Government House stands on 33 acres on Langton Hill overlooking the North Shore in the Parish of Pembroke.   It was built in 1892, replacing an earlier Governor's residence called Mount Langton, after a Scottish estate belonging to Sir James Cockburn, Governor of Bermuda from 1814-1816.   The architect, William Cardy Hallet, designed the new Government House in the Italianate style which romanticized the revival of the villas of Tuscany and Umbria characterized by square towers and asymmetrical plans.

 The House today consists of more than 30 rooms, including a large drawing room and dining room for formal entertaining, both of which open onto a long enclosed glass sun terrace overlooking the pool and garden.   These rooms make it versatile and flexible for entertaining large or small groups all year around and provide the perfect space with plenty of light to display many works of art, antique furniture and sculpture.   All the paintings are of Bermudian images by artists living on the Island or those visiting its shores over the years.   The Collection continues through the corridors and upstairs in The Royal Suite and the private quarters of the Governor and his wife which overlook the North Shore towards Dockyard and the 4 guest bedrooms whose verandah offers a good view of Hamilton.   Some of the artwork is part of the Government Collection having been donated by individuals or by the National Trust.   The rest is on loan from Masterworks Foundation and local artists and these are always changing.

 Five gardeners from the Parks Department are assigned to maintain the property which consists of a modest kitchen garden, citrus grove, banana plantation and cut flower garden; self-generating forests; meadows and numerous small quarries planted out or covered in wild flowers, paw paw and palms.   Horses used to be kept in the paddock and exercised on what is now a large open green meadow.   There are three terraces with herbaceous borders and a rose garden.   Many ceremonial trees have been planted by members of the Royal Family, Prime Ministers, Presidents, Cabinet Ministers, Governors and First Ladies.

 As the largest open green area in the Parish, it has fine examples of every endemic and native species of vegetation that existed before man inhabited the Island.   These are crucial to ward off erosion and wind damage from tropical storms, hurricanes and winter gales.   Much of the Island in the last 50 years has seen the spread of invasives which threaten the survival of these plants and there has been a concerted effort by the current occupants of the House and the Government Parks Department to eliminate these shrubs and trees.   The grounds sustained severe damage after Hurricane "Fabian" on September 5th, 2004 and there is underway a long-term programme of clear-up, re-landscaping and planting.   A blue bird trail of 20 nesting boxes has always been a feature of the garden which attracts hundreds of migrating and native birds year round.

 The present Governor, Sir John Vereker, was appointed by Queen Elizabeth II and he and his wife, Lady Vereker, have resided at Government House since 2002.   It has been their aim to open up Government House to all Bermudians, making the grounds and House more accessible to those who have never before visited.   Professional and amateur artists have been invited to bring their palettes and brushes; apprentices in horticulture have used the grounds to do internships; girl guides and boy scouts have had plenty of room to sit around their campfire; community groups have been invited for tea and a tour of the artwork and rooms; charities have used the formal rooms for workshops, visual presentations, lectures, meetings and photo opportunities.   This has been in addition to the traditional entertainment in the Government House social diary which is extended to those who live and work in Bermuda and those visiting from other countries

 Government House is not only an official residence but also a working office for over 20 people employed as executive, secretarial and domestic staff for the Governor and the Deputy Governor.   As a stunningly beautiful landmark, it is very visible from the road or water with its off-white stone towers and arches.   Bermuda is an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom and enjoys a high degree of self government.   The Governor's flag is a Union Jack with the Bermuda arms on a white disc encircled by a green garland.   It is in a direct line to the flag pole of the Bermuda Maritime Museum, the former site of the British Naval Dockyard on the most Westerly point of the Island.   And those who live and work in the House enjoy a panoramic view of much of the Island and the boat traffic from St. George's to Dockyard or Hamilton Harbour as the deep channel passes just below the House on the North Shore.

Government House, Pembroke is the official residence of the Governor.   Built in the Italian style with stone imported from France, it was completed in 1892.   It stands immediately east of the site of a two-storey house, Mount Langton, which had served as Government House from 1815 when the seat of government was moved from St. George's.

 Outside the main entrance to the House are three cannons.   Before 1919, when they were moved to their present position, they stood with nine others at a Saluting Base on the North Shore, below Government House.

