Wikipedia refers that the gun and its firing can be traced back to the 1860s. It was owned and operated by Jardines who had their godowns at North Point. In 1941, the gun was dismantled, and it was lost. After 1945, the Royal Navy provided Jardines with a six-pound gun, which was fired for the first time on 1 July 1947. Due to complaints about the noise, the gun was replaced by a Hotchkiss three-pounder in 1961.
The original place of the gun was in front of Jardines' premises at East Point. Due to reclamation (widening of Gloucester Road), it had to be moved northward to the new waterfront.
That's got to be East Point. The previous location of the gun should be around the grounds of present day World Trade Centre/then Exelcior Hotel. Even with three pounder it was still EXTREMELY LOUD, especially with residential blocks on three sides of the site.
I lived in 51 Paterson Street since 1964 (through early 1980s). The gun was literally just next door.
Gwulo has a copy of news clip of Mr Coward firing the gun in the 1960s. That photo apparently showed a patch of well manicured lawn. I have a vague impression of seeing part of the lawn on the roof of #51 Paterson Street, but unable to see the gun. It was blocked by a lower building. If you look at the map, that would make the gun platform a bit more closer to the then sea front.
I found (a or the) previous location. On the 1959.1 map on hkmaps.hk, the place of the noonday gun is shown, directly at the then waterfront. It was at the place where the Excelsior Hotel stood, just west of today's Riviera Mansions. From 1970 onwards, this area was occupied by the Excelsior Hotel.
You wrote in your comment that the 1968 photo "showed a patch of well manicured lawn". This obviously showed the previous place of the gun. I've created a place for it.
On the 1972 map, the underpass below Gloucester Road can be seen, leading to a place which is today's gun platform. Possibly there was no gun firing for some years.
I believe the noon day gun did not stop its firing at noon during the then reclamation period. At least I did not have such an impression while living next door.
The bang was not as loud after the move but could still make babies or those new to the neighbourhood jump.
Your remark about the firing without a break made me think that the construction of Gloucester Road/Victoria Park Road might have started earlier than I originally thought. And yes, an aerial photograph from 1969 shows that the reclamation works had already been finished in the area where the noonday gun stood.
The older location of the noonday gun (red circle) can still be seen, the new one (blue circle) seems to be unfinished but ready to have the gun placed here soon. Therefore, the gun still operated during the reclamation works on the older site and was transferred to the new one in (likely) 1969/70 when the old site was rebuilt.
Comments
Wikipedia refers that the…
Wikipedia refers that the gun and its firing can be traced back to the 1860s. It was owned and operated by Jardines who had their godowns at North Point. In 1941, the gun was dismantled, and it was lost. After 1945, the Royal Navy provided Jardines with a six-pound gun, which was fired for the first time on 1 July 1947. Due to complaints about the noise, the gun was replaced by a Hotchkiss three-pounder in 1961.
The original place of the gun was in front of Jardines' premises at East Point. Due to reclamation (widening of Gloucester Road), it had to be moved northward to the new waterfront.
Re: East Point
Hi Klaus,
That's got to be East Point. The previous location of the gun should be around the grounds of present day World Trade Centre/then Exelcior Hotel. Even with three pounder it was still EXTREMELY LOUD, especially with residential blocks on three sides of the site.
I lived in 51 Paterson Street since 1964 (through early 1980s). The gun was literally just next door.
T
Thanks T. Of course, East…
Thanks T. Of course, East Point - already corrected.
I agree with your assumption of the previous location. Despite looking at older maps and photos, I could not spot any former location.
Re:Previous location of the gun
Hi Klaus,
Gwulo has a copy of news clip of Mr Coward firing the gun in the 1960s. That photo apparently showed a patch of well manicured lawn. I have a vague impression of seeing part of the lawn on the roof of #51 Paterson Street, but unable to see the gun. It was blocked by a lower building. If you look at the map, that would make the gun platform a bit more closer to the then sea front.
T
Re:Previous location of the gun
I found (a or the) previous location. On the 1959.1 map on hkmaps.hk, the place of the noonday gun is shown, directly at the then waterfront. It was at the place where the Excelsior Hotel stood, just west of today's Riviera Mansions. From 1970 onwards, this area was occupied by the Excelsior Hotel.
You wrote in your comment that the 1968 photo "showed a patch of well manicured lawn". This obviously showed the previous place of the gun. I've created a place for it.
On the 1972 map, the underpass below Gloucester Road can be seen, leading to a place which is today's gun platform. Possibly there was no gun firing for some years.
Re: Noon day gun
Hi Klaus,
I believe the noon day gun did not stop its firing at noon during the then reclamation period. At least I did not have such an impression while living next door.
The bang was not as loud after the move but could still make babies or those new to the neighbourhood jump.
T
Re: Noon day gun operation
Hi T,
Your remark about the firing without a break made me think that the construction of Gloucester Road/Victoria Park Road might have started earlier than I originally thought. And yes, an aerial photograph from 1969 shows that the reclamation works had already been finished in the area where the noonday gun stood.
The older location of the noonday gun (red circle) can still be seen, the new one (blue circle) seems to be unfinished but ready to have the gun placed here soon. Therefore, the gun still operated during the reclamation works on the older site and was transferred to the new one in (likely) 1969/70 when the old site was rebuilt.