Stanley Architecture

Brightly coloured corrugated iron roofs and painted decorative woodwork are characteristic of older houses in the Falklands. Most of these houses are timber framed, built from kits imported to the islands. The original Colonists' Cottages can be seen on Pioneer Row and Drury Street.

Early settlers found the stone difficult to work and there were few skilled masons; hence the importation of cheap, light-weight building materials. However, there are a few beautiful stone houses of note and worthy of inclusion of a Stanley town-tour:
The Jubilee Villas are situated on the corner of Ross Road and Philomel Hill, built in 1887 to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. They are typical examples of British terraced town houses of that era but make a curious contrast to the rest of Stanley's architecture.
Stanley Cottage, a little further along Ross Road, was one of the first houses built in Stanley, once famous as "Hardy's Tea-Rooms", it is now owned by the Education Department and used as a residence and offices.
Opposite Victory Green is Marmont Row, constructed in 1854, possibly the first purpose-built hotel in Stanley though also consisitng of five cottages. It was the birthplace of Ellaline Teriss, a famous Edwardian actress and described in her autobiography. Enjoying fame for many years as "The Upland Goose Hotel", the row has recently been re-converted to cottages.

Other buildings of note which can be seen from Ross Road include:
Stanley House - the only brick house in the city, located between Ross Road and John Street, is now home to students from the Camp who board in Stanley during term times.
Police Station, of classic Victorian design with high, narrow cells and a walled exercise yard at the back. Extensions have been added, most recently in 2008 to modernise the facilities.
Town Hall - built in 1950 to replace the earlier one destoyed in a fire. Many records were lost in this fire as the building at the time housed the museum, library, post offfice and court offices. Today the building included the Post Office, Philatelic Bureau and the Court and Council Chamber as well as a large hall and refreshment room upstairs.
Cable Cottage - set behind the 1982 Memorial on Thatcher Drive, was built in 1915 to house the terminal of the undersea telegraphic cable link between Stanley and Montevideo.

Probably the most photographed building in Stanley (aside from Christchurch Cathedral) is Government House. This attractive building is the private residence of the Governor of the Falkland Islands and also the offices of the Foreign and Commonwealth representatives and the South Georgia Government. Set in beautiful flower gardens and with extensive vegetable plots to the rear, it has been extended at various points in time so presents a mixture of both styles and materials. Please note that this building is not open to the public but can easily be photographed from Ross Road.