A former cannon from the Russian scare at a quarry in Gollans Bay. 23 April 1958.
The rifled muzzle loader (RML) was used by the British Empire in the second half of the nineteenth century to defend both its warships and coastal fortifications. RML were in place at Battery Point overlooking Gollans Bay during the "Russian scare" of 1885. The scare was a response to the invasion by the Russian Empire of the Panjdeh region in what is now Turkmenistan. The close proximity of Russian Imperial forces to the border of the British Raj in India led to a fear that war between the two empires was inevitable. Although the war never eventuated, Battery Point in Lyttelton Harbour remained a coastal defence in the First World War and the Second World War. The site was closed in the 1950s.
Do you have any photographs of the former gun emplacement at Battery Point? If so, feel free to contribute to our collection.
The Discovery Wall is a large interactive exhibition which allows several people to simultaneously explore images and stories of the history of the people and places of Christchurch. It is viewable on the ground floor of Tūranga, 60 Cathedral Square, Christchurch, New Zealand or on the Mobile Discovery Wall. Images displayed on the Wall can also be found on the Discovery Wall website.
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