Since February 2006, teams of volunteers have been carrying out "pre-restoration work" at the old Casemates Prison (1963-1994), originally built in the early 1840s as the Casemate Barracks and Lower and Upper Ordnance Buildings for the Royal Marines Light Infantry, the force that manned the guns of the Dockyard fortifications.

Before the restoration of these very important heritage structures can take place, the remains of the prison period have to be removed, much by hand.

Last year, the pre-restoration exercise was given a boost during XL's Global Day of Giving and this year, on May 21, 2008, twice as many volunteers from XL Capital signed up for eight hours of hard work, swinging sledge hammers, rattling with the blows of jackhammers and removing invasive vegetation with machete and clippers.

The highlight of the day was the discovery of a tunnel under and earlier than the Lower Ordnance Building. The tunnel is about 60 feet long, five feet wide and high enough to walk through comfortably. It would appear to be related to the first period of the fortifications of the Dockyard, but was superseded by the present Land Front to the south of the Casemate Barracks complex.

So that date in our Heritage Month was an excelling day, not only of giving by XL's staff, but of discovery as well. Everyone appeared to have a good time at Casemates, but they were asked to give their impressions of the day and therefore the remainder of this article is "In Their Own Words".

From Barry Brewer, an 11th-generation Bermudian: "My great-grandfather was a commander in the Royal Navy, my family has been involved in shipping for five generations and I own perhaps the last Bermuda-built (now 100 year old) cedar launch. So the opportunity to help restore a historic piece of the Royal Naval Dockyard and explore its deep history really appealed to me. Essentially, my colleague Matt Irvine and I worked a 50-pound jackhammer for the day to help expose the original construction. We jack-hammered and 'malled' until we were so worn out that we could no longer manoeuvre the hammer. Getting to the point of surrender was not quite what we had expected. In fact the entire day delivered the unexpected, including an over-subscription of XL volunteers, a private viewing of one of Bermuda's oldest but newest treasures, an understanding of Dockyard's defences and incredible engineering, the uncovering of a previously unknown passageway beneath our feet, a feeling of being part of an important celebration of our heritage and new respect for construction workers and archeologists. What a tremendous day."

Karina Furbert wrote: "I've been living in Bermuda for nine years and yesterday afternoon what I told my Bermudian husband is that I felt so privileged and lucky to be part of volunteering in what, from a historical point of view, was an amazing experience. We were in a place were nobody has been recently and the architecture is so beautiful. I am very passionate about history and yesterday Dr. Harris shared with us so much knowledge and experience of what a lot of people should be very proud of."

David Andrade stated that: "Given Bermuda's small landmass, it's always amazing to me how much there is to discover about it still. The architecture and history that lies within the walls of the Casemate Barracks is fascinating and something that future generations should be able to benefit from and enjoy. Once the restoration work is completed, I look forward to being able to visit the site as part of a public tour and know that in a meaningful way we have helped in ensuring that we maintain our important connections to the past."

Asa Zuill was of the view that: "The day at the Casemates Barracks was a great experience. We were working hard on various demolition projects under the supervision of Dr. Edward Harris and I am now feeling pain in muscles that I didn't know existed. It was my first time at the Casemates and it was extremely interesting get an introduction to the history of the buildings. The tour was exiting and adventurous and the fact an unexplored tunnel was discovered made the day extra special. It was really inspiring to work on this project together with the XL volunteers and the team from the Bermuda Maritime Museum."

Brian Williams sent this message: "In a time where things seem to break down so soon after they are acquired, it was nice to volunteer at the Casemate Barracks and help in the restoration of buildings that have stood against the elements since 1845. I have worked in grand old buildings before (University of Toronto) and toured old castles in Scotland, but those experiences were nothing compared to actually getting your hands dirty in places such as Casemates. I could almost feel a sense of closeness to the people who built the original structures and the enormous effort that went in to the construction of these buildings. I know these buildings will continue to stand for hundreds of years and at some time in the future, I expect that people will be told about the restoration of the Casemate Barracks and though my name will never be mentioned, I know that I had a hand in making history and that moves me."

Michele Held opined: "Spending the day at the Casemate Barracks proved to be a thoroughly enjoyable and educational experience. Dr. Harris' passion and enthusiasm was quickly shared with the entire team as we first embarked on a tour of the old prison, which included descending down a 20-foot ladder into a tunnel, which led to one of the exterior gun emplacements. Immediately following our tour, with my hard hat and protective eyewear on, I found myself wielding a sledge hammer and crowbar to demolish decaying windows and cement that had been built into the original Bermuda stonework. The hard work and heavy lifting proved worthwhile, when at the end of the day the original beauty of the Bermuda stone windows was once again visible. Thank you, Chip and Dr. Harris for a truly inspiring and fun day, and the opportunity to contribute to the pre-restoration of the Casemate Barracks."

The leader of the XL team, Col. Sumner (Chip) H. Waters, USA Ret. gets the last word: "XL's Day of Giving at Casemates shows how our company is committed to Bermuda's Heritage and its people. Our XL team of 23 represented a cross section of the company, from Insurance Underwriters to IT experts, and included members of cultures from around the world. From Bermuda, India, UK, Canada, USA and other countries, our XL volunteers laboured with picks and shovels to clear away debris to reveal the original features of this fortress. The important pre-restoration work we accomplished showed how a project like Casemates can bring everyone together in the spirit of teamwork and giving. On the wall in one of the jail cells, an inmate had written: 'The price of success is hard work!' How appropriate: much more hard work is ahead in bringing success to this historic part of Bermuda. Many thanks to Dr. Ed Harris, Andrew Harris and the Bermuda Maritime Museum team for making the XL Day of Giving at Casemates possible."

* * *

Dr. Edward Harris, MBE, JP, FSA, Bermudian, is the Executive Director of the Bermuda Maritime Museum. This article represents his opinions and not necessarily those of persons associated with the Museum. Comments can be sent to drharrislogic.bm or by telephone to 799-5480.