Knowledge (XXG)

Western Redoubt

Source 📝

49: 617:
described. The local pilots are sworn to secrecy ; and, what is more reassuring, by lifting buoys and laying down torpedoes, hostile vessels trying to thread the passage must come to inevitable grief, So far Bermuda may be considered safe, whatever may be the condition of the fortifications and the cannon in the batteries. Yet the universal neglect of our colonial defences is apparent in the fact that no telegraphic communication has hitherto been established with the West Indies on the one side, or with the Dominion of Canada on the other.
69: 170: 76: 559:
The fort is square shaped, and the gunfloor originally had emplacements for four guns, one on each side behind an earthwork glacis. Inside of these was a higher keep, separated from the gunfloor by a dry moat, with a drawbridge. The intended armament would have been for 64-Pounders on the gun floor,
635:
The objectives for America are clearly marked,—Halifax, Quebec, Montreal, Prescott, Kingston, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, and Vancouver. Halifax and Vancouver are certain to be most energetically attacked, for they will be the naval bases, besides Bermuda, from which England would carry on her naval
482:, a roof was built over the gun floor, moat and keep, and the enclosed structure was used as a magazine. An earlier magazine had existed on Government Hill, from which a hundred barrels of gunpowder was stolen during the American War of Independence and supplied to the rebels in a plot organised by 583:
There is a strongly fortified dockyard, and the defensive works, together with the intricate character of the approaches to the harbour, render the islands an almost impregnable fortress. Bermuda is governed as a Crown colony by a Governor who is also Commander-in-Chief, assisted by an appointed
616:
As a fortress, Bermuda is of the first importance. It is situated almost exactly half-way between the northern and the southern naval stations; while nature has made it practically impregnable. The only approach lies through that labyrinth of reefs and narrow channels which Captain Kennedy has
474:
when the naval base was at St. George's). The two forts therefore could operate also against enemy vessels entering the Northern Lagoon, but were primarily intended to fire on an enemy that entered the harbour and to provide rear defence to the forts on Retreat Hill and St. Catherine's Point.
560:
and four 24-Pounders atop the keep. The entire fort was roofed over for use as a magazine. The western slope of the hill was excavated to create a vertical escarpment, from which a tunnel forms an entrance from what is now a small car park beside Government Hill (Road).
359:
Fort William was to be one of a number of new forts (most, though not Fort William, built on the sites of earlier forts) housing coastal artillery built in the early and mid-Nineteenth Century within or satellite to St. George's Garrison. The heaviest concentration of
548: 633:. LR Hamersly & Co., 1510 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; subsequently LR Hamersly, 49 Wall Street, New York City, New York, USA; BF Stevens & Brown, 4 Trafalgar Square, London, England. p. 552. 466:) on the western side, both overlooking the harbour, and to a greater or lesser degree the northern lagoon to the north of the island (the area of enclosed water immediately to the north of St. George's Island is called 532:. The dockyard was re-rated as a base, losing its ability to repair or refit its vessels, and this was to close in 1995. All Admiralty and War Office, including St. George's Garrison, land was transferred to the 524:
In 1957, a later phase of cutbacks resulted in the closure of the Bermuda Garrison, with all regular units and detachments, including the Command staff, withdrawn, leaving only the part-time
478:
