- Year of construction: 1729
- Architect: Christian Lilly
- Cost of visit: free of charge
- Address: Fort George St, Port Antonio, Jamaica
- Phone: +1 876-993-2618
One of the main attractions of the city of Port Antonio in Jamaica is the military fortification of Fort George.
To protect the borders of the state
The need to build a military fort appeared in 1728, when the relations of the island state with Spain were especially acute, and there was a threat of invasion by the interventionists. A year later, the construction of a fortified structure began, which was headed by the famous military engineer Christian Lilly. The architect gained fame when he worked on the project of the Royal Citadel in Plymouth. The new brainchild of Lilly became her reduced copy. The bastion became known as Fort George in honor of the ruling monarch George I.
The emergence of a military fortification in Portland County decided not only to protect the borders of the state from foreign encroachments, but also to resist the attacks of fugitive slaves who participated in the uprisings, trying to overthrow the king.
Fort George yesterday and today
Fort George Fortress in its best years was able to accommodate a military battery consisting of 22 guns, 8 of which are large cannons. Its walls were so strong that none of the guns of that time could cause them significant damage. Unfortunately, time did not spare Fort George, and everything that tourists can see today is only part of the fortified wall and an artillery battery.
In its history, the fortification was only used once for its intended purpose, when during World War II the base for training the British navy was located on its territory. Today, the surviving barracks, converted into classrooms, are used to conduct classes at the Titchfield school.
Helpful information
You can visit Fort George at any time convenient for you. There is no charge for entrance and sightseeing.
How to get there?
Go to the desired place by car, by entering the coordinates 18 ° 8 '24 "N, 76 ° 28' 12" W.
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