Charles Fort
Bridgetown, Barbados
Remains of Charles Fort
Charles Fort is located in Barbados
Charles Fort
Charles Fort
Charles Fort is located in Caribbean
Charles Fort
Charles Fort
Coordinates13°04′44″N 59°36′46″W / 13.0789°N 59.6127°W / 13.0789; -59.6127
TypeFortification
Site history
Built1650
In useNo
MaterialsStone

Charles Fort (originally Needham's Fort) is a historic military fortification and UNESCO World Heritage Site in Bridgetown, Barbados. It was originally built in 1650, and rebuilt in 1811.[1] It is located at Needham's Point on the southwestern side of the island, overlooking Carlisle Bay.[2] Today, the fort is located on the grounds of the Hilton Barbados Resort.[3]

History

In 1650, a fort was constructed at Needham's Point (called Needham's Fort) to protect Carlisle Bay and Bridgetown from enemy attacks.[2] The English Civil War had just ended, and Barbados feared attacks by the British.[4][5] Oliver Cromwell had just overthrown the British monarchy, but Barbados remained loyal to the royalists and acknowledged the exiled Charles II as King.[4][5]

In 1651, Needham's Fort helped the local militia in prevent the successful landing of Cromwell’s troops, commanded by George Ayscue.[5] This event resulted in the Charter of Barbados (or Treaty of Oistins) in 1652,[5][4] which ended the fighting between Barbados and the English Commonwealth. In 1660, when Charles II was reinstated to the British throne, the fort was renamed Charles Fort.[5]

In 1665, Charles Fort successfully defended Barbados from surprise attack by the Dutch, commanded by Michiel De Ruyter.[5] The attack was the closest a foreign power ever came to invading Barbados.[5]

In the 1740s, the fort was further fortified. It was rebuilt in stone and two additional batteries were added on each side.[5]

George Washington visited Fort Charles during his visit to Barbados in 1751-1752.[6] He dined with the Captain at the fort multiple times during his six weeks in Barbados.[7] Charles Fort and Saint Ann's Fort were the first military forts that Washington had ever seen.[8]

The fort was property of the Colony of Barbados until 1836, when it was acquired by the Crown. It was decommissioned in 1905.[5]

In 1966, the remains of the fort were stabilized during the construction of the original Hilton Hotel in Barbados.[5] In 2004, with construction of the Hilton Barbados Resort, additional preservation and restoration measures were undertaken.[9]

References

  1. ↑ "The Caribbean: Carlisle Bay". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  2. 1 2 "Explore Barbados UNESCO World Heritage Site - Visit Barbados". www.visitbarbados.org. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  3. ↑ "Things to Do | Hilton Barbados Resort". www.hilton.com. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  4. 1 2 3 "British History in depth: The Civil War in Barbados". BBC History. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Barbados Ministry of Community Development and Culture (2010). "Historic Bridgetown and Its Garrison: Nomination as a World Heritage Site" (PDF). UNESCO World Heritage Convention. UNESCO. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 23, 2020.
  6. ↑ "The Washington brothers abroad | Miller Center". millercenter.org. 2018-04-03. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  7. ↑ Washington, George (1892). The Daily Journal of Major George Washington, in 1751-2: Kept While on a Tour from Virginia to the Island of Barbadoes... (PDF). J. Munsell's Sons.
  8. ↑ "George Washington's Journey to Barbados". George Washington's Mount Vernon. Mount Vernon Ladies' Association. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  9. ↑ "353-Room, $90-Million Hilton Barbados to Debut in 2004". Hotel News Source. Jan 20, 2004. Archived from the original on Mar 23, 2004.
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