Fort Clarence (Nova Scotia) facts for kids
Fort Clarence was an important British fort built a long time ago in 1754. It was located in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada, right by the water. At first, it was called the Eastern Battery. This fort was built at the start of a big war called the French and Indian War. Its job was to protect the area from attacks by sea.
The land for the fort was given by a captain named John Rous. When it was first built, it had eight cannons ready to fire. In 1759, there was an attack by the Mi'kmaq people, and five soldiers at the fort were killed.
Protecting Halifax Harbour
In 1778, a group of soldiers called the King's Orange Rangers arrived in Halifax. They came by ship. These soldiers were moved to Halifax to keep them from leaving the army, as it was far from their homes.
The King's Orange Rangers were given the important job of protecting the Eastern Battery. This fort was located on the shore of Halifax Harbour, near where the areas of Woodside and Imperoyal are today.
Renaming and Rebuilding
The fort got a new name in 1798. Prince Edward renamed the Eastern Battery to Fort Clarence. He did this to honor his brother, the Duke of Clarence. This brother later became King William IV.
Around the late 1790s, a special round tower called a Martello Tower was built at the fort. This tower replaced an older wooden building called a blockhouse. Later, in the 1860s, the fort was made even stronger. It was rebuilt using stone.
What Happened to the Fort?
Over time, the fort was no longer needed for defense. In 1929, a company called Imperial Oil bought the land where Fort Clarence stood. This area became part of their oil refinery in Dartmouth.
During the 1940s, the remaining parts of the old fort were covered up and buried. In 2013, the refinery changed into a place just for storing oil. Today, some experts who study old places, called archaeologists, are asking for the fort to be dug up again. They want to uncover and learn more about this important piece of history.
