First discovered in 1501 by Juan Da Nova, Ascension was called Conception before being re-named in 1503 by Alphonse D'Alberquerque. A stopping off point for ships, Ascension was not continually inhabited until 1815 when Napoleon Bonaparte was imprisoned on St Helena.
The British occupied Ascension to prevent the French from using the Island as an escape route. The Victoria Marines worked hard to make the Island habitable, introducing a variety of plants and animals. Buildings, which still stand today, were erected up the Mountain and in the Garrison, now called Georgetown. Although almost indefensible, forts were built but British sovereignty was never challenged. Towards the end of the 19th century Ascension had gone into decline.
In 1899 The Easter Telegraph Company (now called Cable and Wireless) found a new use for this speck of land. They laid telegraphy cable on the seabed, and soon Ascension became the centre of communications in the South Atlantic.
Later NASA found another use for the Island and tested the moon buggy on the lava flows.
Georgetown
Originally called Garrison by the Victoria Marines, Georgetown houses most of the Islands Public Buildings. The Church of St Mary the Virgin can be seen within the Islands racetrack. The comer stone was laid in 1843 and it was finally consecrated by the first Bishop of St Helena in 1861. Fort Hayes can be clearly seen on the coastline. Built in about 1860 it is now used by the Heritage Society as a museum. The museum also boasts a splendid picture gallery as well as a large and varied number of artefacts from the Islands history.
Green Mountain
The tallest peak on the Island, Green Mountain is often shrouded in mist. It was recognised as having the greatest potential for vegetation and the Marines had a farm up there. In Victoria times and well into the twentieth century this provided all the fresh produce for the Island including milk and vegetables.
Today, with the advent of the Airbridge from the UK, the farm is considerably smaller than it was. The herd of cows has been reduced to a handful of cattle, which have become wild. There are a number of pigs remaining and a small quantity of fresh vegetables make their way to the shop periodically. Still standing are several of the buildings including the Red Lion, which despite its name was never a pub in the UK sense. It was originally built to house farm workers.
The Dew Pond is the highest point of the Island and can be found surrounded by bamboo at the summit of Green Mountain. It was dug out in 1875 to act as an emergency water supply, although in practice it would never have been sufficient to provide water for the Island. The path to the top is often muddy and a rope is provided to help both ascent and descent.
Sisters Peak
Sisters Peak is one of the most recently active volcanic peaks (500-700 years ago) of the island and dominates the skyline. A path was cut to the top in 1972 it was opened as the Hannay-Pass up Sisters. It was the position for the first letter box (see things to do). The lava flows down the other side of the peaks can be clearly seen and there are fumarole caves to be explored.
Two Boats Village
Two Boats was built to house the BBC workers when the South Atlantic Relay Station was opened at English Bay. It is so named after the 2 long boats, which were up¬ended into the ground to act as shelters from the sun at the bottom of Green Mountain, when the water was carried down the coast. Two such boats can still be seen on the way to Dampier's Drip from a stile at the top of Two Boats Village.
Comfortless Cove
A beautiful cove and one of the only two places where swimming is safe when the sea is calm. A rope has been pulled across the entrance to the cove making it even safer. Ideal for snorkelling when the sea is calm you can see a variety of fish, including Blackfish, which are the dustbins of the sea. Throw in any food substance and it will be enveloped by a Blackfish pushing and fighting to get their share. Inedible and not useful for bait they are perhaps one of the most common sights in the sea especially around the pierhead and are completely harmless to the swimmer.
Comfortless Cove was originally called Comfort Cove. It was where the ships carrying yellow fever docked. Islanders would bring the stricken sailors food and water across the rocks whilst preventing an epidemic amongst their own community. There are several small cemeteries around the coastline the most visited is above the cover and is well signposted. It is called Bonetta Cemetery after the ship HMS Bonetta who brought its fever victims ashore in 1838. Such desolation led to the change of name. At a later date. The first transatlantic telegraph cables were brought ashore at this point. Some of the original cables can still be seen today.
Boatswain Bird Island
Boatswain Bird Island is inhabited by seabirds and landing by the public is forbidden. Boat trips and divers anchor off its shores and dolphins play around the boats although they tend to shy away from swimmers.
Boatswain Bird Island can be seen from many vantage points around the Island; the top of Weatherpost or White Horse or simply by walking along from Hannay's beach next to where the blow hole spews water into a fountain.
In 1923 the English Bay Company began mining guano deposits. The remains of this mining and the old log railway tracks can be seen on the surface of Boatswain Bird Island and around English Bay itself. Even after the English Bay Company stopped commercial operations the guano off Boatswain Island was collected to fertilise the farm. There is the Boatswain Bird itself with its beautiful long tail that remains fairly aloof unlike the Fairy Terns, who in their eager curiosity fly low over your heads to see what you are doing. The Ascension Frigate bird can be seen circling the skies looking for prey. The distinctive red pouches of the male are rarely seen. The Boobies are a sight to behold when there is a fry around the Pierhead as they dive straight into the water to catch their share. Other birds include Petrels, Brown and Black Noddies and the Wideawake or Sooty Tern.