Goose Green

Goose Green (Spanish: "Prado de Ganso", "Ganso Verde") is a settlement in Lafonia on East Falkland in the Falkland Islands. It lies on Choiseul Sound, on the east side of the island's central isthmus, 4 km south of Darwin.

Goose Green is home to a shop and a small airfield, while other attractions include the nearby Bodie Suspension Bridge and the "Vicar of Bray" shipwreck, which participated in the California gold rush.

Goose Green farm itself is massive. At convert|430000|acre|km2, it is double the size of the farms as Port Howard or North Arm.

History

Goose Green was established in 1875, as the site of a tallow factory. Wigglesworth, Angela. (1992) "Falkland People". Pub. Peter Owen. ISBN 0-7206-0850-3]

According to the "1911 Encyclopedia Britannica", at the turn of the 20th century, many of the local inhabitants were Scottish, which in part is reflected by the nearby placename, Brenton Loch. There were thirteen people recorded as living here at that time. At about this time, Goose Green began to take off:

:"A canning factory was opened in 1911 at Goose Green, and was extremely successful for nine years. It absorbed a large proportion of surplus sheep, but during the slump of the postwar years, the concern suffered a serious loss and in in 1921 it closed down." Strange, Ian (1983) "The Falkland Islands"]

Despite this setback, a mere year later, the settlement grew after it became the base for the Falkland Islands Company's sheep farm in Lafonia in 1922 - the population rose to nearly 200, with improved sheep handling and wool shed being built. In 1927, the settlement's huge sheep shearing shed was built, which is claimed to be the world's largest, with a capacity of five thousand sheep. However, this claim is hard to verify. Wigglesworth, Angela. (1992) "Falkland People". Pub. Peter Owen. ISBN 0-7206-0850-3] In 1979, 100,598 sheep were shorn at Goose Green

Up until the 1970s, Goose Green was the site of a boarding school, run by the state. "Camp" children boarded here, and there were 40 spaces. The boarding school was later transferred to Stanley, although the recent emphasis has been on locally based education. The school itself became an Argentine HQ, and was burnt down. A new (day) school has been built for local children. Wigglesworth, Angela. (1992) "Falkland People". Pub. Peter Owen. ISBN 0-7206-0850-3]

The population of the town has atrophied since the Falklands War. In 1982, there were a hundred residents. Now there are forty [http://www.falklands.info/background/visitorsguide.html] It is now part of the Falkland Landholdings Corporation, a government managed company.

There are two listed buildings here, the Stone Cottage, and the village hall. [cite news| url=http://www.falklands.info/background/listedb.html| work=Buildings and Structures in the Falkland Islands designated as being of Architectural or Historic Interest| title=Falkland Islands Information Web Portal| accessdate=2008-07-08]

Falklands War

Goose Green was occupied by Argentine forces during the Falklands War. Over one hundred islanders were imprisoned in the community hall, while over 1,000 Argentine troops occupied the settlement and nearby Darwin. It was the subject of the first land battle of that conflict (see Battle of Goose Green), as it was relatively close to the site of the British landings, San Carlos, and the British leaders were looking for an early victory, even if the site was not necessarily of military importance. The area is still heavily mined.

ee also

* Battle of Goose Green
** Chris Keeble

References

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