'In December 2009, Government transferred Casemate Barracks and its adjacent buildings and fortifications to Bermuda Maritime Museum, creating the National Museum of Bermuda. Archaeological and restoration work on the former Casemates (Prison) site continued under the leadership of Dr. Edward Harris, the Museum's director.' – The West End Development Corporation, Annual Report 2010

In their Annual Report for their financial year 2010, published in September 2010, the West End Development Corporation, if perhaps not banking at HSBC, notes its investment in the Casemate Barracks project, which flanks historic Dockyard that they are actively restoring. It has been a pleasure to work with WEDCO, its Chairman, Walter Lister, JP, MP, the Board, and the General Manager, Andrew Dias, to bring forward the concept of incorporating the Casemates area into what is now the National Museum of Bermuda. The Museum will thus include all the fortifications of the Dockyard and the historic buildings within, an architectural entity that surrounds the Dockyard to the east, north and west. In banking on "Doc" Harris, however, I would advise them to check on the definition of the military phrase "pincer movement", as some defensive banks might be needed at some future time!

Another corporation that is banking on the Casemate Barracks project, as well as other good works in the community is HSBC, a.k.a in more verbose times as the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. According to a press release from the Bank, "In 2006 HSBC launched the 'Staff Community Action Day Volunteer Programme', providing all permanent, full time staff with time off from work per calendar year to volunteer their time for one of three selected projects. Each year the projects focus on education, environment and one other important community initiative". In September 2010, the Casemate Barracks in Bermuda was chosen as one of those projects.

The statement goes on to say that "HSBC is a committed supporter of our community. Through sponsorships, charitable donations and staff volunteer hours we lead the way in helping to make our community a better place to live today and securing a successful future for tomorrow. Our firm belief is that HSBC has a responsibility to the communities in which we operate. Our commitment is the donation of a portion of our annual net income to community sponsorships, educational and environmental projects in Bermuda. Through the preservation of the historic structures like Casemates we can help to educate our community and the world on Bermuda's diverse history and the importance of preserving that heritage".

So much for thoughts and intentions in the strategic bank, what about the tactics of investment in the Casemates projects? Naturally, we were hoping for an armoured car full of BDA dollars, but were delighted to realise that we would be getting in-kind help from an army of HSBC Staffers, who had signed up to go to war at the old barracks for five days, nearly 150 privates, corporals and sergeant-majors in all. (Please understand that the good Dr. Harris reserves the generalship, or commissioner-ship, at Dockyard for himself.)

As these good souls were volunteers, rather than conscripts, they proved very receptive to commands and soon got to work. For those unfamiliar with the site, the Casemate Barracks was Bermuda's maximum prison from 1963 to 1994, when a state of art facility was built to the southwest of the Dockyard. The Barracks was built in the late 1830s and early 1840s, probably being completed around 1843 and as its original name indicates, it was designed for some 20 officers and 200 men. It was used into the early 1950s and thereafter left to the elements. After its three-decade life as "Casemates Prison", it was again left to the will of the climate and the wiles of vandals: will someone please return the wonderful door for one of the gunpowder magazines, seen by the writer some eight years ago?

Anyway, after a pep talk by the Commanding Officer, Major-Gen. Dr. E.C. Harris, FSA, etc., etc., the HSBC corps got down to the calisthenics of hand-demolition of the prison elements of concrete block walls, iron grills, washroom features and old electrical fittings and whatnot. Straight out the windows with the new of the 1960s and in with the old of the 1840s. The object is to return the Casemate Barracks and its two adjacent historic buildings of the Upper and Lower Ordnance Yards to their original format, to use a modern computer term. Much of the work has to be done by hand, as access by machinery is difficult and in some areas impossible. Thus every pair of HSBC hands made a valuable contribution to the Casemates project, and the Museum is grateful for their contribution during their 2010 "Community Action Day". All were mentioned in dispatches from that heritage front: medals will be awarded later.

In 1847, according to a painting of that date in the Fay and Geoffrey Elliott Collection in the Bermuda Archives, the Casemate Barracks was the third earliest building of the second period of the Dockyard. More evidence on the first phase from 1809 to the early 1820s has emerged archaeologically in the Casemates area, but that is a subject for a later article. The Elliott Collection watercolour, partly shown here for its central detail, captures the completed Casemates Barracks from the vista of the veranda of the Commissioner's House: British Army redcoats can be seen there, as well as marching in the Dockyard itself, which is void of all the buildings we known and love in that area today.

The two buildings that are in the Dockyard are from the first phase of its construction and were demolished in the late 1850s. The three main features of the second phase were the Commissioner's House, the massive and extensive fortifications (still not finished in 1847) and the Casemate Barracks, the last being built, as we may now suggest, on the ruins of the original defensive ditch and fort of the Dockyard.

The Dockyard, thanks to the work of Wedco and the Museum, is now apparently the most visited historical district in Bermuda, which must be a clear balance sheet to government, businesses, all residents, and global corporations, such as the community-minded HSBC, that banking on heritage (and saving it for the interest of present and future generations) is an investment that everyone should take shares it. The HSBC teams have made a major investment with their volunteer work and are due our thanks, along with the CEO, Mr. Phil Butterfield, and the management, for banking on the Casemate Barracks.

Edward Cecil Harris, MBE, JP, PHD, FSA is Executive Director of the National Museum of Bermuda, incorporating the Bermuda Maritime Museum. Comments may be made to director@bmm.bm or 704-5480.