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Notice Board
FORT CHARLES
Article Courtesy of
The Jamaica National Heritage Trust
Fort Charles and the town of
Port Royal are inextricably linked. Their rise and fall were influenced by
events such as piracy, trade, international relationships including war,
and a myriad of disasters such as hurricanes (1712, 1751); earthquakes
(1692, 1907) and fire (1704).
During the second half of the 17th century, Port Royal became the most
important transshipment point in the New World. It was also a cultural
Mecca, surpassing Boston and other major New World cities. By 1692, Port
Royal had the ignoble distinction of being the richest and wickedest city
in the world.
Take a step back into history…
At Fort Charles, you can
take a step back into history. As you stand in this famous Fort, imagine
it in its former glory.
Fort Charles, originally called Fort Cromwell, was built by the English in
1655 after they invaded and captured Jamaica from the Spaniards. Five
years later in 1660, the name was changed when Charles II came to the
throne.
In the beginning, Fort Charles was almost completely surrounded by water.
It was constructed like a ship with a 17th century floating castle at the
bow. The metal rings, still secured in the front wall of the Fort, were
actually used for mooring ships that sailed into Chocolata Hole, where the
parade ground now is. The anchors at the entrance of the Fort were
salvaged from the sea and area from 18th century men-of-war.
In the earthquake of 1692 the Fort sank some 3 ½ feet into the ground.
Only partially destroyed, it was rebuilt in very much the form that we
know today. The number of guns mounted at the Fort increased from 26 in
1667 to 104 by 1765. By the middle of this century Fort Chalres had a
garrison of 500 men.
Among the outstanding naval men associated with the fort’s history are
Benbow, Vernon, Rodney and Parker. All of these admirals flew their flags
at Fort Charles at one time or another. But undoubtedly the most famous
naval hero who served at Fort Charles was Horatio Nelson, who arrived here
in 1777, at eighteen years of age.
It was Nelson’s success against the French at the Battle of Trafalgar
(October 21, 1805) some 25 years later, which confirmed Britain’s naval
supremacy and turned the balance of power in Britain’s favour. The marble
plaque fixed to the wall of the Fort commemorates his association with
Fort Charles.
“In this place dwelt Horatio Nelson You who tread his footprints remember
glory.”
Nelsons coat of arms, once affixed over the sally port at the western end
of the Fort, is on display inside the museum. The three crosses on the
front of the Forts northwest corner are said to be the final resting place
of three women associated with Nelson. It is believed that three women
died of yellow fever. Above them is the lookout tower that was used to
keep watch on the channel to Kingston Harbour.
THE GIDDY HOUSE
A stone throw from Fort
Charles to the east is The Giddy House. It was erected by the Royal
Engineers in 1888 during Queen Victoria’s reign, and is the old Royal
Artillery Store for the Victoria Battery.
The earthquake of 1907 shifted the structure to its present angle. On
entering the building, people often experience giddiness caused by the
buildings angle – hence its name, The Giddy House.
THE VICTORIA AND ALBERT BATTERY COMPLEX
During the closing years of
the 19th century, it became obvious that the existing fortifications at
Fort Charles could not adequately defend the naval base at Port Royal. The
Victoria and Albert battery complex was installed in 1888, to the east of
Fort Charles to protect the harbour. Guns were placed in a set of bunkers
but these were destroyed by the 1907 earthquake, and sunk some 8ft. –
10ft. below the surface. One gun was later retrieved and is in functional
condition. The complex also contains a boiler house and a subterranean
armoury as well as interconnecting tunnel system to the Giddy House and
periscope point. This type of embattlement is one of the earliest of its
kind constructed anywhere in the world.
A hurricane of 1951 destroyed its slate roof and that of the ancillary
buildings. The main structure was undamaged. Only buildings of 100 years
and older were left standing in Port Royal after this devastation and it
was on the grounds of the Old Naval Hospital that the people of Port Royal
took shelter for several years.
The brass benchmark inside Fort Charles is the main port for measuring
longitude and latitude in Jamaica, and is used as a point for measuring
the distance to other countries. The original-marker at the Forts
southwest corner was a flag pole which was damaged in the 1907 earthquake.
THE OLD NAVAL HOSPITAL
The present Old Naval Hospital
is an impressive two-storey structure built in 1819 by the Royal Engineer
for the British Navy. It replaced an earlier one built in 1742 that was
destroyed in the 1815 fire of Port Royal.
Pre-fabricated cast iron units imported from Bradford, England, were used
in its construction. It was built on a raft foundation, all supporting
iron columns being linked beneath the massive structure on one base. This
gave it additional strength to withstand natural disaster. It has survived
numerous catastrophes including hurricanes and the earthquake of 1907.
Port Royal’s importance to heritage education and tourism is undeniable.
The town is an archaeological treasure trove with tremendous potential and
importance for marine and historical archaeology. A catastrophic
earthquake in 1692 destroyed the town, sending over 13 acres of land
underwater with its occupants and structures. The tragedy makes the area a
‘time capsule’ of human behaviour in the 17th century, which is sealed
below the ocean floor and beneath, present day modern buildings.
The Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT) has designated the town
Protected National Heritage. The Trust is responsible for
declaring/designating places and objects of historical value as national
monuments or protected national heritage, so as to protect, preserve and
manage them for the benefit of the Jamaican people.
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