Exploring the Historic Old City Boundary Guns in Freetown

The Old City Boundary Guns in Freetown consist of three 18th-century cannons that once defined the physical limits of the Sierra Leone colony. Originally placed around 1800, these iron relics served as municipal markers at a time when the settlement occupied only a few square miles near the coast. Today, only one of these markers remains clearly visible to the public, standing at the heavily trafficked intersection of Kissy Road, Ross Road, and Blackhall Road. This specific area is widely referred to by locals as Up Gun, a name derived directly from the vertical orientation of the historical artillery piece located there.

Historians believe these cannons were salvaged from condemned slave ships captured by the British Royal Navy. By repurposing the weapons as border posts, the early colonial administration established a clear perimeter for the growing town. The guns were initially buried deep in the earth with only two or three feet of the muzzle protruding above the ground. This unusual vertical placement was a practical choice intended to prevent residents from using the heavy iron tubes as seats or benches. Over decades of urban expansion, the markers became obscured by silt and tropical overgrowth until a concerted effort was made to recover them in the mid-20th century.

The Origins and Function of Freetown’s Cannons

Relics of the Abolition Era

The iron cannons used as boundary markers are deeply tied to the maritime history of the West Africa Squadron. After the 1807 abolition of the slave trade by the British Parliament, the Royal Navy frequently intercepted illegal vessels and brought them to Freetown for adjudication. The heavy guns from these ships were often stripped and left at the wharf. Since iron was a valuable but scarce resource for construction in the early 1800s, the colonial authorities found that using the surplus cannons as permanent geographic markers was the most efficient way to utilize the heavy metal. This gives the guns a dual historical weight, representing both the military presence in the region and the broader efforts to end the trans-Atlantic slave trade.

Municipal Limits and Road Cleaning

While we view these guns as historical monuments now, their original purpose was mundane and administrative. Around 1801, the Kissy Road gun marked the eastern limit of the city and was used to determine responsibility for road maintenance and cleaning. One side of the marker represented the jurisdiction of Freetown, while the other side belonged to Granville Town. This division helped the early government manage the logistics of a settlement that was rapidly expanding due to the arrival of Black Poor from London, Nova Scotians, and Maroons. These markers were the first formal attempt at urban planning in a city that would eventually grow to house over one million people.

Navigating the Site: The Up Gun Experience

The Kissy Road Junction

Visitors looking for the primary monument must head to the East End of Freetown. The gun is mounted on a short stone plinth in the middle of a major roundabout that connects the downtown district with the port area of Cline Town. In 1953, the Monuments and Relics Commission formalized its status under Public Notice 77, adding brass explanatory plates produced by the Sierra Leone Government Railway Workshop. Finding a safe moment to cross the road to see the brass plates up close is difficult because of the constant flow of taxis and motorbikes. I recommend viewing the gun from the sidewalk near the technical college junction rather than attempting to stand in the center of the circle during peak traffic hours.

The Search for Missing Markers

Historical records indicate that two other guns were placed at the southern and western boundaries of the old city. One was located on Leicester Road, also known as Mountain Road, and another sat at the junction of Pademba Road and Jomo Kenyatta Road, which was then called Mereweather Road. Unlike the Up Gun at Kissy Road, these secondary markers have largely vanished from public view. Some reports suggest they were buried during road expansion projects or lost to the encroachment of private buildings. For the casual traveler, trekking to these specific coordinates is often unrewarding; the urban sprawl has swallowed the physical evidence, leaving the Kissy Road cannon as the sole surviving sentinel of the 1800 border.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the exact location of the visible boundary gun?

The only clearly visible marker is situated at the junction of Kissy Road, Ross Road, and Blackhall Road in eastern Freetown. Locally known as the Up Gun, it sits in the center of a major traffic circle and requires careful navigation to approach on foot. Visitors should use the FQMP+8VF Plus Code if using digital maps for navigation.

Are there any fees to visit the Old City Boundary Guns?

There are no admission fees or tickets required because the monument is located on a public sidewalk within a municipal intersection. Visitors can view the iron cannon at any time of day without a permit or official guide, though daylight hours are safer for navigating the heavy local traffic.

Why were the cannons originally placed vertically?

The cannons were half-buried with their muzzles pointing upward to discourage people from using them as benches or gathering spots. When the Monuments and Relics Commission restored them in 1953, they preserved this vertical orientation on stone plinths to maintain the specific historical character of the original boundary markers.

When were the guns officially recognized as national monuments?

The guns were declared National Monuments of Sierra Leone in 1953 under Public Notice 77. This proclamation led to the excavation of the silted-up cannons and the addition of commemorative brass plates that detail their 18th-century origins.