Fort George was completed and armed, and later re-armed with more modern weapons. Fort William was completed but never armed as it was deemed by then to be excess to need. Instead, named the
599:. London: Published by the authority of the Meteorological Council. PRINTED FOR HER MAJESTY’S STATIONERY OFFICE BY EYRE AND SPOTTISWOODE, East Harding Street, Fleet Street, London E.C. 1890. 822: 652:. Bermuda: Island Press Ltd., Bermuda, 1977 (1st Edition); Bermuda Maritime Museum Press, Royal Naval Dockyard Bermuda, Ireland Island, Sandys, Bermuda, 1990 (2nd Edition). 431:
Hurd's Channel led from Five Fathom Hole, the opening in the reefline through which vessels previously had already passed into the original main eastern channel (between
364:
batteries and fortifications in Bermuda had, and would continue to be, at the East End of the archipelago of Bermuda, where St. George's Harbour and Castle Harbour (with
48: 717: 458:
To the rear of these three forts, two identical forts were built on hilltops on either side of St. George's Town. Fort William, on the northern side of the town and
812: 53:
St. George's Garrison (and St. George's Town) as surveyed by Lieutenant Arthur Johnson Savage, RE, in 1897-1899. Western Redoubt is at centre, marked as
837: 832: 99: 827: 365: 424:, the lack of development and infrastructure there meant the Navy used St. George's as its base pending the construction of the dockyard on 439:) into St. George's Harbour, around St. Catherine's Point at the north-eastern end of St. George's Island. A succession of forts named 817: 790: 686: 657: 305: 247: 27: 610:
Kennedy, R.N., Captain W. R. (1 July 1885). "An Unknown Colony: Sport, Travel and Adventure in Newfoundland and the West Indies".
68: 597:
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS AT THE FOREIGN AND COLONIAL STATIONS OF THE ROYAL ENGINEERS AND THE ARMY MEDICAL DEPARTMENT 1852—1886
353: 385: 35: 31: 740: 581:. London: MacMillan and Co., Limited, London, England, UK; The MacMillan Company, New York City, New York, USA. p. 184. 455:
were built in the 1840s. Between them, the three guarded Hurd's Channel and the Northern Lagoon from navigation by an enemy.
529: 436: 421: 369: 483: 368:) were the only harbours easily accessible from the open Atlantic due to the reefline surrounding Bermuda. After the 674: 544: 417: 297: 525: 503: 499: 413: 325: 269: 495: 443:
have existed on this point since 1612, and the fifth and last of these was built in the Nineteenth Century. On
389: 329: 420:
began buying and leasing land at Bermuda's West End, on the Great Sound, for the eventual construction of the
337: 425: 614:. William Blackwood & Sons, Edinburgh, Scotland, and 37 Paternoster Row, London, England. p. 111. 510: 452: 448: 533: 471: 432: 333: 502:
later in the Nineteenth Century. The magazine in the Western Redoubt would have been subsidiary to the
459: 138: 629:
VERAX, (anonymous) (1 May 1889). "The Defense of Canada. (From Colburn's United Service Magazine)".
491: 377: 711: 440: 543:, but has been vacant and increasingly derelict since the 1990s, although it is now part of the 786: 736: 682: 653: 487: 361: 341: 294: 153: 778: 251: 518: 265: 261: 216: 381: 806: 290: 175: 396:
spent a dozen years surveying the reef, identifying a channel (originally called
409: 401: 373: 513:, were either obsolete or reduced to a care and maintenance state that was not 393: 157: 579:
MacMillan's Geographical Series: Elementary Geography of the British Colonies
114: 101: 650:
The Andrew and The Onions: The Story of The Royal Navy in Bermuda, 1795–1975
372:, Bermuda had been selected as the only remaining British territory between 301: 39: 756: 733:
Defence, Not Defiance: A History Of The Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps
631:
The United Service: A Quarterly Review of Military and Naval Affairs
408:) suitable for ships-of-the-line to enter the Northern Lagoon, the 757:"Historic Town of St George and Related Fortifications, Bermuda" 134: 509:
