After waiting in storage for years, it took two cranes this week to hoist the Island’s biggest gun — a 38-tonne giant — as it was readied for public display.

The gun is being cleaned and will be shown at the National Museum of Bermuda.

Curator Elena Strong said the colossus — a 9.2-inch Mk X rifled breech loader, originally from Fort Victoria in St George’s — had lain in temporary storage near the Dockyard cement silos since its transfer in 2010 from the demolition of the old Club Med site.

“There will be construction in Dockyard for the America’s Cup, so we moved it on to museum property,” Ms Strong added.

The gun, built by the ordnance company, Vickers, Sons & Maxim, was mounted in 1902 and, with its gun shield, cradle and other heavy components, it will become “a massive installation”, she said.

After it is sandblasted and cleaned, it will be given pride of place at Bastion F on the upper grounds of the museum.