258 Jakten Flickan and the fortification of Hanko, inscription
After the wars of the early 18th century Sweden realised the need to build protective coastal fortresses along the coast of Filand in order to keep the Russian fleet from sailing unhindered to Stockholm. Augustin Ehrensvärd (1710–1772) was charged with the task of fortifying Sveaborg in Helsinki (1748-) and Svartholm in Lovisa. He also visited Hanko in 1754 charting its islands for building a fort. Construction began in 1789.
From Ehrensvärd´s visit this inscription remains carved into the cliff by the water´s edge (translated from Swedish): ”The yacht Flickanarrived with a merry company on the 21st of Aug. 1754. Hahn and Gethe measured the islands, Gerdes and Frese hunted, Liedner went fishing, Skytte made delicious coffee, Ribbing relaxed, v. Spången carved the rock and A. Ehrenswärd measured the water level.” (note the line above today´s water level and later lines in the same area)
The inscription photographed with photographic (3D) method before cleaning by a team led by Ale Torkkel’s XR Design from the Metropolia College of Applied Sciences.