Agar's Island, Bermuda facts for kids
Construction of British Army's magazine on Agar's Island, Bermuda in 1870
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 Agar's Island
Location in Bermuda
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Great Sound |
| Coordinates | 32°17′38″N 64°48′32″W / 32.294°N 64.809°W |
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Bermuda
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Agar's Island is a small island located in Bermuda. It sits in the Great Sound, a large body of water. The island is very close to the coast of Pembroke Parish. For a long time, Agar's Island was a secret place. It was used by the British Army to store weapons. Later, it was owned by a rich author named James Martin.
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Agar's Island: A Secret History
Agar's Island has a fascinating past, especially its role in military history. Bermuda became a very important base for the Royal Navy after the United States became independent. The British Army then built many forts and kept soldiers there. This was to protect the colony.
Early Military Use
In the 1790s, the Royal Navy began planning a big dockyard on Ireland Island. This dockyard was called the Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda. To do this, they bought many smaller islands in the Great Sound and Hamilton Harbour. The Royal Navy sometimes used these islands. However, the army developed them much more. Some islands were even used as camps for prisoners of war during and after the Second Boer War. Agar's Island, though, had a different and very secret purpose.
The Secret Magazine
The British Army had many forts with places to store ammunition. These were called magazines. But they also had central supply depots. One was on Ordnance Island, which was quite close to the town of St. George's. This was a bit risky.
So, in 1870, a secret, underground powder magazine was built on Agar's Island. People said it was the biggest in the world at that time. The army kept its existence a big secret. This underground magazine still exists today. James Martin, the island's former owner, restored it. However, it is not open to the public.
World War I and Beyond
During the last year of the First World War, the United States Navy was allowed to set up a supply station on Agar's Island. They also had a naval station on White's Island. These facilities were closed down after the war ended.