 On either side of the cannons are two Washingtonia filifera (Petticoat Palms) planted by The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh in February 1975.   From the terrace opposite there is a fine view of the garden (which now extends to 33 acres) and the North Shore.   Here there used to be steps down into the garden;  it was close to these that on the night of Saturday, March 10, 1973 the then Governor Sir Richard Sharples was murdered, together with his ADC, Captain Sayers.

 Round to the left are the West Gates and on the house terrace is a Podocarpus macrophyllus (Japanese Yew Tree), one of two planted by Governor Sir Alexander Hood and Lady Hood to commemorate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.   The other has been replaced by one planted by the Princess Royal in 1999.   On the next terrace there is, on the north side, a Bermuda Cedar planted by Winston Churchill in 1942 after his visit to the USA to meet President Roosevelt and address a Joint Session of Congress.   On the same level there is a Princess Palm planted in 1963 by Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, a Roystonea regia (Royal Palm) planted by Princess Margaret in 1975 and a Thrinax parviflora (Thatch Palm) planted by Margaret Thatcher in 1981.   There is also a border of rose bushes, one of which was planted in 1980 by the then Miss World - Miss Gina Swainson of Bermuda.

 On the terrace below, on either side of the path, are a pair of Queen Palms planted by The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh in 1994.   Near to the next flight of steps is another Podocarpus macrophyllus planted by The Queen in November 1953 and two Washingtonia robusta planted by Governor Sir Edwin Leather and Lady Leather to commemorate the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977.

 Down the steps there is an avenue of Bermuda Cedars, the first on the left planted by Sir Edwards Richards, the first black Bermudian to head the Government of the Island.   Two others bear the names of Princess Alexandra and Princess Margaret.   Just to the left of the bottom of the path there is a Royal Poinciana planted by the Duke of Windsor on in 1940, and 25 yards back towards the House a Royal Palm planted by the Duke of Kent in 1928.

 A walk across the lawn towards the garage and outbuildings takes one to a Delonix regia planted by HRH The Prince of Wales in 1970.   Behind is the old drive lined with Canary Island Date Palms.   Sloping down to the right are woodlands with a paddock and a meadow extending along the North Shore Road.   In front and to the left is a hibiscus shrubbery within which is a Royal Poinciana planted by Prince Edward in 1992.   Beyond the site of the old house, the flat area to the right of the cottage, there is a semi circular area of grass on which stands a mango tree planted by Prince George, later King George V, a magnificent specimen of a Bay Rum tree which he may also have planted on another visit in 1891 and Bermuda's first rubber tree, planted by Governor Lt. Colonel William Reid in 1840.   On either side of the cutting leading to the entrance to the grounds are evergreen shrubs, and large bouganvillea vines over 100 years old cover the 30 foot walls.   At one time the vines crossed over the cutting making a splendid archway, but when a rat dropped on to the lap of a Governor's wife riding in the landau to a state occasion the archway was removed.

 Opposite the cottage there is a flight of steps leading down into the Marsh Folly Gardens.   In this sheltered and well wooded area there is a unique Hedgehog Palm and some of the oldest White Cedars on the island.   On the other side of the road is a rock garden containing many succulent plants such as Agave and Aloe and a Euphorbia tree planted to replace a fine one lost in Hurricane Emily in 1987.   A walk back to the Terrace then takes one through a collection of Palms planted by Prime Ministers of Great Britain and Presidents of the United States: John Major (1991), George Bush (1990 and 1991), Margaret Thatcher (1990), Harold MacMillan (1961), Ted Heath (1972) and Richard Nixon (late 1960's).   Over to the left, on either side of the summer house overlooking the tennis court, is a pair of Cassia Fistula (Golden Showers), planted by the present Governor and Lady Vereker to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee in 2002.

 Below the other side of the terrace steps there is a water garden.   Over to the right is the cut flower garden;  below this is the the main orchard, the kitchen garden, a banana grove and an old quarry in which navel oranges are growing.   A walk up the old drive then takes you back to the steps leading up to the West Gate.

GOVERNORS OF BERMUDA

The first Governor under the Crown was Sir Richard Robinson, appointed April 12, 1687, even though Col. R. Coney (1683-1687) was confirmed by the Crown in 1685.   Others actually held the post of Governor from 1612 when Richard Moore was in the seat.   From 1612 until 1687 Governors were being appointed under the Bermuda Company.