Boomerang Court and Chancery Lane
You are standing in Bastion Square, a public space dating back to the Victorian Era.
There are many alleys and walkways to explore, connecting Bastion Square to nearby streets to see the heart of Victoria’s Old Town Historical Site.
Chancery Lane warps around The Maritime Museum, linking Bastion Square to Boomerang Court. The Court was the home to the Boomerang Saloon, opened in 1858 by Ben and Adelaide Griffin, an English couple. Like many pioneers, the Griffins arrived in Victoria a the time of the Fraser Rive Gold Rush.
The word “chancery” means a court of justice. The Maritime Museum building was Victoria’s Court House from 1889 to 1962, and previously the site of Victoria’s jail and gallows. The nearby Boomerang Saloon was a popular place to socialize. It was busiest when people would gather to witness public hangings.
Photos courtesy BC Archives
Marker is on Langley Street.
Courtesy hmdb.org