Most of the coastal artillery batteries in Bermuda, excepting
352:
of St. George's Garrison. Below these hills, on the southern,
648:
Stranack, Royal Navy, Lieutenant-Commander B. Ian D (1977).
416:
before establishing a base at Bermuda in 1795. Although the
679:
Bulwark Of Empire: Bermuda's Fortified Naval Base 1860–1920
470:, and had been the anchorage for the naval squadron of the 285:, is a square fort built on a crest on the eastern side of 584:
Executive Council and a representative House of Assembly.
404:, the officer who had located it, but now referred to as 549:
Historic Town of St George and Related Fortifications
539:
The Western Redoubt would house a restaurant called
490:. The main powder magazine of Bermuda was later at 257: 243: 238: 230: 222: 212: 204: 199: 191: 181: 163: 149: 144: 130: 93: 20: 704:History of The Coast Artillery in the British Army 577:Dawson, George M.; Sutherland, Alexander (1898). 289:, and within the boundaries of the original main 785:. Bermuda: The Bermuda Maritime Museum Press. 681:. Bermuda: The Bermuda Maritime Museum Press. 8: 716:: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list ( 356:, side of the island, is St. George's Town. 823:Artillery battery fortifications in Bermuda 702:Maurice-Jones, DSO, RA, Colonel KW (1959). 636:attack on the American coasts and commerce. 380:, being also in a position (640 miles off 316:The fort, originally intended to be named 17: 569: 75: 709: 7: 677:, Lieutenant-Colonel Roger (1988). 706:. UK: Royal Artillery Institution. 14: 813:Installations of the British Army 731:Ingham-Hind, Jennifer M. (1992). 366:its own history of fortification 168: 74: 67: 47: 833:World Heritage Sites in Bermuda 320:was built on a hilltop between 612:Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine 521:cutbacks to the British Army. 336:and the colonial capital from 328:had moved to Mount Langton in 1: 828:World War II sites in Bermuda 735:. Bermuda: The Island Press. 384:) from which to dominate the 838:St. George's Parish, Bermuda 370:American War of Independence 854: 545:UNESCO World Heritage Site 506:depot on Ordnance Island. 250:, Eastern District of the 818:Fortifications in Bermuda 526:Bermuda Militia Artillery 270:Royal Army Ordnance Corps 62: 46: 25: 498:, with another added at 390:United States of America 783:Bermuda Forts 1612–1957 115:32.384454°N 64.675834°W 400:after then-Lieutenant 472:North America Station 402:Thomas Hannaford Hurd 334:Parliament of Bermuda 332:with the move of the 306:St. George's Garrison 248:St. George's Garrison 195:Increasingly derelict 120:32.384454; -64.675834 28:St. George's Garrison 541:The Gunpowder Tavern 441:Fort St. Catherine's 422:Royal Naval Dockyard 354:St. George's Harbour 239:Garrison information 534:colonial government 511:St. David's Battery 378:British West Indies 111: /  36:St. George's Parish 32:St. George's Island 468:Murray's Anchorage 462:at Mount Hill (or 348:, the site of the 779:Harris, Edward C. 488:Benjamin Franklin 437:Governor's Island 386:Atlantic seaboard 362:coastal artillery 338:St. George's Town 295:Imperial fortress 275: 274: 154:Board of Ordnance 845: 797: 796: 775: 769: 768: 766: 764: 753: 747: 746: 728: 722: 721: 715: 707: 699: 693: 692: 670: 664: 663: 645: 639: 638: 626: 620: 619: 607: 601: 600: 593: 587: 586: 574: 414:Hamilton Harbour 342:Town of Hamilton 326:Government House 252:Bermuda Garrison 174: 172: 171: 145:Site information 126: 125: 123: 122: 121: 116: 112: 109: 108: 107: 104: 78: 77: 71: 51: 42: 18: 853: 852: 848: 847: 846: 844: 843: 842: 803: 802: 801: 800: 793: 777: 776: 772: 762: 760: 755: 754: 750: 743: 730: 729: 725: 708: 701: 700: 696: 689: 672: 671: 667: 660: 647: 646: 642: 628: 627: 623: 609: 608: 604: 595: 594: 590: 576: 575: 571: 566: 557: 519:First World War 496:Ordnance Island 480:Western Redoubt 330:Pembroke Parish 322:Government Hill 314: 287:Government Hill 