Fort George, Tortola facts for kids
Fort George is an old fort located on the island of Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. It sits on the northeast edge of Road Town, overlooking Baugher's Bay. Today, it is mostly in ruins.
Contents
Fort George: A Historic Ruin
Early History of the Fort
Some people believe the first structure of Fort George was built by the original Dutch settlers of the islands. They might have built it to protect areas where enslaved people were kept in Port Purcell below. It's thought that this first building was made after a terrible event in 1625. During that year, many people living in Baugher's Bay were attacked.
British Rebuilding and Naming
The main part of Fort George was built or rebuilt by the British. This happened in the late 1700s, around the time the American Revolutionary War began. The British were improving their defenses around Road Town, and Fort George was a key part of this plan.
The fort was named after King George III, who was the King of Great Britain at that time.
A Strong Defensive Network
Fort George was part of a very strong group of forts protecting Road Town. Other forts included Road Town Fort, Fort Burt, and Fort Charlotte. These forts worked together to create a powerful defense system around the harbour.
Why Fort George Never Fought
Even though it was built to be strong, Fort George never actually saw any fighting after the British rebuilt it. Road Town had very impressive defenses. Also, Tortola was not considered a very important place for trade or strategy. Because of this, other countries and even pirates decided to attack other places instead.
What Remains Today?
Today, the remains of Fort George are hard to recognise. The British Virgin Islands government mentions the fort on its tourism website. However, the ruins are on private land, so the public cannot easily visit them. There is a house on the property that is rented out. Access to the fort depends on the people living there. As of 2007, the remains of the fort were mostly used for storage.
See also
In Spanish: Fuerte George (Tórtola) para niños
