The Bell Tower
Acting on behalf of the British Columbia Government, the company sold the surrounding land to pioneers but kept the area around here for itself. During The Fraser River Gold Rush of 1858, thousands of new settlers, including many immigrants, arrived in Victoria. The Hudson’s Bay sold the Fort Victoria land to these new arrivals in irregular shaped parcels of property. This is why parts of Bastion Square are very narrow while others are much wider. A wooden bell tower was located at the centre of Fort Victoria one block south of here, at the corner of Langley Street and Fort Street. The bell rang to call the Hudson’s Bay Company’s employees to gather for meals, church services, weddings and funerals. It was also used to warn settlers of fires and other emergencies in the community.
The bell tower and the rest of Fort Victoria were torn down after the Gold Rush, but in the 1970s it inspired the design of a new tower in the same location that contained telecommunications equipment. This was built in the form of a brick campanile, a type of tower from Renaissance Italy.
Photo courtesy BC Archives.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce
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Location. 48° 25.547′ N, 123° 22.112′ W. Marker is in Victoria, British Columbia, in Capital. It is in Downtown. Marker is at the intersection of Langley Street and Bastion Square on Langley Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1100 Langley Street, Victoria BC V8W 1H9, Canada. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Sir Matthew Baillie Begbie (within shouting distance of this marker); Former Victoria Law Courts (within shouting distance of this marker); Boomerang Court and Chancery Lane (within shouting distance of this marker); The Bank Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Victoria (within shouting distance of this marker); The Bastion (within shouting distance of this marker); The Bastion Cannons (within shouting distance of this marker); Percy Leonard James (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Victoria.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 6, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 695 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 6, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
