Bermuda: Bird Cage - Hamilton, Pembroke Parish

Bird Cage

Hamilton, Pembroke Parish

Bermuda

N 32° 17.522 W 064° 47.161

Short Description: 

The Bird Cage is located at the intersection of Front Street and Front Street Extension (which turns into Pitts Bay Road) and Queen Street.

Long Description:

The Bird Cage is an iconic structure on Front Street in Hamilton, Bermuda. It gets it's name from Hamilton's first city engineer, Geoffrey ‘Dickie’ Bird. From within this blue and white painted bird-cage-like structure in the middle of heavily traveled street junction in downtown Hamilton Bermuda policemen direct traffic, often with great showmanship. According to the designer of the Bird Cage, Geoffrey ‘Dickie’ Bird, the Bird Cage was built after “seeing a policeman standing there and realising he needed to be protected from the elements.”

The Bird Cage is considered to be a place of historical and cultural importance. Geoffrey ‘Dickie’ Bird died in 2011.

The stamp was issued by Bermuda in 1979 s part of a series of four stamps commemorating the centenary of the Bermuda Police.

p.s. The blue building across the street from the Bird Cage (as seen in the stamp and setting is may also be of interest to tourists and locals alike. It's the corporate headquarters and outlet store of Gosling Brothers Limited the maker of Gosling Rum, one of Bermuda's most famous products.

Bermuda: Victoria Park Bandstand - Hamilton, Pembroke Parish

Victoria Park Bandstand

Hamilton, Pembroke Parish

Bermuda

N 32° 17.743 W 064° 47.095

Short Description: 

An ornate iron bandstand is the focal point of Victoria Park in Hamilton, Bermuda.

Long Description:

A 40' diameter ornate iron band stand is located in the northwest quadrant of Victoria Park in Hamilton, Bermuda. The bandstand was built in Scotland and erected in the park in 1899. It was used by British regimental bands to play concerts. By 2008, the bandstand fell into disrepair and it was shipped back to Scotland for restoration. In April 2009 the newly refurbished bandstand was returned to Victoria Park. Concerts are performed during the summer and in December just before Christmas.

The stamp was issued by Bermuda in 2001 as part of a series of four stamps depicting the paintings of Bermudian artist Charles Lloyd Tucker. The building behind the bandstand is Hamilton City Hall which is immediately south of Victoria Park although screened by trees and not nearly as prominent as in the painting.

Bermuda: Praying Mantis Fountain - Hamilton, Pembroke Parish

Praying Mantis Fountain

Queen Elizabeh Park

Hamilton, Pembroke Parish

Bermuda

N 32° 17.563 W 064° 47.210

Short Description: 

A praying mantis is the focal point of this fountain located in Queen Elizabeth Park, formerly Par-la-Ville, in Hamilton, Bermuda.

Long Description:

A larger than life praying mantis is perched on top of an equally large water plant at the Praying Mantis Fountain in Queen Elizabeth Park. Water flows into a pond to the right of the sculpture, then under a concrete pathway into the pond that contains the sculpture.

A plaque next to the sculpture gives the background information about the fountain. It is inscribed:

Berthold Schiwetz

American, 1909 - 1973

Praying Mantis Fountain

bronze

Collection of the Bermuda National Gallery

Gift of John Hinson Young II and Nelga Vivian Young

Berthold Schiwetz studied sculpture at the Cranbrook Academy of Art in

Michigan under Carl Milles, Swedish sculptor known for his fountains.

He accompanied Milles to Italy where Schiwetz learned how to use water

as a sculptural design element in his fountains. This aspect, as

well as his fondness for the animals and insects he played with as a little

boy, is readily evident here in his whimsical Praying Mantis Fountain.

Bermuda: Queen Elizabeth Park Pergola - Hamilton, Pembroke Parish

Pergola

Queen Elizabeth Park 

Hamilton, Pembroke Parish 

Bermuda

N 32° 17.552 W 064° 47.220

Short Description: 

The pergola in Queen Elizabeth Park is located near the center of the park where the main walkways cross.

Long Description:

The gardens at Queen Elizabeth Park, formerly Par-La-Ville, were originally part of the estate of William B. Perot, the first Post Master of Bermuda. The rolling hills of the park contain: sculptures, rock gardens, flower beds, and shade trees. In the 19th Century, the park was orange orchard.

50' long wooden pergola is located on the north-south walkway just before it encounters the main east-west walkway. The pergola is covered with vines and Bougainvillea flowers. Wooden benches provide a shady retreat in the center of the pergola.

Bermuda: Spirit of Joanna - Hamilton, Pembroke Parish

Spirit of Joanna
Queen Elizabeth Park

Hamilton, Pembroke Parish

Bermuda

N 32° 17.570 W 064° 47.216

Short Description: 

The figurative sculpture named Spirit of Joanna is located in Queen Elizabeth Park in Hamilton, Bermuda.

Long Description:

A life size bronze sculpture of a young woman is standing on a circular rock platform with her left foot in front of her right. The woman is wearing a calf length dress with a belt around her waist. She is looking over her left shoulder and her hair is swept back over her right shoulder. Her right hand is on her hip and she is holding a basket in her right hand by her right side.

The sculpture is located on a sloping, densely vegetated area of Queen Elizabeth Park. Spirit of Joanna was created by local Bermuda sculptor Desmond Fountain in 1993. It is listed as part of the collection of the Bermuda National Gallery.
Name: Spirit of Joanna

Bermuda: Student a Shona Sculpture - Hamilton, Pembroke Parish

Student
Queen Elizabeth Park

Hamilton, Pembroke Parish

Bermuda

N 32° 17.564 W 064° 47.218

Short Description: 

The Shona style sculpture, "Student", is located in Queen Elizabeth Park in Hamilton, Bermuda.
Location: Bermuda

Long Description:

Jonothan Mhondorohuma has carved "Student" a 4' high seated figure from springstone a variety of black serpentine. The "Student" is sitting on a 1.5' cubic limestone base set on top of a 6" high square floor level base. The barefooted figure is wearing a textured one piece outfit. The right hand of the student is placed on the right side of his bald round head. His right elbow is resting on an open book that he is holding on his lap with his left hand.

A sign on the side of the base gives background material. It is inscribed:

Jonothan Mhondorohuma

Zimbabwean, 1974

"Student" from the Book Reader Series, 2006

springstone

Collection of the Bermuda National Gallery

Gift of Dusty Hind and Barara O'Shaughnessy

Shona Sculpture, also called Zimbanwe Sculpture is widely

accepted as the most important art movement to emerge from

Africa in the twentieth century. Mhondorohuma's subject matter

is seen as classical and innovative almost always involving 

human activity and ranging from cultural Shona customs to daily

life. His "Book Reader" series in particular has received wide

acclaim and is currently an area he continues to explore. He is

currently a widely exhibiting artist and is regarded as one of the

major talents of the Shona sculptors.

Bermuda: Queen Elizabeth Park Moongate - Hamilton, Pembroke Parish

Moongate

Queen Elizabeth Park

Hamilton, Pembroke Parish

Bermuda

GPS: N32° 17.529 W64° 47.221

Short Description:

The Queen Elizabeth Park Moongate is reached by climbing up the steps off Par-La-Ville Road in Hamilton, Bermuda.

Long Description:

The Par-La-Ville Road entrance is on the west side of Queen Elizabeth Park. After you climb the steps  you will pass through Bermuda's oldest limestone Moongate. This circular opening in the limestone wall has a beautiful wrought iron gate. Legend says that moongates bring good luck for those, particularly couples, who pass though them. Another legend states that newlyweds  that pass through a moongate will be assured a long and happy life together.