7-16-2014
Fort King George is located
at the top of Calder Hall Road in Scarborough the capital of Tobago. The fort was created in the 1700s and it is
known as Tobago’s best preserved historical site. On the site you can find the old prison, bell
tank, barracks, armory, officers’ mess, cannons and they’re all on well
manicured grounds overlooking several magnificent coastal locations with a
grand view of the Atlantic Ocean. The
museum which was once the Guard house, provides you the choice of a tour guide,
and it has on display several Amerindian and other local artifacts, as well as
weapons, old maps and photographs that were unearthed in the area.
The Fort was built by the
British forces and through the years fell in the hands of the French
forces. The Fort remained in operation
until 1854. Whilst the French had the
Fort they renamed it to Fort Castries, however the original name was
re-established. The Fort was named in
honor of King George III who reigned over Great Britain and Ireland from 1760
to 1820.
Fort King George rests at
an altitude of 425 feet above sea level.
There are several Forts
around the island of Tobago, a reminder of the 32 times the island changed
hands whilst Europe battled over its resources and strategic location. Other Forts of note are Fort Bennett, Fort
Granby, Fort James, and Fort Milford, each with some mere form of existence,
for tourists to bask in.
Some Forts of old that the
elders remember but are no longer there to be seen are:
Fort Monick
Fort Irvine
Fort Schmoll
Fort Cashmir
French Fort
Fort Campbleton
At Fort King George, there
is a map of the island made out of a beautiful hedge, and the forts are named
and their locations shown.
This shot was taken at
Fort King George from the walkway leading from the powder magazine to the fine
arts center and it overlooks Scarborough beyond.
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2013, Odette M. Lawrence and NorDean Canvas. All rights reserved. The use
and/or duplication of this material without the express and written permission
of this blog’s author and/or owner are unauthorized and strictly prohibited
