Fort Frederick

Fort Frederick, erected on this site in 1721 and named after H.R.H. Prince Frederick, then Prince of Wales, consisted of a semi-circular redoubt mounting twelve guns, a guard house, barracks, and storehouse surrounded by a palisade. Although it served as the military head quarters of Newfoundland from 1721 until 1746, it was poorly maintained from the beginning, and by 1744 the redoubt had to be strengthened by a timber and sod-work facing, the number of guns reduced to eight, and bastions added to the landward angles of the palisade upon which Cohorn mortars were mounted. After a partial repair in 1762, the works were allowed to decay and were finally abandoned in 1811 when the ordnance was removed. Two 12 pdr. cannon were mounted behind a temporary earthwork battery near this site in 1813 as protection against American privateers and may still be seen, and much of the portland stone facing of the redoubt is incorporated in the fabric of the convent.

Newfoundland and Labrador · Canada