This image shows Leith Harbour whaling station at South
Georgia. From left to right you can see the piggery where they kept pigs for
fresh meat, some stores and a garage and the slaughter house. Behind this is a
large building which was one of the Barracks where the men stayed. The large
building with the white gable end facing the camera was the hospital and they
had excellent facilities. In the background on the left you can see a series of
chimneys from the boiler house which powered the plant which processed the
whale to extract oil. You can also see a very large tank and this was the pump
house. The stations were pretty
self-sufficient, having everything they needed to maintain and repair machinery
and ships as well as having everything that was needed to sustain the hundreds
of men who worked there. There was even
a cinema, a football pitch and a library as part of the recreation facilities
although many men were working 12 hours days.
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