetown.
History
[edit]The State House is located on State Avenue, Tower Hill, in central Freetown.[1] It stands on the site of Fort Thornton, built from ca. 1792 to 1805 and named after Henry Thornton. Inside of it was Government House, the seat of the British governor. Although it was being continually repaired and Jane Drew made alterations to it after the war,[2] it was soon after considered "to be nearing the end of its useful life".[3] In 1949 plans for a new Government House were presented to the public.[4] They had been prepared by the senior architect of the Public Works Department, Robin Halliday Macartney, who was entirely responsible for the design and the construction.[5] After several delays the building was finished in 1954 and the governor, Sir Robert Hall, moved in in February.[6] At the express wish of the governor, "the fortification walls should be retained on account of their aesthetic and historical value."[7] Therefore, the walls were declared National Monuments in 1949.[8] As the old walls were of uncertain strength, "it was deemed prudent to place no great load on them".[9] The old bastion walls can be seen from the gate.
The lions on the gateposts have also been taken over from the old Government House. Thus the building harmoniously combines the old and the new. It consists of "two wings pivoted on a central tower"[10] which houses a spiral staircase with a mosaic of the world at the bottom. The two wings are asymmetrical in design, with an open facade at the front, creating a sense of lightness and buoyancy. When completed, the new Government House was one of the highest buildings in Freetown, a modern counterpart to the nearby Law Courts of 1910. From 1976 on, the State House, as it was now called, received an extension which changed the original impression.[11] During the colonial period it was used as the residence of the governor of Sierra Leone. It was the official residence of the prime minister of Sierra Leone from 1961 to 1971, after which it became the residence of the president.[1]
_(4723659115).jpg)
Security
[edit]As the residence of the president of Sierra Leone, the State House is constantly protected by the Presidential Guard. The guard is a special unit of the Sierra Leone Armed Forces. The Sierra Leone Police, who are responsible for road traffic control around the State House, clear traffic and assist with security when the presidential convoy moves within any part of the country.
The State House is closed to the general public, and only authorized persons and vehicles are permitted access.
Staff
[edit]The president's senior staff members have offices inside the State House. These include the office of the president's chief minister, chief of staff, and the presidential press secretary. The offices of the aide de camp to the president, the Ministry of Political Affairs, the national security adviser to the president, the senior political advisors to the president, and the senior economic advisers to the president are all located with the State House.
References
[edit]- ^ a b "The State House". Government of Sierra Leone. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ Iain Jackson and Jessica Holland, The Architecture of Edwin Maxwell Fry and Jane Drew: Twentieth century Architecture, Pioneer Modernism and the Tropics. Routledge 2016, p. 30.
- ^ Annual Report of the Public Works Department for the Year 1947, S. 4.
- ^ The Crown Colonist, vol. 19, April 1949, p. 249.
- ^ Annual Report of the Public Works Department for the Year 1950, p. 1.
- ^ Annual Report of the Public Works Department for the Year 1953, p. 6. See also Annual Report of the Public Works Department for the Year 1952, p. 10 f. about the building progress and construction details.
- ^ Annual Report of the Public Works Department for the Year 1953, p. 5.
- ^ Annual Report of the Monuments and Relics Commission for the Year 1949, p. 1.
- ^ Annual Report of the Monuments and Relics Commission for the Year 1949, p. 6.
- ^ The Crown Colonist, vol. 19, April 1949, p. 249.
- ^ The Sierra Leone Gazette, vol. 107, 1976, p. 879.
External links
[edit]- Official website of the Republic of Sierra Leone State House
8°29′12.21″N 13°14′2.1″W / 8.4867250°N 13.233917°W
