Fort George, Tortola
Fort George is a colonial fort which was erected on the northeast edge of Road Town, Tortola in the British Virgin Islands above Baugher's Bay. The site is now a ruin.
The original structure is believed by some to have been built at an unascertained date by the original Dutch settlers of the islands to protect slave pens that were built in Port Purcell below. It is likely that the initial structure was built in response to a massacre of the inhabitants of the original settlement in Baugher's Bay in 1625.
However, the main fortification was built (or rebuilt) by the British in the late 18th century around the outbreak of the American war of independence as part of the general upgrade of the fortifications of Road Town.
The fort was named (or renamed) after King George III.
Fort George formed part of a formidable defensive network of forts around Road Town at this time, including the eponymous Road Town Fort (under what is now the site of the Boungainvillea clinic), Fort Burt above Road Reef on the south west side of the harbour, and Fort Charlotte set high above on Harrigan's Hill.
Fort George never actually engaged in combat after restoration by the British. The combination of the formidable martial defences of Road Town, and relatively small strategic and economic importance of Tortola persuaded both foreign colonial powers and privateers and pirates alike to focus on other targets within the region.
Today the remains of the fort are barely recognisable. Despite being featured in the British Virgin Island government's promotional website the remains of the Fort are on private land, to which there is no public access. The property has a house on it, which is rented, and access to the site depends upon the goodwill of the incumbent tenants. As of 2007[update] the remains are predominantly used as storage.
See also
External links
- The BVI's formidable forts
Footnotes
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- t
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- Anegada
- Beef Island
- Bellamy Cay
- Buck Island
- Carvel Rock
- Cooper Island
- Dead Chest Island
- Diamond Cay
- Dog Islands
- Eustatia
- Fallen Jerusalem Island
- Frenchman's Cay
- Ginger Island
- Great Camanoe
- Great Thatch
- Great Tobago Island
- Green Cay
- Guana Island
- The Indians
- Jost Van Dyke
- Little Camanoe
- Little Cay
- Little Jost Van Dyke
- Little Thatch
- Little Tobago
- Little Wickams Cay
- Marina Cay
- Mosquito Island
- Nanny Cay
- Necker Island
- Norman Island
- Old Jerusalem Island
- Pelican Island
- Peter Island
- Prickly Pear
- Round Rock
- Saba Rock
- Salt Island
- Sandy Cay
- Sandy Spit
- Scrub Island
- Tortola
- Virgin Gorda
- Wickams Cay
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- Cooper Bay ruin
- Cooten Bay ruin
- Copper Mine
- Fort Burt
- Fort Charlotte
- Fort George
- Fort Purcell ("the Dungeon")
- Fort Recovery
- Great Thatch ruin
- Hunthum's Ghut ruin
- Johnson's Ghut ruin
- Larmer Bay ruin
- Mount Healthy windmill
- Road Town Fort
- St Phillip's Church ("the African Church")
- Trunk Bay ruin
- Whelk Point Fort
- Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport
- Queen Elizabeth II Bridge
- Category
18°25′34″N 64°36′25″W / 18.426°N 64.607°W / 18.426; -64.607