Introduction
Richard Clement Moody, in his words “merely a subaltern of Engineers”, was chosen 22 July 1841 at the age of 28 to proceed to the Falkland Islands. Accompanied by a small but vital group of Royal Sappers and Miners and their families, as well as two civilians to undertake surveying, Moody arrived at Port Louis 15 January 1842.
Only four days after his arrival Moody rode overland to inspect Port William in the company of Lieutenant Tyssen. After careful inspection he was of the opinion that it was much better adapted as the site of the chief town of the Colony than Port Louis but due to the lateness of the season did not have sufficient time to settle himself and his party before the winter commenced.
Less than a month after his arrival Moody sailed around the Islands to gain an impression. He completed his General Report 14 April and sent it on to London 3 May. The report outlined the resources and potential of the Islands and raised again the question of the site of a new settlement, mentioning the Admiralty’s preference for Port William as a harbour over Berkeley Sound. On 18 August 1843 Moody acknowledged the receipt of despatch 26 from Lord Stanley ordering him to take the necessary steps to remove the settlement to Port William as early as possible. The first detachment of Sappers started work on the south shore of Jackson's Harbour August 1843 with the construction of a turf house and a small wooden house. The move of the administration to Stanley - as Moody requested the new seat of government and future capital of the Falkland Islands be called - began in earnest during 1844 with the Governor himself finally moving to the new town on 15 July 1844.
Watercolour of Government House & Offices probably circa 1845 – FIC Archives, JCNA
Research done on various buildings past and present in Stanley have been divided up into pages of various streets. They are not a complete representation and are not necessarily a complete history but are intended to give a timeline for some of those that have been researched to date and will be added to from time to time.
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