Amherstburg Royal Naval Dockyard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Amherstburg Royal Naval Dockyard |
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| Amherstburg, Ontario | |
Site of the Dockyard at Navy Yard Park, Amherstburg
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| Type | Shipyard, dockyard |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | Provincial Marine/Royal Navy |
| Website | Amherstburg Navy Yard National Historic Site of Canada |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1796 |
| In use | 1796–1813 |
| Battles/wars | War of 1812 |
| Garrison information | |
| Garrison | Provincial Marine/Royal Navy |
| Designated: | 1928 |
The Amherstburg Royal Naval Dockyard was a very important place for building and repairing ships in Amherstburg, Ontario. It was first used by the Provincial Marine and then by the Royal Navy. This dockyard operated from 1796 to 1813.
It was located right on the Detroit River. The dockyard had buildings like blockhouses (small forts), storehouses, a place to keep ammunition (called a magazine), a wood yard, and a wharf for ships. It was built in 1796 to help the Provincial Marine in Upper Canada. This happened after the British gave an older shipyard in Detroit to the United States.
The Amherstburg Royal Naval Dockyard built several warships. These ships were used by the Provincial Marine on Lake Erie before and during the War of 1812. Sadly, in 1813, the British had to leave the area. They burned and destroyed the dockyard, and it was never used again. Today, the site is recognized as a National Historic Site of Canada. This happened in 1928.
A Look Back in Time
In 1796, the British chose Fort Amherstburg as the perfect spot for a new dockyard. This was needed because their old shipyard in Detroit was given to the United States. The Amherstburg dockyard became the only British naval base west of Kingston. Its location on the Detroit River was key. It gave easy access to both Lake Erie and Lake Huron.
The dockyard was a busy place. It had a large storehouse and two blockhouses for defense. There was also a timber yard with a saw pit for cutting wood. A wharf allowed ships to dock. The blockhouses protected the yard, with Fort Amherstburg and the town nearby. The dockyard looked over a channel between it and Bois Blanc Island. Defenses on the island also helped protect the channel. Many people in Amherstburg worked at the dockyard. This helped the town grow.
Ships Built at the Dockyard
The Amherstburg Royal Naval Dockyard was busy building ships for the Provincial Marine. Here are some of the ships that were constructed there:
- General Hope – a schooner (a type of sailing ship)
- Earl of Camden – another schooner
- HMS Caledonia – a brig built in 1807
- HMS General Hunter – a brig built in 1809
- HMS Queen Charlotte – a ship-sloop built in 1810
- HMS Lady Prevost – a schooner built in 1812
- 2nd HMS Detroit – a ship-sloop built in 1813
The War of 1812
During the War of 1812, the dockyard was a very important base. It was used by the Provincial Marine and later the Royal Navy. They used it for their operations on Lake Erie and Lake Huron. However, getting supplies to the dockyard was a big challenge. Because it was at the far end of Lake Erie, supplies had to travel a long way. They came from places like Fort George or York. Sometimes, supplies had to be moved overland before getting back on a ship.
In May 1813, the Royal Navy took over all Provincial Marine forces on Lake Erie. The Americans started building stronger ships. Commander Robert Heriot Barclay, the Royal Navy leader on Lake Erie, wanted to defeat them quickly. He knew if the Americans controlled the lake, they could cut off his supplies.
However, the British squadron was captured in the Battle of Lake Erie. This meant the Americans now controlled the lake. The British land forces had to retreat. They moved to Burlington Heights so they could still get supplies. In September 1813, after the Battle of Lake Erie, the dockyard was burned and left empty. It was never used again. A new naval yard was set up in Penetanguishene Naval Yard in 1814.
A National Historic Site
The area where the dockyard once stood was named a National Historic Site of Canada in 1928. You can find a special monument there today. It has four brass plaques that tell about the site's history. This monument is in a 4.25-hectare municipal park.