279:Western Redoubt 268: 266:Royal Engineers 264: 262:Royal Artillery 217:Royal Artillery 184:the public 183: 169: 167: 156: 137: 119: 117: 113: 110: 105: 102: 100: 98: 97: 89: 88: 87: 86: 85: 84: 83: 82:Western Redoubt 79: 58: 26: 21:Western Redoubt 12: 11: 5: 851: 849: 841: 840: 835: 830: 825: 820: 815: 805: 804: 799: 798: 791: 770: 748: 741: 723: 694: 687: 665: 658: 640: 621: 602: 588: 568: 567: 565: 562: 556: 553: 530:Bermuda Rifles 426:Ireland Island 398:Hurd's Channel 382:North Carolina 350:Royal Barracks 313: 310: 273: 272: 259: 255: 254: 245: 241: 240: 236: 235: 232: 228: 227: 224: 220: 219: 214: 213:Built for 210: 209: 206: 202: 201: 197: 196: 193: 189: 188: 185: 179: 178: 165: 161: 160: 151: 147: 146: 142: 141: 132: 128: 127: 95: 91: 90: 81: 80: 73: 72: 66: 65: 64: 63: 60: 59: 52: 44: 43: 23: 22: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 850: 839: 836: 834: 831: 829: 826: 824: 821: 819: 816: 814: 811: 810: 808: 794: 792:9780921560111 788: 784: 780: 774: 771: 758: 752: 749: 744: 738: 734: 727: 724: 719: 713: 705: 698: 695: 690: 688:9780921560005 684: 680: 676: 669: 666: 661: 659:9780921560036 655: 651: 644: 641: 637: 632: 625: 622: 618: 613: 606: 603: 598: 592: 589: 585: 580: 573: 570: 563: 561: 554: 552: 550: 546: 542: 537: 535: 531: 527: 522: 520: 516: 515:ready for war 512: 507: 505: 501: 500:Agar's Island 497: 493: 489: 485: 481: 476: 473: 469: 465: 464:Riche's Mount 461: 456: 454: 450: 449:Fort Victoria 447:to its rear, 446: 442: 438: 434: 429: 427: 423: 419: 415: 411: 407: 403: 399: 395: 391: 387: 383: 379: 375: 371: 367: 363: 357: 355: 351: 347: 344:in 1815) and 343: 339: 335: 331: 327: 323: 319: 311: 309: 307: 303: 299: 296: 292: 288: 284: 280: 271: 267: 263: 260: 256: 253: 249: 246: 242: 237: 233: 229: 225: 221: 218: 215: 211: 207: 203: 198: 194: 190: 186: 180: 177: 166: 162: 159: 155: 152: 148: 143: 140: 136: 133: 129: 124: 96: 92: 70: 61: 56: 50: 45: 41: 37: 33: 29: 24: 19: 16: 782: 773: 761:. Retrieved 751: 732: 726: 703: 697: 678: 668: 649: 643: 634: 630: 624: 615: 611: 605: 596: 591: 582: 578: 572: 558: 540: 538: 523: 517:during post 514: 508: 484:Henry Tucker 479: 477: 467: 463: 457: 445:Retreat Hill 444: 433:Paget Island 430: 405: 397: 358: 349: 346:Barrack Hill 345: 340:to the then 324:(from which 321: 318:Fort William 317: 315: 293:camp in the 291:British Army 286: 283:Fort William 282: 278: 276: 226:1850s - 1957 200:Site history 182:Open to 176:British Army 54: 15: 460:Fort George 453:Fort Albert 410:Great Sound 406:The Narrows 388:of the new 374:Nova Scotia 223:In use 118: / 94:Coordinates 807:Categories 742:0969651716 564:References 492:Hen Island 394:Royal Navy 158:War Office 106:64°40′33″W 103:32°23′04″N 763:22 August 712:cite book 536:in 1958. 494:and then 418:Admiralty 258:Occupants 231:Materials 192:Condition 781:(1997). 759:. Unesco 673:Willock 504:Ordnance 376:and the 244:Garrison 164:Operator 139:Magazine 55:Magazine 312:History 302:Bermuda 40:Bermuda 789:  739:  685:  656:  555:Design 412:, and 392:. The 298:colony 173:  281:, or 234:Stone 208:1850s 205:Built 150:Owner 787:ISBN 765:2021 737:ISBN 718:link 683:ISBN 675:USMC 654:ISBN 547:the 528:and 486:and 451:and 435:and 277:The 135:Fort 131:Type 551:). 300:of 809:: 714:}} 710:{{ 428:. 308:. 304:, 187:No 38:, 34:, 30:, 795:. 767:. 745:. 720:) 691:. 662:. 57:.

Index

St. George's Garrison
St. George's Island
St. George's Parish
Bermuda

Western Redoubt is located in Bermuda
32°23′04″N 64°40′33″W / 32.384454°N 64.675834°W / 32.384454; -64.675834
Fort
Magazine
Board of Ordnance
War Office
British Army
Royal Artillery
St. George's Garrison
Bermuda Garrison
Royal Artillery
Royal Engineers
Royal Army Ordnance Corps
British Army
Imperial fortress
colony
Bermuda
St. George's Garrison
Government House
Pembroke Parish
Parliament of Bermuda
St. George's Town
Town of Hamilton
St. George's Harbour
coastal artillery

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.