Cape Coast Castle

Cape Coast Castle, a settlement of Great Britain in the Gold Coast Colony, in Upper Guinea, 315 miles W. of Lagos. The place lies in a chasm, and as its name implies, is defended by the great castle near the water's edge, and by three small forts on the hills behind, one of which serves as a lighthouse and signal-station. Ceded by the Dutch to the English in 1665, Cape Coast Castle, from 1672, was possessed by several British African companies till 1843, when it was taken over by government. In 1875 it was superseded by Accra as capital of the Gold Coast. The town has a trade in palm-oil. There is a telegraph line to Accra, and a fair road from Cape Coast to Prahsue (75 miles). L. E. Landon died here in 1838. Pop. 5000.