Owing to the Cape of Storms’s bad weather – the high sea and big winds – many vessels travelling around Cape Town took refuge in the sheltered Table Bay. However, in 1902 (most probably owing to their deafening volume), it was decided that the devices would be moved to Lion’s Battery on Signal Hill. Shortly after the Imhoff Battery was destroyed in 1896, the cannons were moved to the Castle. The shooting was two-fold – for time-signal purposes and as a mark of respect. The practice of the noon firing, however, wasn’t as simple as some trigger-happy individuals wanting to let of a bit of steam. Each cannon weighs more than a whopping two tons and are loaded with 1.5kg of gunpowder.įor over a century the muzzleloaders were housed and fired from the Imhoff Battery near the Castle of Good Hope. The original 1794 18-pounder smoothbore muzzleloaders are still used today and are reportedly the oldest daily used guns in the world. Should there be a misfire, the cannoneer’s colleague is on standby and will quickly change over and fire the second gun. The serial numbers 330 and 249 can also be seen, thus making is relatively easy to trace the old weaponry back to 1794.Īlthough both ship weapons are loaded six days a week (not on a Sunday or Public Holidays), only one is fired where the second is used as a backup. The crest of George Rex (founder of Knysna) as well as the British crown is still visible on the machinery as well as the markings of W & Co (Walker and Company). ![]() Originally designed by Captain Thomas Blomefield and cast in 1794 by London’s Walker and Company, the guns were brought to the Cape in 1795 during the British occupation. The green cannons (there are two of them, just in case one fails) are 219 years old and have been fired since February 1806. With BRAVO flying high, Malgas begins to tell us the history behind the 12pm boom. The flag will subsequently be lowered after the firing. With some time still to spare Malgas begins to raise the red flag BRAVO, which is a warning signal for the gunfire. Malgas, a member of the SA Navy steps forward in front of the excited crowd. Whether you are a long-term Capetonian or a visitor to the Mother City, the tradition of firing the Noon Gun never ceases to amaze or surprise people. Having managed to survive a Dutch and British colony, a Dutch renaissance, the British occupation, the Anglo-Boer War, the rise and fall of apartheid and later a new democratic society – it is a very deserving title. As the quarter-to mark draws near, a small crowd gathers around the cannons excited to witness Cape Town’s oldest tradition. I specifically wore it this morning (along with my other three watches) so that I could change the time of each watch accordingly as the blast occurs. I check my wristwatch, it is a little before quarter to 12. 350m in height, Signal Hill separates Sea Point from the City Bowl and although it is named after its original use of flying signal flags to communicate with nearby ships, the renowned hill is also home to the Noon Gun. On a clear day, the famous mound rewards visitors with spectacular views across the Table Bay harbour, the central city, the Atlantic Ocean and Table Mountain. The tale behind the 12pm boom from Signal Hill and how you can go and experience itĪrriving at Lion’s Battery, situated on the lower slopes of Signal Hill, the first thing I notice is the incredible view that lies before me. You could also head down into the Bo-Kaap for a meal at The Noon Gun Tea Room in Longmarket Street.The Noon Gun in Cape Town: The Big Bang Story (plus another secret cannon firing) Watch the daily firing of the gun, or bring a picnic and find a spot looking out over the Atlantic Ocean near the parking lot. The two cannons were brought to Signal Hill in 1902, serving as time signals for ships at anchor. The site got its name from the practice of using signal flags to communicate with ships in the bay, and later the famous Noon Gun. On summer evenings Signal Hill becomes a ‘lover’s lane’ with couples admiring the city lights and the romance of the floodlit background of Table Mountain. The family-friendly picnic spots are popular with locals and visitors alike in all seasons. ![]() Most people make their way there for the spectacular views across the Cape Town harbour, city and Atlantic Ocean. Forming the ‘lion’s rump’ for the adjacent Lion’s Head, Signal Hill is a prominent attraction from which the historic Noon Gun is fired at midday.
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